Chapter 2
898 Words
The Remarried Duchess
Arc 1: The Broken Marriage
Chapter 2: The Evidence Begins
The following morning, the Vassilis Estate was unusually quiet.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Adelle's private office as she sat behind her desk.
The letter from Elena Roswell lay before her.
Beside it were several ledgers and account books.
Her expression remained calm.
Too calm.
The servants who entered the room quickly finished their tasks and left without a word.
Everyone could feel it.
A storm was coming.
"Milady."
Clara entered carrying a stack of documents.
"You asked for Lord Vlahos's financial records."
Adelle nodded.
"Leave them here."
After the maid left, Adelle opened the first ledger.
For years she had trusted John to handle some of the family's commercial affairs.
After all, he was her husband.
She had believed there should be trust between them.
Now she realized how foolish she had been.
Hours passed.
Page after page.
Transaction after transaction.
Then she found it.
Her eyes narrowed.
Jewelry purchases.
Luxury gowns.
Expensive apartments in the capital.
The recipient's name appeared repeatedly.
Elena Roswell.
Thousands of gold coins.
Spent using funds connected to House Vassilis.
Adelle laughed softly.
Not because it was amusing.
Because it was insulting.
John had not only betrayed her.
He had used her family's wealth to support his mistress.
The door opened again.
This time Duke Alexander entered.
His face was stern.
"You have not eaten."
"I am not hungry."
The duke approached the desk.
His gaze immediately landed on the letter.
The one Adelle had shown him shortly after breakfast.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then he spoke.
"If you wish for a divorce, you have my full support."
Adelle looked up.
Many noblewomen would never hear such words from their fathers.
Most would be told to endure.
To sacrifice.
To preserve appearances.
But Duke Alexander only cared about one thing.
His daughter.
"You are not disappointed?" Adelle asked quietly.
The duke's eyes softened.
"Disappointed?"
His voice darkened.
"I am furious."
The room seemed colder.
"I entrusted that man with my daughter."
The duke's hands clenched.
"He repaid us with humiliation."
Adelle lowered her gaze.
For years she had suffered in silence because she feared becoming a burden.
Yet her father had known.
Perhaps not the details.
But enough.
"Father..."
"You deserve better."
The duke walked around the desk and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You always have."
For the first time in a long while, Adelle felt tears threaten to appear.
But she refused them.
Instead she smiled.
A genuine smile.
Small.
Yet sincere.
"I think I finally believe that."
The duke smiled proudly.
"Good."
Then his expression became dangerous.
"Now tell me how you wish to destroy him."
---
Meanwhile, in the capital.
John Vlahos sat comfortably inside a luxurious townhouse.
One purchased using Vassilis money.
Across from him sat Elena Roswell.
The ruby necklace sparkled around her neck.
She smiled as she rested a hand on her stomach.
"When are you going to tell Lady Adelle?"
John sighed.
"Must we discuss this again?"
"She deserves to know."
"She already suspects."
Elena looked uncertain.
"What if she divorces you?"
John laughed.
Actually laughed.
The arrogance in that sound made even the servants uncomfortable.
"Divorce me?"
He poured himself wine.
"Adelle would never do that."
"Why not?"
"Because she needs me."
Elena frowned.
John leaned back confidently.
"The Vassilis title will belong to her someday."
"And as her husband, I become Duke Consort."
His lips curled into a smirk.
"Everything she owns will eventually become ours."
Elena relaxed.
John's confidence reassured her.
Neither of them realized how wrong they were.
---
Three days later.
Clara returned with more information.
This time she looked pale.
"Milady... I have something else."
Adelle accepted another file.
Inside were witness statements.
Servants.
Merchants.
Coachmen.
Innkeepers.
All confirming the same thing.
John and Elena had been openly living as lovers for nearly two years.
Two years.
While Adelle remained at the ducal estate.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Trying.
The final document slipped from the folder.
A physician's report.
Estimated pregnancy:
Four months.
Adelle stared at the paper.
Four months.
Four months ago John had shared dinner with her.
Four months ago he had attended a royal banquet on her arm.
Four months ago he had still called himself her husband.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
Not pain.
Not heartbreak.
Those emotions had already died.
What remained was clarity.
Crystal clear.
John Vlahos had betrayed her completely.
There was nothing left to save.
Nothing left to mourn.
Only a future waiting to be reclaimed.
She carefully placed every document into a new folder.
Across its cover she wrote three simple words.
Grounds For Divorce.
Then she closed it.
The sound echoed through the room.
A final judgment.
A final farewell.
And the beginning of John Vlahos's downfall.
---
That evening, as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, Duke Alexander received a message from the royal palace.
A royal banquet would be held in two weeks.
Every major noble house would attend.
Including the king.
Including the entire court.
The duke slowly smiled.
A dangerous smile.
"Perfect."
His steward shivered.
"Your Grace?"
The duke folded the invitation.
"Tell Adelle."
"Tell her the stage has been prepared."
Because in two weeks, before the entire kingdom,
John Vlahos would learn exactly what it meant to underestimate the future Duchess of Vassilis.
- Writer
