The Duke's Bride

le exhaustion, though her eyes still showed an unfulfilled cu

on the door. Though she was initially reluctant to open

dear?" Samantha ask

ing a thin smile. "I'm fine, Moth

ched Hazel's loose hair, highlighting her daugh

ether she should share all her burdens with her mother. If Samantha knew, her fat

eeling anxious. Her maternal instincts

eplied, trying to deceive b

wedding, aren't you?" Sam

. How could she marry

felt the same when I married your father.

wanting to continue t

aid as she gently caressed Haze

*

report from the servant who had just brought Hazel home. As soon as the servant

el walking with a man in the garden behind the cathed

the man was?" Bar

"I feel like I've seen him before, b

not the time to confront the situation openly. Barnum restrained his emotions and said in a cold tone, "How dare tha

h his anger still burned within him, he decided to rem

*

arly falling to the floor. However, she felt she had no right to complain. She had

tting room of a renowned boutique. The staff working for Duke Kingsley were busy arrang

d in front of her, but Hazel felt no interest in any of them

said the boutique attendant as she presented

thout blinking. The grand ball gown, made of white sati

hion designer's assistant said, br

, and she felt how perfectly it fit her body. Seeing h

ion designer's assistant praised w

gown was indeed beautiful, and for the first time, she fel

"I can't believe my little girl, whom I cared for with so much love, ha

otional moment, feeling how qui

hin one, though her heart still harbored

sad. We can stil

teps of Count Barnum entering the room. His expression immediate

like?" Barnum scolded sharply, g

ok at her pale face," Barnum said, standing with his

re responding with distress, "I was just tr

ce is on your wedding day. Your face must reflect happiness, not look li

with makeup," Samantha tried to defu

h my daughter," B

n front of her father. "I understand, Father. I w

regarding the incident behind the cathedral? What were you

e was being watched. She could no longer lie. With a trembling voic

re the future wife of Duke Kingsley. Never act carelessly with

reprimands. Behind her compliance, she felt increasin

the consequences of breaking the norms

I know." Hazel

elings. When thinking about her upcoming wedding, Hazel instead recalled the man she h

tisfy Father?' Hazel th

*