Villains also get Second chance

Cassius pov

I saw Ian falling on the floor and my brows furrowed. I walked up to him and took the letter from his hand, but when I read the letter all I could see was blood. My whole body burnt in the fire with each word. I wanted to end her whole family then and there.

"Your highness, your highness"

"Cassius" I felt the tug and saw Ian shaking me badly calling me by my name.

I gave him a faint smile as I closed my eyes, I knew tears were there.

"It had been years since you last called me, Cassius," I replied with a small chuckle.

"What have you been thinking, your highness, how many times have I told you to forget all those memories. That was all in the past." he tried to coax me, to make me feel better.

I shook my head, "history is going to repeat itself, Ian. Marianne is going to betray me, that was the reason I never wanted to get married again. Women can not be trusted." I replied and he shook his head.

"No, your highness, I spent the whole day in it, her highness was with lord Damien and sir Roselia with there for just half an hour, apparently they were discussing divorce or a scheme against that cruel Isabella," he said with a small smile.

I closed my eyes as I tried to analyse but the dots were not connecting, her change was too sudden and out of the blue. 

"Tell me, Ian, why did Marianne do all this? As far as I know, Isabella had behaved friendly with Marianne all the time as she did with Killian and others, and she is best at keeping up her facade.

And up till a month ago when we went to Charles' marriage, she was eating and laughing with Isabella like a long lost sister. How has she changed now?`` I asked and he bowed his head.

"For god sake, speak, will you?" I yelled but he was still silent.

"Do I need to remind you why you are an orphan now, hmmm? Have you forgotten what had happened with both of us?'' I snarled, I knew it was too cruel of me, but the boy needed to learn.

He could not make the same mistake every time, rather than trusting a wrong person, I would not trust 100 right persons. Because not only mine, everyone else's safety was at stake.

Finally, my words hurt him enough, I could see his hands shaking, but I sat there without moving like a statue. Though my heart was bleeding for the boy, he was as important to me as Killian was. 

If I had to be a villain for his sake, then I was ready to do so too. Let him hate me if that would help me in teaching him the lessons of his life. It's better to be slapped by me than to be backstabbed by others.

"Your highness, I had kept a strong eye on Isabella, and her highness. Either you believe me or not, I am sure Isabella had done no mistake and maintained her facade well.

But her highness…"

"What about Marianne"

"Her highness had changed suddenly... Just on 13th June, she was here, requesting me to meet you, saying she would not leave if you would not meet her once, and on 15th June she rejected meeting you, since then she hated both you and Isabella.

And from the very same day she was trying to win over Killian, I know she fed her the pie, but it was a mistake... And I am not taking her side. I was wary too. But the girl, Daisy, is there. She is my spy. She is keeping an eye on her highness, like a hawk. 

Even the facade of Isabella breaks when she enters her house, though she has been doing that for ages, then how can her highness maintain it even when she is in private.

I know she shouts and often fought with us, punished us, but she was like a mirror, her every emotion was on her face.

Now she had a facade, I could see her calculated smile but still, her care for Killian felt genuine to me. In fact.."

"What is it?" I asked, taking the cup of tea in my hands.

"I think she thinks you have an extramarital affair with Isabella," he stated and the gulp of water I had taken came out of my mouth spitting over all the files. 

He looked at me with widened eyes and I glared at him back.

"Have you lost your mind, what the hell are you speaking," I shouted and he took a few steps back.

"I am only saying what Daisy had told me, your highness. She had heard her highness talking with her head maid Lina and so as sir Roselia that you are unfaithful in this marriage, so why did she waste time on you," he replied stammering but what I heard is only word faithful that word stung to me like all the insects crawling over my body. Biting me to my bones.

My eyes turned red and my whole body hurt, I walked towards the door but Ian covered it, strangely the boy who was covering in the corner was now standing bravely in front of me, ready to accept anything but not letting me go.

He must have sensed the change in me. I am an open book for him after all, but then he should know one more thing about me.

"Ian, I do what I want"

"Ian, either leave the door or I have to force you to get away with it." I threatened, he flinched but stood his ground.

"Looks like I have given you a lot of freedom. Huh? Now you even had the audacity to stand against me." this time his hands moved and he asked

"Where are you going, my lord? '' he asked and I gave him a cold look. 

"To show her who is distrustful here"