Revenge Costs Interest [EN]: Chapter 22

Revenge Comes with Interest 22. My Woman, My Man (22/200)

My Woman, My Man

2023.08.22.

Late at night, Rapa was entertaining an important guest from abroad, with Maddox, the organization’s second-in-command, by his side.

“We have over a hundred Hamilton general stores throughout Gardencia. You definitely won’t regret it.”

Originally, Allen didn’t want to deal with Rapa. He didn’t like the Gypsy background and the shady organization.

However, Rapa offered the largest sum, so refusing would clearly be a loss.

“The name ‘Hamilton General Store’ alone is worth money.”

Allen was annoyed by Rapa’s words.

“Please don’t use the name ‘Hamilton.’ As you know, the Hamilton family are traitors. Your customers won’t like it.”

The fact that the name remained throughout Gardencia was unpleasant. He wanted to erase any trace of Hamilton, which is why he was selling the general stores.

“Hey! Our members in Gardencia know. Most people there say Richard Hamilton was framed. The reputation of Hamilton General Stores is still good.”

This was troublesome… Allen shook his head. He had hoped to deal with even a gangster organization by offering a high price.

“I won’t use it, so don’t worry. But give me a discount.”

The quick-witted Rapa immediately understood Allen’s intentions and tried to renegotiate the price.

“Lower the price…”

Allen clasped his hands together, deep in thought. In fact, as soon as he announced the sale of the general stores, every newspaper in Gardencia published articles expressing concern.

And because he was branded a traitor, those trying to take it for a pittance were so annoying. So, he came to Lubeck to finalize the deal with them.

But if he had to lower the price further, there had to be some benefit for him. Suddenly, an idea flashed in Allen’s mind.

“How about getting rid of Duke Courtois? If you do that, I might sell it at the price you want.”

At Allen’s words, Rapa and Maddox exchanged glances silently. Soon, they burst into loud laughter.

“Who did you say to get rid of? Duke Courtois? He’s practically the second-in-command of the Lubeck Empire. You want us Gypsies to get rid of him?”

“Are you not confident?”

He honestly thought it was a good plan because there would be no repercussions if he died at the hands of lowly gangsters.

After all, they were the kind of people who did vile things like rats in the gutter. Besides, weren’t they the ones who smuggled anything for money, whether it was opium or anything else?

“He’s not an easy opponent. We might get hurt.”

Rapa shuddered at the mere thought of Duke Courtois. He thought he was just a war hero. But he was the kind of person who would blow up this entire area to get one herbal medicine.

He had never met such an extreme person in his life. Negotiation or persuasion was completely useless. Moreover, he was the kind of man who had no concept of asking for favors or bowing his head to others.

“Let’s just forget about it.”

Maddox waved his hand at Allen, refusing.

Allen would return to his country once the deal was done, but it was obvious that any organization that killed Lubeck’s war hero would be arrested and hanged.

Still, Terrence was strong-willed, but Allen was no pushover either.

‘Selling the general stores and asking to kill the Duke. He’s got guts.’

Or maybe he’s tasted money and doesn’t know how scary the world is anymore.

‘He doesn’t see what’s coming. Just because you have a lot of money doesn’t mean the world will be the way you want it to be.’

When Rapa refused, Allen persistently pressed on.

“Then, let’s do this. I’ll lower the price, but don’t kill anyone. Instead, do something else for me.”

“Something else?”

“Isn’t it your specialty to handle things without anyone knowing who did it?”

“Stop beating around the bush and tell me.”

“Send the Duke’s fiancée to Gardencia.”

Allen was confident that if he had Grace in his hands, he could make her forget Terrence. No woman had ever resisted his advances.

It wasn’t just because he coveted Grace. He wanted to see Terrence’s madness as he watched his fickle fiancée.

Terrence was the one who played tricks on people first. So, he had to take revenge.

Rapa and Maddox pondered. It was a relief that it wasn’t about killing the Duke, but kidnapping his fiancée….

Honestly, it wasn’t that difficult. Kidnapping was their specialty.

* * *

Leah’s disappointment was immense. She thought that if she went out wearing the lace dress that Chanelle had painstakingly made, it would be a hit, but it only damaged her reputation.

“It was too ahead of its time.”

Pauline, who heard about the party from Leah, also seemed very disappointed.

“Really? Would it have been better if it was less unconventional?”

“No matter how pretty the dress was, the noble ladies would have been jealous of you.”

In the end, the approach was wrong. To them, it just looked like a hateful act of trying to attract attention by wearing a revealing dress, and the dress itself didn’t really catch their eye.

Just then, there was a knock. Pauline immediately opened the door, and James was there.

“Miss, the Duke is looking for you.”

“Where is he?”

“He’s in the drawing-room.”

“I’ll be down soon.”

Leah checked her appearance. Since the day of the party, she had deliberately avoided Terrence. She was annoyed by him for hitting the nail on the head about her failure, and on the other hand, she was confused.

“Pauline, Terrence is a man, right?”

Leah asked Pauline as she went down the stairs.

“I don’t think he’s a woman?”

Pauline looked at Leah strangely and replied.

“No, that’s not what I mean, what does Pauline think… No, never mind.”

Not only did she secretly listen to the conversation with Dr. Wilson, but she was even telling Pauline. That wouldn’t do.

How humiliated would Terrence be if he found out later? But Terrence’s gaze and passion were definitely things that could be felt from a normal man.

‘I can’t even check with Dr. Wilson.’

Leah shook her head roughly, thinking it was a useless thought.

Before she knew it, she had arrived in front of the drawing-room. She had been avoiding him for days, so she didn’t have the confidence to face him.

“I’m here.”

Leah said quietly, and Terrence and Luke looked at her at the same time. But on the table, there were piles of letters instead of teacups.

“Everyone out except Grace.”

Leah was terrified by Terrence’s stern voice. Was he angry because she hadn’t done anything with him like eating together, taking walks, or having tea?

“Come and sit down.”

Terrence said to Grace after Luke and Pauline left.

“Are you still angry?”

“Yes.”

Leah answered honestly.

“I didn’t go to look like a prostitute to men in the dress Chanelle made. I had a plan of my own.”

“Who said Grace looked like a prostitute?”

“They said I was like a prostitute, an attention seeker, and that I was shamelessly trying to seduce men.”

“Crazy…!”

Terrence’s face was terribly distorted. Now that he thought about it, Grace seemed a little slow.

He had shown his desire like a beast in front of her, but he wondered how she could interpret it in another way. No, he had to check.

“What am I to Grace? Besides a fiancé.”

“Family?”

He looked dumbfounded and was speechless for a while.

He was going to consider it normal if she answered at least ‘a man.’

‘Family.’ That was a word that implied being tired of more than 20 years of married life, but she didn’t even know that.

“Ask me the same question.”

“What am I to Terrence? Besides a fiancée.”

“My woman.”

Leah’s heart was pounding wildly again.

Suddenly, Terrence was glowing and looked so cool. It was hard to believe that Terrence, who spoke like the ultimate man, was actually impotent.

At this moment, she resented God. What on earth did he do to that perfect man?

“I’ll ask again.”

Terrence persistently pressed on.

She could feel his strong will to get the words he wanted to hear from Grace’s mouth no matter what.

“What am I to Grace? Besides family.”

Leah hesitated. Now that she knew what he wanted to hear, she couldn’t open her mouth.

She was so embarrassed that she wanted to run away if there was a mouse hole. But looking into his dark eyes that seemed to burn her to death, she couldn’t put it off any longer.

“Fiancé… No, my man?”

Only then did the corners of Terrence’s lips turn up.

“You misunderstood. What I said about wanting to tear off your dress.”

“You did want to tear it off, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I said it because it was terrible that other men were seeing my woman’s smooth, bare skin.”

“!?”

“I hope you’ll only wear it in front of me from now on. No, I prefer it. It’s easy to take off.”

‘The impotent is saying all sorts of things.’

Soon, Terrence beckoned Grace with his finger. It meant to sit next to him.

Leah was captivated by his eyes and unknowingly approached and sat beside him.

“There is no more hypocritical being than a human.”

“Yes?”

“Those are the proof. Check it out.”

Terrence pointed to the pile of letters on the table, and Leah opened them one by one to check the contents. Soon her eyes widened.

Leah repeatedly checked the letters quickly.

“How is it? Am I right?”

“I heard it with my own ears. They said I looked like a prostitute.”

Leah cried out loud.

The letters sent by the noble ladies who had insulted her contained praise that the lace dress worn at the party was impressive, and they wanted to know where to order the dress, no matter how much it cost, so they could make and wear it themselves.

Leah was overwhelmed with emotion and wrapped her arms around Terrence’s neck and cried.

Soon she was surprised by her actions and tried to get away from him quickly. Of course, Terrence grabbed her wrist.

“It’s too early to cry yet.”

“What else is there?”

Leah stared at him with tearful eyes.

But his body showed an abnormal reaction. In the past, when Grace cried, he felt she was pretty, but now his desire for her surged.

He wanted to hug a crying woman. He must be sick.

‘Getting excited when crying is perverted.’

But he didn’t seem normal in front of her either.

Terrence handed Leah a letter he had set aside.

“It’s a letter from the Empress.”

“R… Really?”

Leah opened the letter sent by the Empress with trembling hands.

“Oh my gosh! The Empress also wants to order it.”