Chapter 28 " Don't touch me . Get lost ! " Phillipa flung his hand away . " You disgust me ." n Right after , Phillipa turned to the maid she brought . " We're going home . If I come to the Chancellor's estate again , I'll be a dog . " Dominic was caught off guard , stumbling into the snow . He got up and instinctively glanced toward Gracewind Garden . Suddenly , his heart pounded erratically . An unexplainable unease surged through him , as if someone had caught him with some unforgivable secret . In the end , Dominic didn't even think about Tessa and rushed off to find Margaery . Tessa leaned out the window , trembling as she shouted , " Dominic ! " But Dominic didn't look back . Tessa was so furious that her nails dug deep into her palms . " I can't believe it . Even now , at this point , he's still such a coward , still terrified Margaery will find out ." " Looks like I need to stir the pot myself ." Tessa gritted her teeth and turned to Paige . " Go keep an eye on him . The second anything happens , you come straight back and tell me . " Paige didn't want to head out in the snowstorm . But with Gracewind Garden no longer accepting her , she had no choice but to stay with Tessa and earn her keep . Tessa was too angry to sleep , her stomach feeling worse and worse . Before she came here , Tessa thought with the Chancellor's estate holding so much power , finding a skilled doctor to cure her stomach illness wouldn't be that hard . But after seeing so many imperial physicians , none of them had been able to help . Sometimes , Tessa genuinely felt jealous of Margaery . Kneeling in the snow , locked up in a woodshed , yet somehow still full of life . At that moment , Dominic arrived at Gracewind Garden . The lights in Margaery's room were still on . She sat quietly by the brazier , completely focused on what she was reading , her expression calm and serene . Dominic found himself staring . In the past , he thought Margaery was immature , still throwing childish tantrums at sixteen , nowhere near capable of becoming the proper lady of the house . But now , Margaery seemed exactly like the wife he'd always dreamed of - sharing a quiet evening , reading by lamplight , wrapped in red sleeves . After all , they had grown up together . Dominic's heartbeat quickened with sudden heat . " Margaery … " he couldn't help calling her name . In the dim light , Margaery glanced at the man standing in the doorway , playing dumb . " What brings Lord Dominic to see me again ? " Seeing her act as if nothing had happened , Dominic let out a slow breath . He replied , " Margaery , I came to tell you that I'll be marrying you soon . After all these years , we've grown up together . " 1/3 10:57 Thu , 21 Aug 46 % 38 ) Chapter 28 Through the closed door , Dominic stared at Margaery , who was still seated by the brazier , studying a chart of acupuncture points . A complicated mix of emotions swelled in his chest . He continued , " It's true that Prince Dashnell has taken a liking to you , but he's a cripple . He won't be able to father children . " Dominic took a deep breath , softening his tone as he stepped into the room . " You're a woman . If you marry him , what future will you even have ? But don't worry . " Once you become my wife , as long as you fulfill your duties as lady of the house , I won't treat you badly . At least , you'll have children of your own , and the rest of your life won't be empty . " Dominic looked at her , as if already seeing her future play out : marrying him , then being forced to explain the medicinal formula to the King , helping Avery return to the imperial medical bureau . Meanwhile , she herself would be thrown into the Laundry Bureau , or worse , the Labor Division . If she was lucky , after years of hardship , Margaery might survive - old , worn , and exhausted . If not , she would die in the Hadley household . For the Wallen family and the Hadley family , having one daughter for a marriage alliance was enough . Two was redundant . So now , Dominic's gaze toward Margaery carried a hint of pity , a kind of sympathy he had never shown before . It was his final trace of pity . Margaery looked up and stared at him for a long while before speaking . " You're right . We grew up together . Ten days from now , I'll personally attend your grandmother's birthday celebration . " In her previous life , during that same birthday party , Dominic had torn up the engagement with his own hands , making her a laughingstock across Sinderin City . Margaery would never forget that . This time , she would return the favor . Seeing her like this , Dominic thought she had agreed . He nodded . " Then rest well . I'll visit you again tomorrow . " " Take care . " Margaery lifted her eyelids lazily and didn't spare him another glance . Dominic thought to himself , ' It's already so late , and Phillipa hasn't come to see Margaery again , so she must be done for the night . But with things escalating like this , somehow , Dominic had no desire to see Tessa anymore . After leaving Gracewind Garden , Dominic hurried home to prepare for the marriage proposal . " Well , pig must be flying ." After he left , Amber shut the main gate and said in surprise , " Why did Lord Dominic suddenly start talking nicely ? " " Because he's feeling guilty . " Margaery shot her a glance . " He thinks that with the situation turning against him , father and the others are eager for him to marry me as soon as possible ." In the previous life , Margaery had been entangled with these people for an entire lifetime . She might not know every detail of their personalities , but she had figured out eighty percent . Margaery explained , " Father knows Dashnell might be watching me . He's afraid I'll lose control and refuse to speak up for Avery . That's why he wants Dominic to marry me quickly , to keep me in check and force me to go to the King and get Avery back into the imperial medical bureau . " The palace has always been linked . If Lady Alicia loses Avery , my father's political standing will crumble too . So compared to family interests , my life means nothing . 2/3 10:57 Thu , 21 Aug G 6 Chapter 28 " And now that Tessa knows Dominic is going to marry me , she'll definitely try to keep his heart with her . Dominic won't resist her sobbing and whining , and they'll probably end up sweet - talking and fooling around . " But on the surface , he'll still want to play the gentleman , calling me a vicious woman while he keeps his reputation clean . But that clean image was just shattered by Phillipa . " 38 Margaery let out a cold laugh . " Now , all those moments when he looked down on me and accused me of his high horse not holding up anymore . " He came tonight just to make sure Phillipa wouldn't come to me and stir up trouble . He's also afraid I'll find out and embarrass him , leaving him with no way to save face and handing me leverage over him . " Outside , the wind and snow howled . Inside , candlelight flickered . The brazier crackled and popped . Margaery spoke of things that deeply affected her own fate , yet her face remained perfectly calm , as if she were telling . someone else's story . Amber , feeling both heartbroken and stunned , asked after a long silence , " Then why didn't you confront him ? You clearly knew that Lady Phillipa had caught them … No , you even planned it . " Phillipa was invited by Margaery herself , and it was Amber who delivered the letter . But what Amber couldn't figure out was why Margaery didn't follow up after that . " I'm not making a move yet because it's not the right time ." Margaery tossed another charcoal piece into the brazier , stirring up a burst of sparks . " If I strike , it has to be fatal . " 3/3 AD Comment