The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride - Chapter 456

Chapter 456: Last warning (2)
“Ask my mother and she’ll tell you that she isn’t a saint. There is a lot I haven’t forgiven her for, and a lot that took years for us to settle. It didn’t just happen overnight. I was always quite open with you about what my issue was,” said Edgar.

Edmund wanted Cassidy, and Edgar had no issue with it. It wasn’t his marriage to be concerned about. What he didn’t like was Cassidy always placing herself before him, like she was his mother. Edmund knew this, yet he ignored it.

“I thought my mother didn’t want to be my mother and tried to send me away so she could be alone, only to later realise she was keeping me from that woman. You could help the kingdom with all kinds of laws, but you didn’t think it wise to keep her from our home,” Edgar said.

“It wasn’t my intention to have her there. We were young and foolish-”

“What’s the excuse now? Old and foolish? You can’t keep using that excuse. If not for my children being present, I would shoot you now and worry about the consequences later. It was a mistake for you to return to Lockwood. There’s nothing for you here,” Edgar said, preferring that Edmund leave.

“I have a son here, whether you like it or not. You are the good that came out of our marriage, despite how rotten you tend to be. I returned to be close to you and my grandchildren. I’m not going to make the mistake I made with you with my grandchildren.”

“You’re always approaching us because that woman can’t have children. I know your secrets,” Edgar said.

Edmund’s eyes widened since it was a private matter.

“You didn’t find out after you married her. You learned about it early in the affair. The closest she ever got to feeling like she had a child with you was from trying to act like my mother. All secrets come to light eventually for those who don’t know how to hide them well,” Edgar said, dismissing his father’s recent wishes.

“Spare me the talk about wanting to be with your son and grandchildren. You want to give that woman what she yearns for, but you won’t find it here. I told you the cost of having her was losing us. I am going to kill you,” Edgar promised.

In Edgar’s eyes, Edmund was no different from Tabitha.

Edmund was someone who had all the answers for other families around the town and was praised for it, but never seemed to know what to do for his own family.

Since Edmund was so helpful to many, when questions about his marriage came up, most pointed to Priscilla as the reason for it failing, not knowing that the kind Edmund had a mistress.

“I know you are,” Edmund answered.

Edmund took Edgar’s threat seriously, which was why he was always cautious about where he met Edgar.

“She’s not going to be your second mother,” Edmund promised. “I think it is only fair that my wife gets to meet my son.”

Edgar drew closer to Edmund to grab his shirt. “What part of I don’t want to be around her don’t you understand?”

“Father!” Penelope exclaimed, going to her father’s side to stop him.

Edgar looked to his right at Penelope.

“Are you going to kill me in front of my granddaughter, Edgar? You’re heartless, but not that heartless,” Edmund said, not the slightest bit concerned.

Edmund had hoped that Tabitha’s death would make Edgar and others want to be close instead of holding onto the past.

“I wasn’t the best father, but in the end, my work did something for you. It helped your wife against her family-”

“I helped Alessandra. Stop fishing for something to make yourself feel better. The palace has long urged families who cannot have a child of their own to adopt from the orphanages. You should have gone there because you don’t have a son,” Edgar said, holding Penelope’s hand. “You don’t have grandchildren to use.”

“Be gone by nightfall. If I see you then, you’ll die with that woman,” Edgar warned Edmund.

Penelope looked at Edmund, hoping he would be wise to gather his things and leave. His attempt to have a family came rather late, when everyone was already content with who was around them.

Penelope saw Edmund when he came to town, but it wasn’t so often for her to feel sorry for him now.

Penelope walked away with her father. “I’m sorry. It is expected that he would show up, but since he wasn’t at the funeral, I didn’t think he would come now. I shouldn’t have told you what happened.”

“You should have. Whatever happened to us not keeping secrets from each other? I told him my wishes, and he doesn’t respect them. Don’t get close to that woman,” Edgar advised Penelope.

Edgar wasn’t going to have his family pretend to be a family with Cassidy to make her feel better.

“After what I witnessed, I have no intentions of becoming close to her, and I have always respected your feelings. Well, for anything not concerning Tyrion. You must tell me how you come to learn of everyone’s secrets,” Penelope requested.

Penelope overheard what her father said about Cassidy, and judging from Edmund’s reaction, no one ever knew she couldn’t have children. It always seemed like they didn’t want children.

“They cannot stop themselves from sharing their own secrets, and you don’t need to know my ways. Too many people knowing will only get in my way,” Edgar said, keeping his secrets to himself. “Did you not just witness what talking too much does?”

“There are not many people. It is only me.”

“Once you know, then Lily will know. Not long after Elijah will know, and once Isabelle knows, the entire kingdom will know,” Edgar replied.

Penelope chuckled. She did intend to tell Lily.

“You should be happy that your children do not keep secrets from each other. We are quite close, and we had you and mother to thank for it. I am most grateful that you and mother have a rather peaceful marriage. It gave us a quiet childhood,” Penelope said, resting her head on Edgar’s shoulder.

“It is only peaceful because you came in when everyone who bothered us died. You are fortunate,” said Edgar.

“Mother said that you are in a good mood, but that is not the case. You are not happy about staying in the palace, are you?” Penelope asked, knowing he would rather go home.

“No, I am not. I hope concerning you and that boy, your side wins,” Edgar said after noticing Tyrion standing beside Tobias. “Please let your side win.”

“What?” Penelope asked, puzzled by what her father meant.