Chapter Thirty Two

Colonel Frederick Smyth felt sore in every part of his body, but the pain couldn't compare to the anguish pulsating in his heart. He had succumbed to his desires, indulging in a guilty pleasure that now tormented his soul. His lustful escapade with Caroline had not only left him riddled with guilt but also disappointment that he had betrayed the woman he had vowed to love and cherish.

The hours passed like days as Frederick paced his room, wracked with anxiety and regret. His mind was in a whirlwind as he replayed the events of the night before, each memory more excruciating than the last. The image of Caroline's face, those luscious lips that had drawn him in with such ease, continued to haunt him.

"What have I done?" he muttered to himself, his hands running through his hair in frustration. He knew the answer, of course, yet he still found himself searching for a way to make it all disappear.

The days that followed were a blur of sleepless nights and wracking sobs. Frederick found