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Chapter 12
Daniel forced himself to break the kiss. If he had not, he reckoned the ladies who were bullying his wife would have had to witness an even more inappropriate scene. Magnolia’s forehead fell on his chest.
“Please, do not let go,” she murmured. “I think my legs will give in if you do.” Her revelation drew a smile on Daniel’s face, and he tightened his arms around her.
Magnolia was out of breath. It was not her first kiss, but she did not understand why the feelings were dramatically different.
In the past, when the baron kissed her, she felt revolted and cringed away from his touch. His kisses were violent and demanding. But why did she enjoy Daniel’s? Why did she want him to kiss her more? Why did she want to stay in his arms forever?
The thoughts created chaos in her head, they went against everything she had promised herself when she was finally free from the baron. Why was she letting a man touch her and worse, she enjoyed it?
“Can you walk
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DANIEL KNEW THAT HE HAD BEEN AVOIDING MAGNOLIA. The feelings he had at the ball were so intense and confusing that he did not know how to deal with them. Staying away from her until he figured everything out was the only way he could think of. But Henry’s words have gotten him worried. Aurora was a spoiled child and always got what she wanted. She had been known for getting violent when she did not get her way. He groaned. For the next couple of days, Daniel continued to avoid Magnolia. He buried himself in work and spent his nights in his office. They finally met on the day of the princess’ tea party. When Daniel opened the door to the carriage and entered, he saw the surprise on Magnolia’s face. “I have to go to the palace for a meeting, going separately would be irrational,” he explained. “I see,” was all she said. Then she looked out the window as the carriage made its way through the streets of Throka. Daniel n
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MAGNOLIA WAS TOO AFRAID to even look back. Just hearing that name made her skin crawl. The duchess had to grip the edge of the table as the waves of emotions crashed against her. She swallowed hard, trying to be rational about the situation. There was no way that the princess of the kingdom invited the one person Magnolia loathed the most to her afternoon tea. But as Serena joined the princess and greeted her, Magnolia’s optimistic thoughts vanished. ‘How is this possible? It takes a week to travel from Kerika to the capital? Unless she was already here. Or maybe the princess had invited Serena before she even invited me.’ “Duchess?” the princess called Magnolia as she was the only one still standing, lost in her thoughts. All eyes were on her, she looked around and sat instantly. Her head was in chaos. Her eyes traveled to Aurora, and she realized that this whole tea charade was for the princess to torment her by inviting t
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“Victor, fetch the doctor and bring him to the house.” Daniel barked as he picked up his wife. “We are going first.” He rushed to the carriage with Clara closely behind. ‘What in the world happened?’ Countless thoughts scrambled in his head, most of them involved the princess hurting Magnolia in some way. “Jeremy, get to the house as fast as these horses can go.” “Yes, Your Grace.” The pale coachman rushed to his seat and got ready to race for his life. Once inside the carriage, Daniel held his wife on his lap, stroking her face gently. She was burning. “Magnolia, can you hear me?” Her eyes flew open. “You have to protect Geoffrey from that evil bitch,” she uttered. “Promise me.” Daniel was confused. “Who? The princess?” “No.” Magnolia groaned from pain. “Lasen—Lasen.” She clenched her fingers around his arm. “She almost killed me many times, do you understand?” She twisted in
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