Lahat ng Kabanata ng Punished by the Duke: Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 60

~Leo~ Meeting Penny awakened a feeling I had never known before. Fear. The fear of losing her and living in a world without her. It was an all-consuming feeling that fogged my brain and stopped me from thinking rationally. Lawrence wasn't expecting me or Dad until another two hours. I used this time to look for any clues that could lead me to Penny or her brother. While I was away iceberg hunting, I found out she had a brother. I tasked my men with finding him, but they had nothing to report upon my return. Now I knew why. He had fled a few weeks ago. His uncle was too terrified of Lawrence to say a word to me. I gripped his arm, my fingers tightening until he winced in pain. This was the man who had made Penny's life a living hell. He had abused his right to guardianship. I wanted to shake him until his teeth rattled. But he looked like a cornered animal, his defeated eyes the same shade of blue as Penny's. Despite the strong desire to inflict pain, I released his arm. "Where's yo

~Leo~Penny's desperate shot, a near miss, barely grazed Lucian's shirt while Lucian's bullet slammed into her chest. The sight ripped a piece of my soul away as the shot sent her gasping to her knees. Even as she dropped to the ground, she mustered the last of her strength to put a bullet in his thigh.Before the echo of the shots faded, I leaped to grip my weapon instantly and unleashed two thunderous shots at Lucian, right between the eyes. Ignoring the spray of blood as his body crumpled to the ground, I ran to Penny's side, sweeping her broken form into my arms."Penny? Baby... please, look at me." This couldn't be happening for real. I pulled her to sit crosswise on my lap and cupped her tear-streaked face. She was gasping for breath. Fuck! I ripped a length of fabric from her gown and attempted to seal the wound with the material. The warm, slick feel of blood stained my trembling fingers through the cloth. "Trevor! Carriage, now!" I yelled, scooping Penny into my arms and rush

~Penny~My eyes fluttered open, trying to adjust to the dimly lit hospital room that smelled like antiseptic and smoke. "Leo? Where's Leo?" My words sounded like a croak. I tried to sit up, but the bandages around my chest tightened, spreading a dull ache across."Hello there, good afternoon," a nurse rushed to my side. "You can't move like that. You've been shot." How could I forget the searing heat of the bullet that tore through my chest? But I needed to know if Leo was okay. Was he shot too? Lucian had pointed his gun at Leo once he was done with me. I tried my best to stop him but failed."Is... Is His Grace----""Penny! You are up," Lucy cried out, her head peeking through the curtains before she stepped forward and occupied a chair by the bedside. "I was getting worried about you.""Lucy, thank the heavens! I am so relieved to see you fine and alive. You fell unconscious---""I feel all good now. It was just a minor contusion, either from the fall or the hard blow.""No concuss

~Penny~He was punishing me for wanting to leave him. A week had passed since I got discharged from the hospital in Grafton, but he hadn't uttered a word. We were back in Mountbatten, in some tiny town with a strange name, Fludir. I wondered why he wasn't back at the castle.I had no complaints about the town or the lavishly comfortable and cozy log cabin we were staying at. But the warm scent of pine and the soft crackles of the fireplace could only offer so much comfort against his chilling silence.Every night, I watched him return after dark and go straight to his room. I received updates through Lucy, which was infuriating. She told me he was trying to locate Ben.I wanted to be part of this search. I hoped to help ease his workload as he juggled managing his Duke duties and covering up the mess we created in Grafton. With the Campbell Princes gone and the King under probation, their kingdom's succession and the future of the ambitious railroad project hung in the balance.As he e

Eighteen Months Later (Mountbatten, Summer of 1862) ~Penny~ A tear escaped my eye as I gazed at the bright blue skies stretching above the moorland. The wild open space of the moorland opened up to a meandering river. Walking down the gentle slope of the well-worn path to the gushing water, I settled onto the bank. The low resonant hum of the water currents did little to calm my mind. Laying against the comforting heat of a sun-warmed stone, I fondly placed my hand on my stomach, trying to fight the tight knot in my throat as tears pricked at my eyes. It's gone—eight long weeks of emptiness. After carrying a baby for close to six months, I lost it. Just like the first time, but much further along. The pain was so much worse, both emotional and physical. And the bleeding lasted for days. I didn't want to dwell on the loss. But it was a persistent ache that lingered like a shadow. The day was too beautiful to be sad today, and I was here for a mental reprieve. I blinked back the t