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Treacherous hearts: Return of the Second Male Lead

Chapter excerpt: Charlton knew what was running in her head and in truth he wanted to mock her. ’You truly are a whore, aren’t you?’ he wanted to say. However, he was not planning to make this a one-time thing and he had more in store for her. So instead, he leaned forward as he started kissing her tears away. "Serena, I love you so much, do you know that? So please, don’t give me that look." Serena’s tears did not stop but what was the use. They were already like this and no matter how much she denies it, that she even let something like this happen… there’s only one conclusion. She still loved Charlton. Or at least she was that greedy for his love. She could not push him away so she could only raise her arms and envelope him in her embrace. "We’re going to burn in hell for this…." She whispered. Charlton burrowed his head on the juncture of her neck. He licked and kissed that part, careful not to leave a mark as they still will be meeting with the others later. He smirked when he felt her tremble. Why was she so easy? Regardless, he was enjoying what she can offer before he ruins her himself. "All the more reason to get as much heaven as we can now." He said, then he started moving. -- A year after his father’s death, grand duke Charlton Daniel finally responds to the summon of his uncle, the king, to return to the capital. Of course, his reason for compliance was not due to his subservience to the crown. Four years ago, his life has been turned upside down. His lover betrayed him for his cousin, the crown prince. His father was sent to prison because of a crime with dubious evidence. While he, himself, was sent to exile with a mission to capture the revolutionists. All of which, he took in strides because of his steadfast belief in humanity and justice. However, time changes everyone. Four years may seem short, but to some, it’s enough to change their perceptions and priorities. Once a pacifist at heart, Charlton is now going to return to the royal capital with a personal vendetta. -- To the public eye, Serena William, nee Maxwell, was living the perfect life. She was beautiful, rich, happily married, and has the unwavering support of her maternal family. Oh, and did I mention that she was also the crown princess and the most loved personage? Yes, that she was. Kind, generous, and approachable. She was a woman who was completely unlike any other. No one in the royal family was as well loved by the masses as she was. At least, that’s how her life was perceived to be. Behind closed doors, life was not as glamoured up as it was in the tabloids. Her first pregnancy ended up in stillbirth, while the next two ended up in miscarriages. Was this her retribution? She could not help but ask herself. This led to her guilt and self-blame which further developed her insecurity, and even inferiority complex. Aside from what she was undergoing herself, it doesn’t help that the queen mother kept on rubbing salt to injury by implying that she should let her lady-in-waiting, the queen’s first choice for crown princess, take over. Crown prince Geoffrey William was Serena’s saving grace, her knight in the shining armor, the man who sticked with her through thick and thin. Would she ever be willing to make way for another woman for his own good? Then worse, comes her old flame who seems to still be enamored with her. What lengths would she be willing to take to keep the pandora’s box shut? However, there are no secrets that time does not reveal. What will she do when she later finds out what her greatest champion did to her? -- Hearts will break, heads will roll. All is fair in love and war. This novel is not for the faint hearted. — This novel is the sequel to the first titled, ‘Making the second male lead fall in love with me, the Villainess’, and is set four (4) years after the royal wedding. (But you don’t need to read the first to understand this one, sequence is not important)

champilyn · History
Not enough ratings
157 Chs

Chapter 7: Persuading Charlton III

Although it was true that Charlton has grown spiteful of Serena over time, it would be unfair to say that his allegation was completely groundless. Before Serena came in the picture, his relationship with his cousin, Geoffrey, has always been a good one.

Perhaps one could say that Charlton was just being a hateful scorned lover, but for him, even if indirectly, Serena was the root cause. Even with the assumption that Geoffrey did not know about their affair, his defiance, him rejecting his olive branch, all his choices, everything he did, all of it were executed just so that he can rightfully marry her.

Whether Geoffrey knew or not, he does feel guilty for what he did as he admits that he has wronged him for pursuing a relationship with Serena knowing that she was his betrothed. If his involvement on what happened to his father only ended with that document, then he could let bygones be bygones. But the same would never be true for Serena.

Serena ruined his life. Even if she did it unknowingly, it doesn't change the fact that she was the root of all his sufferings. If not for her, he wouldn't have gone against Geoffrey, his father wouldn't have been imprisoned, his father's murderers wouldn't have gotten the chance, his mother won't be half insane, and he, he wouldn't have to live in a personal hell that seems to have been tailored fit for him. And you know what he abhors the most? While all these were happening to him, she continued to flaunt her perfect life, and with Geoffrey nonetheless, as if, as if she has always been completely and utterly innocent.

He despised her so much that he knew he needed to do something about it. He wanted her to suffer the same pains he's going through. He wanted to ruin her life like how she ruined his.

If there's anyone he hated more than those who were behind his father's death, it was her.

Charlton clenched his fist instinctively. Just a few more days and…

"Ouch! Ouch!" Hugo exclaimed as Charlton gripped his wrist.

Charlton quickly let go, "sorry, but what were you doing?"

Christopher shook his head, answering for Hugo, "Hugo was just trying to catch your attention. I have advised him against his method, but he wouldn't listen. Anyway, we've been calling you, but you seem to be in a trance. Are you alright?"

"Oh, I see. Yes, I'm alright, just thinking about something. Sorry again, Hugo. It didn't hurt, did it?" Charlton asked, quite unsure of how much force he put on that grip. But to be fair, he was surprised when Hugo suddenly threw his hand in front of his face. Anyhow, that's why he tries not to think of Serena with other people around. It has the tendency to consume him.

Hugo mocked cry, "How could you do this to me, Charlton? Why does it have to come to this? I know I'm better looking and all the above but… huhuhu…"

"What?" Charlton asked in confusion. What was Hugo talking about?

Christopher sighed in exasperation. "Don't mind him, Charlton. Hey Hugo, you better listen. If you don't want another stunt to Norfolk, you better quit whatever you've been smoking."

Hugo stopped mock crying and started laughing. "That's a good one, maybe I can use that phrase next time." Well, though he didn't like Christopher at times, he had to admit that some of his phrases were funny.

"Good luck on using it on the correct context then." Christopher dryly replied.

Hugo furrowed his brows. What did Christopher mean by that?

Charlton shook his head while smiling. Trying to sway their conversation to where they left of, he asked, "So, Christopher, how has your sister been?"

"Still pining away for you I bet." Hugo, still annoyed with Christopher, tactlessly commented, which earned him a glare from Charlton this time.

Christopher ignored Hugo's jab. In his opinion, although Charlton already turned down his family's betrothal offer thrice, so long as he still wasn't married, it's still fair play. Besides, it's the politically advantageous match that their family was after. That his sister has feelings for Charlton was just a lucky coincidence.

Now, what they don't understand was how Charlton sees the possible union. Initially, they thought that the reason he turned down the betrothal offer was because every time they mentioned it, the timing was always off.

The first time, Charlton said that he was still young, and marriage was not something he thought of yet. They understood because that was true. He was only 22 then, and aside from that, they believe that he was still a monarchist tiptoeing on which match the king would allow.

The second time, Charlton was already exiled in Norfolk and his father branded a criminal. So, they thought he must already have some dissatisfaction with their monarch. Since he took time to consider, they thought that he should be weighing the advantages of the match. However, unexpectedly, he turned it down. This time, he cited the fact that his future was still uncertain. Again, they took his words for face value because it was true. Also, the gravity of dissatisfaction for his uncle then might not be that much.

The third time was the one they sent a few months back. It's been a year since Charlton's father died in injustice, he was already turning 26 (average age of men in the Victorian era to get married) that year, and there's just no more valid excuse they could think of. However, he still turned down the offer with the excuse that he wasn't ready for a relationship given his current position, and he hopes that Annalys would get herself a match this year.

If their family still didn't understand what he meant when it was clear as day, then that would just be pure stubbornness. Charlton doesn't seem to be interested in a betrothal with Annalys.

Thus, that got them thinking, why was that the case and was there a way for it to be rectified?

--

TBC