Chapter 225: Letting go [1]
Away from Eloise’s old home, Rosalie travelled in her carriage alongside her father to visit the court. She could not put off coming face-to-face with Cole and Victoria since the divorce wasn’t final and the mystery of Faye’s death was still being solved.
"You won’t have to speak to them if you do not want to. You only need to speak to the men in court to give your side of what happened with the maid and speak a little about your pending divorce. I will handle the other matters for you," Benedict promised, keeping a watchful eye on Rosalie.
"I can face them now. I don’t plan to run from those two since I don’t have anything to be ashamed of. I didn’t cheat on my husband, nor did I have an affair with his friend. I want to see that they are both getting what they deserve," said Rosalie, her gaze fixed on the passing market stalls outside.
"And they shall. Victoria’s father has been writing to me," Benedict shared, drawing Rosalie’s attention back to him.
"Have you responded to him? My heart goes out to her family as they weren’t in the wrong, but you mustn’t help them anymore," Rosalie pleaded, unwilling to save Victoria.
"I have not responded. I only wanted you to know in case it is mentioned today. He has been begging to allow Victoria to apologise before us. He is adamant that she is innocent when it comes to Faye."
"And what of when it comes to sleeping with my husband? I wish he would stop reaching out to you, as what he is asking might only make me come to dislike him. I don’t want to hear Victoria apologise, so do not bring her to me," Rosalie requested, uninterested in more talking.
"Why does it seem as though Victoria and her family think my only troubles with her are about Faye? She slept with my husband. Even when I move on from this, there won’t be a friendship. Is it because of her father’s work?" Rosalie wondered aloud, her fingers tightening around the carriage’s velvet lining.
"I do not know. I have not had any conversation with him since I halted all the work he was doing. Whatever the reason is, it doesn’t concern you. The town guards are still holding Cole, so he will likely be jailed soon," Benedict said, pleased by the news.
"I am surprised you did not kill him," Rosalie muttered
"Would you have preferred that I did? I wished to do it so you wouldn’t be spoiled by his actions. I would rather you be the wife of a man who mysteriously died than be the wife of a murderer who cheated on you. It is not too late," Benedict said, preferring to kill Cole.
"Faye should receive justice, and her family has their answer. If he is ever released after he has been jailed, I want you to kill him. He should never be able to walk free. I wish his mother would stop trying to meet with me," Rosalie muttered, angry that all sides bothered her.
"She should be happy that she is finally getting the grandchild she has always pestered me about. Why is she turning to me when she now has Victoria?" Rosalise wondered, though she had the answer.
" All this time, she has been upset that I didn’t become pregnant. Now that the marriage is ending, she wants to be kind," Rosalie said, looking out at the passing scenery of the market. The smell of baked bread drifted through the open window.
They were close to the court.
"That home will soon be empty. Perhaps she is trying to learn how much Cole would gain from the divorce," Benedict assumed.
"You placed everything in my name. It is as though you knew that this marriage wasn’t going to last. Still, you allowed me to marry him because I loved him. I won’t put you in the position to have to be so cautious again," Rosalie promised. "I will choose better the second time."
"It doesn’t matter who you pick, Rosalie. I will always be cautious because I am your father. I have protected your brothers as well," Benedict revealed.
"Still, I don’t want any of us to be in this position again. Why have we arrived at the court so soon?" Rosalie muttered, wishing the ride would last a little longer. "Now I must see them."
"You won’t see Cole since he has been arrested, and it is not certain that Victoria will be present. If they are wise, they wouldn’t have sent for her to arrive at the same time as you. They sent this request to us at the last moment. I shall get your door," Benedict said when the carriage came to a stop.
Rosalie looked up at the court. She crossed her fingers, hoping that she wouldn’t have to see Victoria or Cole, though she knew she wasn’t so lucky.
Rosalie exited the carriage with the help of her father. She held onto his arm as they walked up to the court doors.
Guards held the door open for the pair so they could enter, and at first, there was no sight of the two people Rosalie did not want to see.
Rosalie sighed, relieved that the visit might be a peaceful one. She only wanted to learn about what happened to Cole and Victoria from the court.
"Wait here a moment, Rosalie. I need to see if they are ready to take us. If they are not ready, we shall leave and return another day."
"I can wait. I would rather get this over with today than have to come another day," Rosalie said, her words leaving her mouth slowly as something caught her attention. "I knew this would happen. I don’t have much faith in the court."
Benedict looked at what caught Rosalie’s attention and noticed that Victoria was present. "We can leave. This isn’t what they spoke of in their letter," he said.
"I no longer care to leave. I thought I would if I saw her, but I don’t. Since we all live in the same town, I must get used to seeing her. I am surprised that they have not arrested her," Rosalie said, looking away from Victoria. "I am certain she knew what he had done."
"You need proof, and while she might have known he killed the maid, her punishment won’t be as serious as Cole’s if she wasn’t the one who killed Faye. I will stay at your side," Benedict said, deciding to stay.
"Father, I can take care of myself. I said what I needed to when everyone gathered, and I don’t plan to argue with a pregnant woman. Do what you must to make this go faster so I don’t need to come to the court again," Rosalie encouraged her father.
Rosalie looked in Victoria’s direction again, and to her surprise, Victoria was not alone. Cole’s mother was present at Victoria’s side.
"It keeps getting better and better," Rosalie mumbled, hardly surprised to see the pair together.
