Leah was fuming with anger. "Get out of the way, old hag! I''ve put up with you for too long! I respected your age, but I didn''t realize you werepletely ipetent. I''ve never insulted an elder in my life, but I''ll make an exception for you. You''d better not force me to p you. If you can''t keep your mouth shut, I''ll sew it shut for you." Leah had always respected her elders and cared for the young, but she was, first and foremost, a martial artist. If she gave others an inch of respect and they tried to take a mile, then she wouldn''t hold back from retaliating.


    Dorothy was furious. Abigail quickly supported her and whispered as they walked, "Mother, please don''t stir things up. It won''t look good if the Hell Monarch''s princess consort shows up and sees this."


    "Am I supposed to be afraid of her?" Dorothy snapped.


    The one she loathed most was Carissa. "Though she''s a princess consort, she has no right to interfere in the affairs of our household. Even Lady Heather hasn''t said a word! She''s just a meddler, poking her nose where it doesn''t belong!" However, hearing the criesing from inside made Dorothy shiver a little.


    "Isn''t Sebastian''s apprentice in there? What''s she doing? Can''t she use some drugs or something for the delivery?" she said.


    They climbed the stone steps, and a room full of women waited in the outer room, separated by a curtain from Leona''s delivery room.


    Leona was already writhing in pain. Although the blood on her forehead had stopped, her face was badly swollen. Samuel had pushed her down the stone steps just as Leah and na were not around. By the time na rushed over, Leona had already fallen. The steps weren''t high, but Leona was heavy, and her head struck the edge of the first step. By the time na scooped her up, blood was pouring from the wound.


    Fortunately, Ivy had arrived a few days earlier and had tended to Leona''s injuries quickly. Also, the midwife had been arranged in advance by Carissa-she was the best in the capital. Countless noble families had chosen her to assist with their deliveries.


    After treating the wound on Leona''s forehead, Ivy sensed that the situation was dire. Even though Leona was already inbor, a hard fall at this stage was serious.


    "Go and call for Lady Heather!" Abigail was deeply worried, her palms slick with sweat. If something were to happen to Leona, the royal family would surely ce the me on the Earl of Gracehold''s family. Both the queen dowager and the king held Leona in high regard. Someone dashed out, calling for the guards, who galloped off toward Hartstone Estate.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    The men of the Earl of Gracehold''s family weren''t allowed in the courtyard, so they gathered in the side hall, anxiously awaiting news. It was clear how things had escted.


    Noah wished he could break


    Samuel''s legs. He had thought his son was sincere in reconciling with Leona, unaware that Samuel


    harbored so much resentment he resorted to violence at the


    slightest provocation. Co pet


    Had Noah known, he would have never let Samuel return home. It was better to let him perish outside. It was only because Dorothy had taken pity on Samuel that they had brought him back.


    The family members from the other


    branches were present as well. This wasn''t just a simple case of a woman giving birth-the duchess was involved. If anything happened to Leona, it would spell disaster for the Langley family.


    "Lady Carissa has arrived!"


    With that shout, the tension in the air thickened. While Carissa could be agreeable, she was just as capable of showing no mercy when angered.


    Carissa paid no mind to the chatter as she hurried toward Leona''s courtyard with Violet in tow.


    As soon as they entered, they


    spotted Samuel bound to a tree, his face battered and bruised. Blood


    dripped from his mouth, and he could d only manage to open one eye. His handsome features werepletely gone, reced by the visage of a pig.


    "Carissa, Violet." Leah stepped forward, her voice thick with emotion. "I''m so sorry. We failed to look after the duchess properly."


    "How is Leona?" Carissa asked just as a sharp yet gradually weakening voice came from inside.


    "Cari... Cari..."


    A sharp pang shot through Carissa''s heart as she hurried inside.