Unfortunately, I'm an Evil Villainess

Chapter 74 - The Prince's Banquet (II)

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Baroness Isabel Ratched Bryant was shaking with anger because her husband was an absolute fool. Herbert Bryant paced around the sitting room, throwing his hands up in the air.

"I don't know what's wrong with you. Briana's always ill! We have the best physicians in the capital on call, Catherine and I make no difference! For God's sake, what's your problem?"

"My problem? My problem is that you care about that tramp you picked off of the streets more than you care about our daughter! You've changed, Herbert! She's manipulating you!"

Herbert shook his head furiously.

"So it's still about Catherine! I've told you, she's my daughter, and at the very least you're going to treat her with decency, like it or not! I brought her into this household, and she's not manipulating anyone. I love you and I love Briana, just as I love her."

"You love her? The wench you've known for five months? I don't give a shit if she's some saint, she doesn't belong here. If it's not her, then it's that foul man that raised her! God knows what he did with her! She has no sophistication whatsoever, like a peasant!"

"Charles is very loyal to me, and he did his best. It's not his fault that-"

"Then why didn't he bring her back to you earlier? You think I don't know he was your valet? Their heads were both messed up in that accident, that's why! He's always muttering, mad like a dog. Persecution mania, that's what!"

Herbert's chest heaved. They stood face to face, and his eyes flared. He let out a cold laugh.

"You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Maybe I don't, because you won't tell me! After all these years, you still don't trust me. Remember when you thought I was spying for Daddy? Well, Daddy's dead! Oh, is that why you waited to bring her back? Because you knew Daddy would never have stood for this?!"

Isabel trembled, knowing from the flash she'd caught on Herbert's face that she'd struck a nerve. It was all too horrible. She remembered it clearly, returning from Daddy's funeral, eyes still red from crying, to see that bitch for the first time with Herbert wrapped around her fingers, daring to trespass into her home, and the rage that had replaced her grief was finally unleashed.

"Daddy adored Briana, and he told me it was because she tied you to me! He knew you never cared about me in the slightest! When we first married, you wouldn't even look at me. Now you expect me to put up with that thing in my house, bringing shame to our name, embarrassing our family, and dragging our reputation through the mud! You must see that she's rotten, Herbert! You have to cut her off!"

"Then that's where we disagree. She's a part of this household, and that's not up to debate! Instead of trying to ruin her image for me to get rid of her, if you'd helped her, we wouldn't be here!"

"You want me to associate with such a lowly-"

"Spare me your ridiculous bias! Hell, you were a commoner before you married me! It's that Avington girl's fault, isn't it? Putting ideas into your head? Isabel, you're a goddamn Bryant! Think for yourself!"

"I did, and I know it'd be better for our family if that wench left! You'd see it too if you weren't so damn stubborn! I also think that Daddy was right, and I should've never married you!"

She panted, hoping against hope that her husband would get on his knees and beg for forgiveness for his stupidity, or even just sweep her into his arms and apologize, and promise to make things better. Instead, he spoke coldly.

"Don't be absurd. I could've told you that long ago."

Before she knew it, her palm landed on his cheek in a loud slap. Her hand stung as she stormed out of the room, her heart pounding with a wild mix of emotions as she tried to neglect the instantaneous regret filling her.