Scoundrel With A Noble Heart (sequel of Disgraceful)

Chapter 105

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"I'm leaving for America by week's end."

Her world ground to a halt. The vibrant garden around her seemed to blur out, the cacophony of crickets chirping and distant laughter fading into a deafening silence as her mind grappled with the unexpected news.

America. It wasn't just another city, another state - it was a different part of the world, an ocean away. How many million miles stretch from here to there? How long would it take to travel to such faraway land? Weeks, maybe even months at sea, with the constant threat of storms and illness. Most who embarked on such a journey never set foot on home soil again.

Marguerite gasped for breath as an icy grip squeezed the air from her lungs. Momentarily forgetting her feigned indifference, she blurted out,
"Why so sudden?"

He shook his head, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features,
"It's been on my wish list for almost a year. A friend of mine is building a company of his own there, and he offered me a partnership. It felt like the right time, a chance for a fresh start."

A tense beat stretched into a heavy silence. The air crackled with unspoken emotions, swirling around them like a tangible force. Finally, Marguerite spoke, her voice barely a whisper, "Will you...will you ever return home?"

He gazed out into the distance, his jaw clenching for a brief moment before he replied,
"Perhaps not. There's nothing here for me to come home to. In fact, my brother would be most relieved to finally get rid of me."

When his gaze shifted back to her, they were filled with an earnestness that threatened to unravel her.
"Maggie, I told you I will only let you go if he loves you as much as I do. I've seen him risking his own life to save you. He'd proven himself worthy. You said all you wanted was to be with him. If that is what truly brings you happiness, then I won't stand in your way."
He paused, a flicker of pain crossing his features before he offered her a smile that both warmed and broke her heart. It held a lifetime of unrequited love and a bittersweet acceptance of his fate.

"Goodbye, Maggie," he whispered, his voice husky with emotion. "I wish you all the happiness in the world."

Marguerite stood frozen, a statue carved from grief. She dared not open her mouth to say anything, afraid her voice would crack and shatter the fragile strength holding her together. As if sensing the somber atmosphere, Chester nipped at Jacob's foot and whimpered, his mournful howls mirroring the ache in her heart.

"Goodbye, little fellow," Jacob murmured, his voice rough with emotion. He bent down to give the dog an ear scratch for the last time, a final act of tenderness that sent a fresh wave of sorrow crashing over Marguerite. Chester whined and nudged his hand, somehow reciprocating his farewell. Marguerite ought to say her own, but she just couldn't find the strength to utter it.

Her tongue seemed to freeze in her mouth when his gaze found hers once more. With a final, lingering look at her, a look that spoke volumes of unspoken emotions, Jacob turned around to leave. A ghost of a smile, sadder than any tear, flickered on his lips before he disappeared from sight.

*****

Marguerite took a shuddering breath, the world tilting precariously around her. Tears blurred her vision, turning her surroundings into hazy shapes. She fought back a crushing wave of despair that threatened to engulf her. With trembling legs, she forced herself to walk steadily towards her waiting carriage. The ground felt like shifting sand beneath her feet, threatening to swallow her whole.