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CHAPTER 35

Gemma stood still in the doorway, her breath catching in her chest as she took in the sight of Frederick.

His tall, imposing figure filled the room, but it was the intensity in his eyes, thesincerity, that stopped her in her tracks. She could feel the silence between them, as if the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to break.

It was clear that he had said something brusque to Lady Treston and Elizabeth earlier. Gemma had overheard the tail end of his defense of her. The words had come as a shock; she hadn’t expected him to speak out on her behalf, especially not in such a potent way. His fierce tone and the strength in his words had left a lasting impression on her.

She couldn’t deny it—a large part of her had wanted him to fight for her, and here he was, doing exactly that.

Frederick’s eyes lit up as she stepped further into the room, his hands clasping in front of him as if unsure what to do next. He seemed momentarily at a loss for words, but after taking a deep breath, he spoke, his voice steady but rich with emotion.

“Gemma,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “I need to apologize. I have made so many mistakes, and I have wronged you in more ways than I care to count. I was foolish, and I let my pride get in the way. But I cannot deny how I feel about you any longer. I regret every moment I spent pushing you away, every moment I did not make you feel like you mattered.”

Gemma’s chest tightened at his words, a swirl of emotions rising up in her. Regret. Guilt. Longing. She had tried to convince herself she no longer cared about him, that he had no place in her life anymore, but hearing him speak like that, with such raw vulnerability, cracked open a hatch inside of her that she knew she could never again seal.

Frederick continued, his gaze unwavering. “You mean more to me than anything else in my life. I am not asking for your forgiveness just for the sake of it; I know I do not deserve it. But I am asking you, Gemma, if you can find it in your heart to give me another chance, to let me make things right. I want to marry you and make you my wife if you will have me.”

In the aftermath of his declaration, Gemma could only stare at him in utter shock. She hadn’t expected this—hadn’t expected him to be so open, so vulnerable. The man who had once been so distant and closed off was standing before her, offering hereverything he had. It was overwhelming, and yet it was the most honest thing she had ever heard.

But doubt lingered at the edges of her heart. She wanted to believe him, she wanted to reach for the future he was offering, but the pain from all her years of being abandoned, of being treated as if she were an inconvenience was not easily forgotten.

Gemma’s voice trembled and she swallowed hard, trying to steady herself. “I do not know if I can forgive you. I do not know if I can just forget what happened; what you said, and what you did.”

Frederick took a step forward, his expression earnest and determined. “I do not want you to forget it, Gemma. I just want the chance to prove to you that I have changed, that I am willing to fight for you, for us. I will do whatever it takes.”

Her heart ached at the honesty in his voice and the desperation in his eyes. It was nothing she had ever expected would come from him. It was more than just words—it was a promise.

But before Gemma could respond, a voice interrupted, sharp and dismissive.

“This is ridiculous,” Lady Treston said, her voice filled with scorn as she stepped forward, clearly annoyed by the turn of events. “Gemma, you have already had your moment. You cannot expect to just?—”

But Elizabeth, who had been standing near the door, suddenly moved forward, her hands raised to stop her mother.

“Mother, please,” Elizabeth said, her voice quiet but firm. “Let Gemma speak. You can no longer treat her in this way.”

Lady Treston shot Elizabeth a look of pure irritation, her eyes narrowing. “You think you can tell me what to do now? You, who cannot even manage your own affairs?—”

“Enough!” Gemma’s voice rang out, startling them both. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but she could feel the anger rising within her, the years of suppression finally breaking free. She turned to her mother, her voice sharp with years of pent-up resentment.

“I have had enough of you, Mother. You havealwaystreated me like I was nothing. You have made me feel like I am a burden, and for what? Because you could not stand to have me around?”

Lady Treston’s eyes widened in shock at Gemma’s outburst, and for a moment, Gemma thought she might be struck down for daring to speak so boldly to her, but she no longer cared. Not about the rules, not about her mother’s anger. She was done with being silenced.

“You left me at a convent,” Gemma continued, her voice trembling with the force of her words. “You abandoned me, and I had to grow up there alone, unwanted. And now you stand here, pretending you have any right to tell me what to do with my life. You do notdeserveto be called my mother.”

Lady Treston’s face flushed with fury, but Gemma pressed on. “You treat Elizabeth the same way you treated me. You try to make her into something she is not, forcing her into a mold that she does not fit. You only care about your own reputation and about how things look to the ton, and you do not care who gets hurt in the process.”

“Gemma,” Lady Treston began, her voice dripping with venom, “you are a willful child, and you always have been. There were no other options. You do not understand?—”

“No,” Gemma cut in, her voice trembling with raw emotion. “It isyouwho does not understand. You never cared to. You were too busy trying to climb your way to the top, leaving your own children behind in the process.”

Frederick stood silent, his eyes blazing with anger, his hands clenched at his sides. Gemma could see the fury on his face; his protectiveness, his frustration with the way Lady Treston had treated her and was now treating Elizabeth. Gemma glanced at him briefly, and he met her gaze, his jaw tight, his expression one of barely contained rage.

But before he could speak, Lady Treston took a step forward, her face contorted with fury. “You are wrong, Gemma. You always have been. I did what I had to do. Youwerea burden, and your behavior left me with no choice.”

At that, Frederick’s fury was palpable, his stance shifting from foot to foot as though he wanted to pummel Lady Treston. But Gemma’s voice stopped him.

“Enough,” she said, her tone final, as she turned to face her mother. “You no longer have the right to justify your actions. I know the truth, and so do you.”