Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"No! You are the most beautiful thing that can ever happen, you are my blessing, my benediction, you are my everything." whispering softly in her ears, he kissed her forehead when she closed her eyes.

"Have you not seen how father was worried about you? Have you not felt his warmth when he protected you?

Have you not seen how Eli had dragged your father to the prison, even shocking Theodore. I never knew she was so strong?

Have you not seen how Eve personally went and prepared desserts for you because you like them? She wanted to console you even though you told her not to come closer.

They all love you Evan and more than that I love you. Not for your name or positions but for what you are! How could you forget all of us and think about the man who knew nothing but greed?" she bit her lips as she looked away from him,

The things he was telling her, it only made her guiltier, it made her feel like she was a selfish person and did not deserve to be treated like that!

"You think like that because you have insulted them and mistreated them and Edward brushed it on your face, don't you?" Leo sighed as he rubbed her back.

He knew that he was the one who had asked her to do so and she followed his plan unconditionally but she would still blame herself for that!

"Evangeline, if you are feeling so bad, then shouldn't you go to them and apologize? If you tell them the truth, they will understand! They love you." whenever he tried to look into her eyes, for some reason, she looked away as if she was guilty.

Unable to take it anymore, Leo created some space between them and forced her to look into his eyes.

"Evangeline! It is time that you tell everyone the truth and accept them as your family. You will feel less burdened!" her eyes widened as she shook her head.

Accepting the duke as her family would only mean telling the world that he was not the real heir. Though they were already married, if the truth would come out, they would scorn at him and treat him like they have treated her.

Nobles could not see anything beyond blood. Not to forget that he would be treated as fake, there would be a few who would even blame him for the accident, saying he was greedy to take the place of someone else.

That was why he hid the truth even when he knew it. There was no limit of envy that had filled the world, and due to his position and fame, he had garnered more envy.

"No! That would not be needed. It is enough that we all know the truth. There is no need to announce it to the world, it is our private matter!" glad that her worries for him had made her forget the nonsense that scumbag had whispered in her ears, but he could not accept the offer she was giving him.

He still remembered how he had treated her when she had come to the palace for the first time. Intentionally or unintentionally, he had always bullied her and forced her to do things she did not want to.

Now that he thinks about it, she deserves an apology from her too. He had not even given her a proper marriage! Wait!

His eyes sparkled as the thought crossed his mind.

"Silly, you can not hide the fact from the world. Even if you keep the mouths of the servant shut, the nobles who already knew the truth and were sent to prison in the name of treason, their family would speak about it.

They would present it as harshly as they could to malign the name of the father. So, wouldn't it be better if we would take the initiative to clear the misunderstandings before that day comes?" he sighed when she looked away from him.

He knew that she was worried about him. He wanted to tell her that he was not so weak and should not think so much about him but herself, but in the end, when he looked into her fluttering warm eyes, he could not help but thank god once again to send her into his life.

"But…!" he covered her lips with his fingers, making her eyes widened again. How soft they were! It was only yesterday when he had touched them so many times but it felt like ages had passed.

They were so.. He shook his head as he did not want to think much about it, until he would drag her to his bed again.

Sigh! How he wishes he could do that now!

"No buts! At least not yet. Take your time and think about it once again.

But at least, come and tell the truth to my family. They love you so they will understand!" This time his tone was authoritative enough that she sighed but nodded her head.

He could see that she was fidgeting and looking worried but he knew that the duke loved her so much that he would only be glad and would thank god that she did not hate them as she had said.

"Now come or do you want me to do it here!"

"What!!!" she shouted as she took a step back only to stumble and end up in his embrace again.

"I was talking about telling the truth to everyone. What made you think that you were so surprised?" he chuckled when he saw heat spreading all over her face and then a glare forming on her innocent face as she punched him on his chest.

"You tricked me!" he raised a brow when she yelled at him and nodded with all seriousness.

"If i have not tricked you then how would i have found such a beautiful and loving wife.

You have already run away after seeing my portrait without giving me a chance. If tricking you keeps you closer to me, I will always trick you."

"........." 'shameless!!'