Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"What did you say?" Adele realized that she had meddled when she had already decided that she would stay away from the matter now and looked away but it was already too late.

Andrew had already turned to look at her with an annoyed gaze.

"Why, he did not want to go home and need money. So what is wrong in asking him for both?

I am a part of his family and I can offer him a generous amount of 100,000 gold coins if he promises me that he would not come back to look for any of us.`` Though he was talking to Adele, his eyes were stealing a glance of the face of the man who was looking wastrel.

Just by looking at his face, Andrew could see that the man did not have an easy life. He had scratches and scar on his hands and he was sure he had much more all over his body.

Though his golden hair and green eyes were just like the duke, he was looking more haggard than duke who was already in his 50's.

Not to forget that I was drunk and was caught from a gamlbing house. Who knew what other leisure activities he was indulging in.

He would only be a disgrace for the family if he would meet them. And for him, they would be the one who had left him to die, so he might not be able to forgive them.

Wouldn't it be the best solution to pay him and let him live the life he wanted while leaving the family in peace.

"Do you think your father would not be able to track him now that you are here? It is only a matter of seconds before he would.." Adele stopped in her tracks when she felt that the man was looking at her curiously as if he understood they were talking about him.

"Do you think the duke and his family would be able to forgive you for your actions and the deeds of your father?" Though she did not complete her words, Andrew understood it well.

Though 100,000 gold coins were not a big amount for him, it was too much even for barons as a good amount of estate can be brought from it or even a small business.

It would only be a matter of hours before his father would find Ethan and then kill him.

The incident of the court had already brought him on his toes as he was searching for the boy frantically.

"It is all because you tell my father about his existence!" a low growl escaped his lips with a look of frustration on his face.

If it were not for her then he and his father had thought that the boy was dead and would not have felt so guilty about leaving him alone when he could have his family with him.

"I only did that for survival or your father would have sold me or would have killed me that day.

Do you want to argue in front of him like that? Are you in denial or think that he was blind and deaf to not hear and see our expressions!" she pointed at Ethan with trembling fingers whose attention was on both of them.

Feeling embarrassed he bowed his head but it did not mean that he was not thinking about it anymore.

Though he did not know who he was or who the father of that man was, he was sure that the man was a rich noble and held wealth and authority both.

His mistress was already noble and rich yet she was talking to the man respectfully even when she was annoyed, that meant he held a lot of power.

One more thing he was sure about, that his life could be in danger if he was found out by the father of this man. But why?

He was sure that he had done nothing. Though he drinks and gamble, he has not broken any law or hurt anyone then why?

The only reason he could think of was his family!

Hatred filled his eyes! Not only has his family abandoned him! Now he could also die because of them. What kind of justice was this?

If only he could tell them how cruel they were! They were worse than the monsters who kill others to feed their child!

But even if he cursed them, there was no denial that he wanted to live.

"That.. if i live with my family. Will I be safe then?" cutting both of them who were busy in glaring at each other and throwing responsibilities of their actions, Ethan asked them after sorting his thoughts out.

"Yes, and they are richer than the amount you are being offered.

I am sure you can have that amount every month if you will return to them.'' She cut Andrew before he could make another excuse and manipulate the boy into giving up on his family.

Though she knew it was not about her, she had never wanted the man to be killed because of her since he was innocent.

Ha! If they wanted to spend that much on him then they would not have left him on the streets. He wanted to laugh out loud and his eyes filled with mockery but he nodded his head and stayed silent.

If this was the only chance of his survival then he was going to retain it even if he had to hide his true feelings.

"What if they did not take me back?" he asked the man this time who was pursuing his lips and looking conflicted as if he was struggling over something.

"They are kind men, Ethan. Whatever happened years ago was a misunderstanding. If you want to go back, they would be more than happy to have you." he affirmed. Though he wanted him to disappear, even he knew that the Thawyne family would never forgive him if something happened to him.

"Alright, then I have decided. I want to go home."