The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 137: Fighting back (3)

Alessandra was puzzled by Warren standing before her. She didn’t have time to react to his sudden presence because Edgar stepped up to send Warren away.

"There isn’t anything to discuss," Edgar said, stepping between Warren and Alessandra. "Leave us right now."

"Respectfully, Duke Collins, I am not here to speak to you. I am here to speak with the woman who has forgotten she is my aunt," Warren spoke loudly.

Warren was yet to find a way to pay back the money he borrowed, and before it cost his life, he accepted a job from Amelia.

It was a simple job to speak of his mother to the duchess for the crowd attending the ball to see. Warren had always looked forward to having a conversation with Alessandra so the job was something he enjoyed.

"It doesn’t matter who came to speak with," Edgar said, standing his ground.

Edgar was already in a foul mood and didn’t have the patience to listen to Kate’s son speak.

Why couldn’t it be understood that Alessandra and Kate’s children should stay away from each other?

Alessandra knew well to leave Kate and her family alone, but it wasn’t understood on Kate’s side.

Warren looked up at Edgar due to their height difference. He was not afraid of Edgar.

To Warren, all Edgar had over him was his wealth and the men under his command, but Warren had enough pent-up anger to fight Edgar right now. He was young while Edgar was many years his senior.

Edgar smiled. It was always amusing to see some young, hot-tempered young man try to challenge him.

Alessandra grew worried, not for Edgar but for Warren. "Now is not a good time for anyone to speak. We are at a ball meant for finding love. You should leave us, as my husband said."

Warren’s gaze moved from Edgar to Alessandra. It always bothered him that Alessandra would try to speak in a sweet tone when she sent anyone away.

"It is time that we speak about my mother. She suffers," said Warren.

"And whose fault is that?" Edgar asked, stepping forward so Warren had no choice but to step back. "Love your mother all you want, but she made terrible decisions. My wife will not fix your mother’s mistakes."

"My mother cannot walk-"

"That is the result of her jumping from a high place," Edgar reminded Warren.

"I need help. It is only my father and I who look after my mother. You live on a large estate-"

Edgar grabbed the collar of Warren’s shirt, pulling him forward before dragging him toward one of the doors that led outside.

Alessandra followed behind the two of them with Penelope, Lily, and Rue not far behind.

Warren, wanting to speak now, felt orchestrated in Penelope’s opinion.

If Warren so desperately needed help, then he should have changed his attitude and gone to the estate gates to request a moment with the duchess. His request was likely not to be accepted, but it was better than what he was doing now.

Edgar shoved Warren out the door.

Normally, Edgar would not attack while there were so many eyes on him for the town guards to be at his door in the morning, but he had enough of people approaching his family.

Warren stood up straight, fixing his shirt, which was out of place because of Edgar. "This is the treatment I receive for trying to speak to my aunt. I am just a child wanting to find help for his mother."

"You are a grown man," Edgar said, weighing the options for what he should do to Warren.

Edgar could make use of Lady Spencer’s land to bury the fool or put him at the back of a carriage to place him somewhere around the town where the town guards couldn’t find him.

Years ago, when Edgar learned of Kate’s state, he thought they wouldn’t hear about Kate anymore, but she had sent her little spawn to trouble them.

"I am a man without the wealth you hold," said Warren.

"Duchess," Warren turned to Alessandra. "Will you help me or not? Hasn’t my mother suffered enough? She cannot walk."

"That is not my fault. I won’t speak ill of Kate since she is your mother, but your experience with her is far different from what I have experienced. I left her in the hands of our uncle and she has now married. It is up to your father and you to care for her," said Alessandra.

Warren released a dry laugh. "You have won in the end. You married a nobleman, and you have more wealth than you need at your fingertips. My mother cannot walk, and it is not easy to care for her declining mental health. She has lost."

"It was never a contest for me," Alessandra clarified.

Kate was always the one who wanted to compete, and that competitive side had thrown her into the arms of Simon.

Alessandra partly blamed Kate’s mother for Kate seeking things that did not belong to her, but Kate also needed to accept responsibility for what she did.

Penelope no longer had even a small ounce of pity for Warren. How could he view her mother as the villain when his mother was said to be cruel?

Penelope kept an eye on her father. He was fuming, and if Warren wasn’t careful, he might end the day surrounded by dirt.

After hearing that her mother had helped Kate’s family in the past, Penelope thought it should be told to Warren for him to realise that he had been wrong about her mother. Now, Penelope saw that Warren had a sense of entitlement. All he wanted was her mother’s money.

"My mother has fallen lower than you can imagine. She is not in her right mind most of the time, and I have dealt with her abuse from a young age. Do you know how hard it was to suffer there whilst knowing my aunt was living so well off-"

"You are grown. Your father is grown. I was curious what was left to your mother and looked into it many years ago. It was plenty to find her a good doctor," Penelope said, speaking up to help her mother.

Penelope had been lucky to pass the old Barrett home before and saw how large it was. It would go for a good price if sold. They could buy a smaller house with the money and still have more left over.

Did they not think of this, or did they not want to let go of such a large home?

As Warren opened his mouth to speak again, Penelope quickly asked, "If the roles were reversed and my mother needed help, would your mother help her?"

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