The Lycan King and his Dark Temptation (Valeria) novel Chapter 348

NARRATOR

"Duchess, what a shame. Deborah, why did you mention the pendant?" Katherine watched as Brenda feigned surprise, even embarrassment.

This had been her plan from the very start.

Her sister must be rolling in her grave because right now, Katherine was cursing her in every possible way.

How could a woman stoop so low for a man?

"Duchess, I’m so sorry, I only mentioned the pendant to my friend because, well, you… you believed it was a gift from the Duke for your anniversary, and, well, it turned out it wasn’t…" the shameless woman said with a guilty smile. "He had it made for someone else."

There was no need to specify who that someone was; it was obvious. The woman wearing the real one around her neck was not the rightful wife.

"It seems she liked it so much she had a fake one made. I imagine that with the noble’s pension the Duke gives her, she wouldn’t be able to afford something that valuable," one of the women behind Brenda murmured maliciously.

Katherine clenched her fists against her skirt, reminding herself not to fall into Brenda’s game, but as the woman revealed more and more of Rossella’s stupidity in front of everyone, her face burned with humiliation.

"This is just a simple piece I found at the market. I wanted to support local vendors as their Duchess. It matched my dress, so I put it on—it was purely a coincidence," Katherine said, blurting out the first nonsense that came to mind.

Obviously, no one believed her. The smug, mocking, even pitying gazes bore down on her.

She had no choice but to carry the weight of Rossella’s sins and foolishness.

"Oh, then—"

"Then nothing, Zafiro," Katherine cut her off coldly, knowing exactly where this was headed—more humiliations.

This circus act ended here.

"I don’t have to explain myself to anyone, whether I wear a simple jewel or drape myself in diamonds. That’s what being a Duchess means, ladies—whatever I wear, I make it look good," she added confidently, lifting her chin with haughty elegance.

"And if you’ll excuse me, I’ll step outside for some fresh air, as the atmosphere here is a little… toxic. Have a good night, Baroness Hildaly. Thank you for the company."

"Wait, Duchess…" the older woman called out with worried eyes, but Katherine didn’t stop.

She strode out of the grand hall, filled with gossiping women, disgusted by their falseness.

She wandered aimlessly through the corridors until she reached a secluded terrace of the vast mansion.

Lowering her hand, she gripped the fake necklace and ripped it off in anger, not caring about the red mark it left on her skin or the burning pain that followed.

She shoved the worthless pendant into a hidden pocket beneath the layers of her dress.

Tears of restrained fury welled at the corners of her eyes, but she wiped them away roughly.

She couldn’t afford to appear weak—especially not over the venomous words of that conceited noblewoman.

The truth was, this was affecting her more than she wanted to admit.

She had thought she could endure the fact that Elliot had a mistress—after all, they didn’t love each other. Here, everyone used one another for their own interests.

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