Chapter 296 — The Duchess Taken Away
Chapter 296 — The Duchess Taken Away
“You can’t take her like this!”
Elena’s voice rang sharply through the driveway of Monte Carlo Manor, slicing through the tense air like a blade.
The moment she saw the officers placing cold metal cuffs around Hazel’s wrists, something inside her snapped.
For a split second, she could not believe what she was seeing.
Hazel.
The Duchess of Monaco.
Pregnant.
Being treated like a criminal.
Her instincts took control before reason could stop her.
Elena stepped forward immediately, moving straight into the officers’ path as they attempted to escort Hazel toward the police vehicle.
“She’s pregnant!” Elena protested, her voice trembling with disbelief and anger.
The officers slowed for a moment.
Just a moment.
But their faces remained calm and professional.
One of them lifted his hand slightly, signaling her to step back.
“Ma’am, please don’t interfere with police proceedings,” the officer warned firmly.
His tone carried authority.
The warning made Dario Moretti step forward instantly.
He moved beside his wife without hesitation, positioning himself slightly between Elena and the officers.
His posture was calm.
But his presence carried quiet power.
“My wife is right,” Dario said steadily.
His eyes moved toward Hazel’s restrained hands.
The sight clearly disturbed him.
“You cannot take the Duchess away like this without a proper explanation.”
His tone remained polite, but the authority in his voice was impossible to ignore.
“What is the reason for this arrest?” he demanded firmly.
The officer hesitated briefly.
Recognition flickered across his face.
“Mr. Moretti,” he said respectfully.
The officer clearly knew exactly who he was speaking to.
Still, duty forced him to continue.
He cleared his throat.
“Miss Martin has filed a complaint against Her Grace,” the officer explained carefully.
Elena felt her stomach tighten instantly.
“Miss Martin claims the Duchess attempted to murder her,” the officer continued.
“She states that she was pushed down the stairs.”
The words fell into the air like stones.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Unbelievable.
“We are required to take Her Grace to the Poste de Police to complete the legal formalities,” the officer concluded.
Dario inhaled slowly.
The situation had suddenly become far more serious than he had expected.
This was no simple misunderstanding.
A formal accusation had already been made.
And in Monaco, the law held its own authority.
Even powerful families could not simply dismiss a criminal complaint.
Dario’s gaze shifted briefly toward Torres.
The Duke stood several steps away.
Watching.
Silent.
Cold.
He made no move to stop the arrest.
That alone told Dario something important.
The situation inside this household had already become far more complicated than anyone realized.
And Dario knew something else as well.
This was not his territory.
His influence here was limited.
Especially when the Duke himself seemed unwilling to intervene.
Turning back toward Elena, Dario gently took her hands.
His voice softened.
“Don’t worry,” he said calmly.
“I’ll go with Hazel.”
He glanced again toward the officers.
“I’ll make sure she’s safe.”
Then he returned his attention to his wife.
“Everything will be fine.”
His voice carried quiet reassurance.
But Elena’s worry only deepened.
“I’m coming too,” she insisted immediately.
Determination flashed in her eyes.
Dario looked down toward the child in her arms.
Then his gaze moved to the two children standing nearby.
Lila and Leo.
Their small faces were pale with worry as they watched the adults arguing.
The tension in the air had clearly frightened them.
Dario’s expression softened.
“Amore mio,” he said gently.
His hand brushed Elena’s arm reassuringly.
“Stay here and comfort your mother.”
He nodded toward Camille, who stood nearby, trembling with distress.
“I’ll handle this,” Dario promised quietly.
“And I’ll bring Hazel back soon.”
Elena hesitated.
Her heart felt unbearably heavy.
But she slowly nodded.
Reluctantly.
Helplessly.
She watched as the officers guided Hazel toward the police vehicle.
Hazel walked slowly.
One hand rested instinctively over her stomach.
Protecting the life growing inside her.
Dario followed closely behind the officers.
Keeping his promise.
He would not leave Hazel alone.
When the police car finally disappeared through the iron gates of Monte Carlo Manor, an oppressive silence fell over the estate.
The tension lingered in the air like a storm cloud.
Camille collapsed onto the nearest couch.
Her body trembled as she buried her face in her hands.
Her quiet sobs filled the room.
Watching her mother cry like that made Elena’s anger rise sharply.
Her eyes hardened.
Without hesitation, she turned toward her brother.
“How could you let this happen to your pregnant wife, Torres?” she demanded.
Her voice shook with fury.
Her glare pierced straight through him.
Torres looked at her.
But his face remained cold.
Unmoved.
“It wasn’t my decision,” he replied flatly.
His tone carried no emotion.
“Chloe demanded an apology,” he continued calmly.
“She said if Hazel refused, she would involve the police.”
Elena’s hands curled into fists.
Torres continued speaking as if he were discussing something trivial.
“Hazel refused to apologize.”
“So Chloe filed the complaint.”
His voice remained indifferent.
“This situation could have been avoided if Hazel had simply apologized.”
The coldness in his tone made Elena’s anger explode.
“And you’re just standing there?” she snapped.
Her voice rose sharply.
“While your pregnant wife is dragged away like a criminal?”
Her eyes blazed with disbelief.
“Come on, Torres!”
Her voice dripped with disgust.
“She’s your wife!”
“For God’s sake, you should have protected her!”
Torres said nothing.
He simply stood there.
Silent.
Cold.
His expression was unreadable.
His lack of reaction only made Elena angrier.
Before she could say another word, another voice suddenly cut into the argument.
“And who are you to interfere in our family matters?”
Chloe stepped forward.
Her eyes flashed with irritation.
Her tone sharp and confrontational.
Chloe had never liked Elena.
Especially because Elena had always supported Hazel.
Elena stared at her in disbelief.
“Our family?” she repeated slowly.
Her eyebrows rose.
Shock quickly turned into anger.
Then her voice hardened.
“Let me remind you of something, Chloe.”
Her tone turned icy.
“This is my family.”
She gestured toward the mansion.
“My brother’s home.”
“My sister-in-law’s house.”
Her gaze sharpened.
“You are nothing more than an unwanted guest here.”
Chloe’s face flushed bright red with rage.
She spun toward Torres dramatically.
“See?!” she cried.
“Your family thinks I’m unwanted!”
Her voice trembled as tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Your wife tried to kill me!”
“Your sister insults me every time she sees me!”
Her voice grew louder.
More emotional.
“Is this how I’m repaid?”
“For sacrificing my happiness?”
“For agreeing to be your mistress while you married that selfish woman?”
Her sobs grew louder.
Each accusation sharper than the last.
“Torres, you promised me!” she cried.
“You promised you would give me my rightful place!”
“You convinced me to let you marry that filthy woman!”
Elena’s blood boiled.
Watching Chloe insult Hazel while Torres stood silently made her furious.
She could no longer stay quiet.
“She is the Duchess, Chloe,” Elena snapped.
Her voice turned cold.
Commanding.
“If you continue insulting her like this, you will face legal consequences.”
Her eyes locked onto Chloe’s.
“I will not tolerate this disrespect toward my sister-in-law.”
Chloe opened her mouth to argue.
But suddenly—
“Enough!”
Torres’s voice thundered across the hall.
The command froze everyone instantly.
Both women fell silent.
Torres glared at them.
His expression was dark.
His tone final.
“Both of you stop.”
Then he turned toward Chloe.
“Go to your room.”
His voice was firm.
“The doctor said you need to rest.”
Chloe looked stunned.
But she said nothing.
Then Torres turned toward Elena.
His expression softened slightly.
“Elena.”
“Your room is prepared.”
His voice had become calmer.
“Take the children upstairs.”
“They must be tired.”
He paused briefly.
“I’ll ask the chef to prepare something for them.”
Without waiting for a reply—
Torres turned and walked away.
Straight toward the kitchen.
Almost as if he were escaping the chaos he had just created.
Behind him—
The silence in the room grew heavier than before.