Chapter 3 Isn't This a Mistress
Because of their morning conversation, Anne had already given up hope on Holden, but when she heard him say that Candy was the only love of his life, she still felt a slight sting in her chest.
This was the husband she had waited three years for...
She knew Candy was deliberately trying to provoke her anger. If she really went to confront them, no matter the outcome, she would be the one who looked bad.
Thinking this, Anne could only suppress the fury and indescribable sorrow in her heart, silently lowering the carriage curtain.
Candy, not far away, saw Anne retreat back into the carriage. Thinking how easily she had won this first confrontation, she couldn't help but smile.
Some noble lady, some beauty - right now in that carriage where no one could see, her face was probably twisted with rage!
Seeing Candy's pleased expression, much of Holden's anger dissipated too.
While he was away, the people on the Titan family's land had become so vicious and petty. Recalling the news from home over the past three years, how Anne had single-handedly managed almost everything on the estate, he felt nothing but disgust for this wife he hadn't seen in so long.
However, he still didn't want to make things too ugly with his wife in name in front of others, so he didn't directly expose Anne's presence. Instead, as he returned to his horse, he reached out and pulled Candy from the neighboring horse into a passionate public kiss.
Candy was clearly used to such situations. Not only did she show no shyness, but she followed the kiss and squeezed onto Holden's horse, her tongue slithering in like a slippery snake, making loud sucking sounds.
The common people around, after Holden's earlier outburst, didn't dare say anything even though they found their behavior shameless.
What should have been a proper welcome for a returning hero had been turned into something like a lewd parade.
Fortunately, the two still had some sense. After Holden left a string of red marks on Candy's slender neck, they reluctantly continued forward riding the same horse together.
From the looks of it, they would probably reach the Titan estate before her.
Elisa had watched the whole thing from the side, angry and furious, but mostly sad for her young lady. "Miss Anne, how could Lord Holden do this... And that female knight captain, how could she be so shameless, doing that kind of thing in the street..."
She couldn't continue. That straddling and grinding behavior was just like two animals in heat.
If her Miss Anne had to face such people when she returned, how could she bear it?
Anne's mind flashed back to the wedding three years ago, and to Holden's cold, frosty look just now. An indescribable pain welled up in her heart. "Let's go back first."
Of course she wasn't the type to swallow her anger in silence. These years of playing the gentle, understanding lady at the Titan family had long exhausted Anne, but she couldn't just tear off the mask yet. At least not now.
Thinking about returning to the Titan family soon, and remembering the lewd sounds she had heard when the knight regiment passed by her carriage earlier...
Anne suddenly had an idea.
It seemed time to let them know - she, Anne, was no caged canary to be pushed around!
After the commotion died down, the carriage finally headed straight back to the Titan estate. When she got out, the guard who had come with Anne when she married into the Titan family approached, looking somewhat awkward. "Mrs. Titan..."
"There's no Mrs. here. Just call me Miss Anne."
"What..."
Hearing this, the servant looked up at his young lady in confusion. After confirming it wasn't said in anger, he immediately changed how he addressed her.
"Miss Anne."
"Yes, have Holden and the others returned?"
"Yes, yes, but Lord Holden didn't go to see the old lady. He just took that... uh, that knight captain to the glass greenhouse on the east side. They probably won't be coming out anytime soon."
They really didn't know how to refer to that Candy. Even though rumor had it the Emperor himself had approved her becoming Holden's wife, with such a status, everyone could only think one thing.
Isn't that just a mistress?
It's just that unlike other nobles who kept such things hidden, Holden insisted on bringing her back openly in the name of true love, completely disregarding how his actions had led to much exclusion and disgust toward the Titan family among the nobility.
After all, no one wanted their daughter's marriage prospects connected to a family with such scandal.
Anne went quiet. There was only one glass greenhouse on the east side of the Titan estate.
That was where Holden had proposed to her.
Anne recalled that day when, blessed by her mother and everyone present, Holden had knelt on one knee. Surrounded by her favorite tulips, he had held Anne's hand tenderly and said, "My dear, the flowers I personally planted for you have finally all bloomed. Will you come here with me every year from now on to remember our story together?"
She had smiled, and as she smiled, tears had welled up in her eyes.
After a long moment, Anne took a deep breath and said casually, "I imagine Mother would very much like to see her dear son."
After confirming that Old Lady Titan was still waiting for Holden in the reception room, Anne's eyes held only calm.
Her son had come home without even saying a word. As a good daughter-in-law, how could she not tell the mother who was waiting for a reunion that her husband had returned home?
Although Old Lady Titan knew Holden would arrive today, since no one dared to report it, when she saw Anne appear, she assumed she had come to wait together. "You're here too. Where were you before?"
The room was full—Holden's older brother Mephist and his wife, third sister Nina, even his second uncle's wife, Mrs. Merry. Everyone had come to welcome home the family's golden boy.
"Mother, Second Aunt, Big Brother, Sister-in-law." Anne curtsied politely, dodging Old Lady Titan's question with a smile. "Why is everyone still here? I thought Holden got back hours ago."
"What!?"
"When did this happen?"
"We didn't hear anything!"
Everyone was shocked. Old Lady Titan spoke first. Although she was unhappy with the change in Anne's attitude toward her, she still acted magnanimous on the surface. Besides, nothing was more important right now than her son's return.
"Coming back without first seeing his mother - really... What is he doing?"
Anne innocently shook her head. "I just got back myself and heard from the guards at the gate that Holden went straight to the glass greenhouse on the east side as soon as he returned. Perhaps he has some urgent matter?"
Old Lady Titan frowned. Before she could say anything, Mrs. Merry, sitting beside her with a mocking expression, spoke first. "I remember the east side greenhouse is where Holden proposed to Anne, isn't it? Coming home and going straight to the greenhouse - seems his wife is more important than his mother!"
Old Lady Titan hadn't expected her to provoke her like this. She snorted coldly, smoothed her skirt, and stood up. "My son is a hero of the Empire - how could he be as unfilial as you say!"
Nina clearly disliked this Mrs. Merry. She took Old Lady Titan's arm and said coquettishly, "Mother, why don't we go see Holden ourselves? We should have greeted him at the main gate originally. It was Holden who was concerned about your health and had you wait inside. How could he deliberately not come see you?"
She glanced at Anne and snorted disdainfully. She had long been unhappy with this outsider who controlled her family. Even though Anne had commissioned many gorgeous dresses for her, those noble sons would only ask about this married woman in various ways.
What was so great about her! Now that Holden wanted to marry someone else, she deserved it!
With this thought, Nina said loudly, "Besides, whatever it is, maybe it's a surprise he prepared for you!"
Old Lady Titan was clearly swayed by these words. She immediately led the group out in a grand procession toward the glass greenhouse on the east side.
But the further they walked, the fewer servants they saw. The occasional one or two they encountered had unnaturally awkward expressions. Although Old Lady Titan sensed something was wrong, she wasn't alone and could only steel herself to continue forward. She glanced at Anne beside her, who also seemed full of anticipation.
I must be overthinking it, she thought uncertainly.
Walking past the low wall covered with vines, under the sunlight, the scene inside the greenhouse suddenly came into view.
Through the transparent glass, Holden was already completely naked, his hands roughly groping a woman's fair, full breasts. With his large movements below, occasionally revealing where they were joined, the friction squeezing out fine foam that slowly dripped down her thighs.
Nina let out a cry and covered her eyes in shame and anger.
How could Holden be doing such things in broad daylight regardless of location! And letting Mother see it!
Everyone was shocked and found it truly offensive to the eyes.
"This..."
Mrs. Merry laughed coldly. "Well, who would have thought the brave and mighty Knight Captain Holden would be here busy with his affair!?"