Husband With Benefits
Chapter 268: A Threat

Chapter 268: A Threat

"Mother! You are fooling no one in the family with your act. You know the doctors have already refused to collude with you. I’ve requested you already. This needs to stop right now! I’ve made the arrangements already. You’re leaving tonight."

"I don’t know what you are talking about Alex. I really am in a lot of pain. What has the doctor told you? Is it my heart again?" Queen Rosalind asked feebly.

Alexander sighed as he looked at his mother doing an award-winning performance and shook his head. His mother should have gone into acting.

"Cut the act, mother. There is nothing wrong with your heart. The doctors think it is perfectly fine. If you are in pain, at most it is due to your stomach acting up. So, be prepared."

Queen Rosalind raised her chin, setting her jaw, " I am not going to run away from my country like a thief! I’ve done so much for this place. I’ve dedicated my youth to the growth of Estania. Now when it is the time for me to enjoy the fruits of my labor, you want to exile me? I’ve already promised you that I will not concoct any more schemes. All I want to do is stay here and not in some foreign country away from my people. Is that too much to ask?"

"It is when you don’t stop scheming. You promised me the last time as well, that you would stop your alliance with those people. But did you? No. You’ve become a puppet in their hands which makes it dangerous to Estania!"

"You are the one who has become a fool! I’ve already told you the Banfi’s are our supporters. They would never covet and conspire for the throne."

"Then you can continue with that belief but you will not stay in Estania!"

"Call Alpin! I will ask him for an explanation about Nora’s husband myself! All this time, you have not given me any evidence that Nora’s husband was killed intentionally while Alpin has already confessed that he did not even know that Nora was married! Her husband’s death and her memory loss were accidents. But you tell me! Isn’t she already fighting for the throne with Evangeline? How can you side with an outsider like her?"

"Because he knows what is good for this country and his family, Grandmother," a quiet female voice spoke from the doorway." As Nora entered the hospital room, she looked at Queen Rosalind intently.

Ever since her memory had returned, she had been avoiding the Queen. Only because of her uncle. The man had doted over her like a father and she could not repay his kindness by attacking a woman whom he was trying to protect. But the woman seemed to not realize her precarious position.

Because of Queen Rosalind, she’d almost lost Demetri forever! He’d been shot twice and they’d been separated for so long. Queen Rosalind needed more than her uncle threatening her to persuade her to leave the country.

It was time to channel the Queen b*tch in her towards her dear grandmother. Her arrival had silenced the room and quickly she cast an assuring look to her uncle before turning back to Queen Rosalind.

Deliberately, she strolled towards the bed, watching the defiance in her grandmother’s eyes.

"My husband was shot in the back was an accident? A fortunate one, wouldn’t you say? Since that freed me to be married to the next person you or those Banfi’s chose?" While the words were simple, the frigidness with which they were spoken was anything but. For the first time in her life, Queen Rosalind felt a shiver race up her spine.

Trying to not show her discomfort, she turned to her son and complained," Look at how this woman is threatening me. And you want to support her?"

Alexander Sterling had been stunned. He’d never have guessed that Nora could also emanate such an aura. It could have been Demetri Frost himself standing here at this moment. He still remembered when the man had first been revived. He’d create a wreak just looking for Nora even when he himself had been half dead.

"Nora... lets not make this more difficult..."

"No, uncle. My Grandmother needs to understand that some of her actions have repercussions..." Nora cut off Alexander Sterling before she turned back to the Queen, now looking down on the queen," Queen Rosalind, listen to me very carefully. The only reason you are alive until now is because Demetri survived despite your interference. And yet, you do not seem to grasp what you have done."

"You’ve become a pawn in the game that the Banfi’s have set up. Your foolishness and stubbornness have harmed someone not even related all these ploys and is threatening the stability of this country. Have you even given it a thought what will happen if there is unrest and infighting among the people? It will give a chance to rebels and outside forces to finish off Estania and tear it apart piece by piece."

"No! I’ve ruled here with my husband for years. I understand politics..."

"You understand nothing!" Nora scoffed. "Let me make things clear for you. Alexander Sterling has been lenient towards you. I, however, will not be. One single wrong move, even a single breath in the wrong direction and I will personally come and torture you until you beg me for mercy."

As Nora’s voice dripped with venom, Queen Rosalind shivered before shaking her head in denial," You... You can’t do that." Turning to her son, she pointed at Nora, " Did you see that? She is threatening me so openly. What will she do with our gentle Evangeline? You! You upstart! You cannot do anything to me. I won’t let you. I will..."

Before Queen Rosalind could make any threats, Nora leaned close to her ear and whispered," Would you like a demonstration? Watch."

Straightening up, Nora grabbed the fruit knife on the side table and quickly stabbed it downwards, making the Queen scream and even Alexander Sterling rush forward with worry.

A moment later, Nora looked down at the queen who was whimpering and said softly," Oops. I’m sorry I missed, Grandmother. Next time I promise I won’t."

With that, Nora left the room without a backward glance leaving Alexander Sterling standing there stunned.

It was a long time later that Queen Rosalind finally opened her eyes and saw the glinting blade of the knife, half stabbed into the mattress, right next to her leg... and shivered.

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