#coru

“What do you mean Hana is Bradshaw’s mistress?” Olivia’s sharp tone echoed through the suite.

“For the record this is why I didn’t tell them, it’s not my story to tell and I thought Hana would be here.” Drake said walking towards the stocked minibar. He was tempted to leave the room completely but he doubted Olivia’s aim became less accurate over the years, better to be a victim of her sharp tongue than her blade.

Maxwell gave a meek smile, “she was coming, but then Bradshaw showed up and she couldn’t leave.”

“Maxwell, how did Hana become Bradshaw’s mistress?” Olivia spat the last word from her mouth.

She hadn’t been as close to Hana as Carolyn, yet it was hard to picture Hana as anyone’s mistress, let alone the man who stole the lives of her best friends.

Maxwell shifted uncomfortably. He was used to having all eyes on him, but not like this. No wonder Drake didn’t tell them. “I only know a second hand account …”

“Which is?”

Maxwell gulped, not getting out of this now. “As Hana told it, Bradshaw always had a wandering eye. He had been attracted to both Carolyn and Hana, and as he said it ‘he couldn’t keep Carolyn around for obvious reasons’.” He shuddered as a shiver ran down his spine. “Hana really tells it much better, maybe you should just wait until we get to Cordonia …”

“Spill it.”

Maxwell gave a resigned sigh before continuing, “Bradshaw had his eye on Hana and kept her from leaving the country.

He was aware how close she was to Carolyn from the girls trip to Auvernal.

With Liam and Carolyn out of the picture, he moved onto Hana. He figured with the close relationship she might have been privy to information that could prove useful for him.

He offered her Valtoria since the duchy was once again without a Duchess, and a large stipend to stay as his mistress.

Hana agreed, though she played down her eagerness.

She was smart enough to understand he wanted information but Hana was positive that somehow the heir survived and made it out. She saw his offer as a way to help if the true heir ever returned.

She was frantic when she first told me, she felt like she was betraying Carolyn and Liam, but she figured it was better than death.

I don’t know how she knew,” his eyes fell once more to Ruby, “she just kept telling Bertrand, Savannah and I that she couldn’t lose faith that somehow Carolyn and Liam had managed to get their child to safety.”

“So Hana became Bradshaw’s mistress on the off chance that Liam and Carolyn’s baby was still alive?”

“Well yeah, but also to stay alive.

He didn’t say it, but she said it was heavily implied that if she didn’t agree she wouldn’t be returning to Shanghai.

Her parents were shocked, they said she was raised better than to be a mistress. It wasn’t until she mentioned the elevation of her title that her parents backed off, though not by much.

Over time she became Bradshaw’s favorite. He’s seen more frequently with Hana than his own wife.”

Olivia snorted, “oh I’m sure Isabella loves that.”

“She hates it, she’s threatened more than once to remove Hana, but she knows she wouldn’t be any better off even if she did.” Maxwell paused, idly tapping his fingers against his knee, “there is just one tiny little thing …”

“Go on.”

Maxwell nervously cleared his throat, Olivia and the others seemed to be taking the news relatively well, he was sure that was all about to change. “First I need to tell you Hana assured me that it would be no problem to slip you into the masquerade unseen …”

“But?”

“But, she’s fallen in love with him.” Maxwell flinched as he spoke.

“She what?!”

“Hana loves Bradshaw, I know it’s crazy and doesn’t make sense. Bertrand was sure she was drugged, but she truly loves him.”

“Maxwell, how the hell are you just telling us this now?! How do you know she isn’t setting us up to be caught?”

“Hana wouldn’t do that.

She still wants to remove him from Cordonia, take him down, but since she loves him … she asked that we spare his life.”

“You have got to be kidding me!

This man has a long list of transgressions he must pay for and she expects us to what pardon him simply because she loves him?

I could look past her being his mistress since she was playing him, but for her to even suggest that we leave him breathing, unharmed, and I’m assuming still in power of Auvernal … after all he’s done.

He murdered her friends.”

“What the heart wants right?” He attempted to joke, clearing his throat when he was met with shocked stares. “I get that it’s not ideal, but Hana knows all of his weaknesses, she knows his schedule, if we want her help …”

“Then we have to let him live …”

Feedback fuels me, please like, comment reblog or send an ask. Feel free to scream, I promise I can take it.

Masterlist can be found in my bio.