Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale ` 18 Summary
In Chapter 18 of “Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows,” tensions escalate as Avery confronts the implications of a prescription linked to the formidable Dashnell. The revelation that the prescriptions Margaery handed him are off-limits sends a chill down Avery’s spine, as he realizes the gravity of his situation. Dashnell’s authoritative demeanor and his disdainful remarks about the Wallen family only deepen Avery’s humiliation and rage. The atmosphere is thick with unspoken consequences as Dashnell emphasizes the importance of honor and the royal family’s reputation, leaving Avery feeling trapped and desperate.
As the dialogue unfolds, Avery’s anger boils over when he confronts Margaery about her betrayal, suspecting her motives and fearing the repercussions from his father. Dashnell’s presence looms large, and his connections to the King add a layer of dread to Avery’s predicament. The realization that he could easily become a pawn in the royal power struggle intensifies his feelings of vulnerability. Avery’s resignation from the Royal Medical Hall becomes inevitable as he grapples with the betrayal and the loss of his future, his thoughts darkening with a desire for revenge against Margaery.
Margaery, on the other hand, is caught in a web of her own making. While she feels the weight of Avery’s wrath, she also recognizes the need to navigate the treacherous waters of court politics. Her gratitude towards Dashnell for defending her shows her vulnerability but also her strategic thinking as she prepares for the fallout from Avery’s anger. The chapter highlights her internal conflict, as she reflects on the darker sides of the Wallen family and the precarious nature of her position.
As Avery storms out, his frustration is palpable, and he seeks solace in a conversation with Joshua. His anger towards Margaery is explosive, revealing the depth of his feelings about her betrayal. Joshua’s confusion and skepticism about Margaery’s impact on Avery’s life contrast sharply with Avery’s intense emotions, underscoring the complexities of their relationships. The chapter ends with Avery’s fury unresolved, setting the stage for further confrontations and the unraveling of alliances in the narrative.
Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below
**Chapter 18**
“Exactly.” Dashnell’s admission hung in the air like a chilling fog.
Avery felt an icy grip around his spine, a sensation so profound it seemed to freeze him in place.
He never fathomed that the seemingly innocuous prescription Margaery held could be tied to someone as formidable as Dashnell.
And then it hit him—what exactly had Dashnell just uttered?
**55 vouchers.**
The doctor’s eccentric nature had always been apparent; he was adamant about keeping his prescriptions hidden, even from someone of Dashnell’s stature. No one, not even Dashnell, could bypass the protocol without a personal visit to the Royal Medical Hall.
“So, those prescriptions I took…” Avery’s mind raced, but he dared not let his thoughts wander further into the abyss of implications.
He cast a quick glance at Dashnell, desperation creeping into his voice. “Your Highness, when Margaery handed me these prescriptions, she didn’t mention they were off-limits to others…”
Yet, Dashnell’s gaze remained fixed, unyielding, as he addressed Nolan. “The doctor made it clear that these prescriptions can indeed be submitted to the Royal Medical Hall. However, he has a firm stance against anyone using his apprentice’s position for personal gain; such actions are beneath us.”
“And the royal blood cannot be tainted by the reputation of thuggery,” he added, each word heavy with consequence.
The gravity of his statement cast a palpable shadow over the room, compelling everyone to bow their heads in silent acknowledgment.
Nolan interjected, his voice filled with fervor. “Absolutely right, Your Highness! The King’s paternal affection runs deep—true respect is earned through honor, not by coercion.”
With a deliberate shift, he turned his attention to Avery. “Doctor Wallen, I will be reporting this matter to His Majesty when I deliver the medicine today.”
“Given your lineage as the Lord Chancellor’s son, I trust you will tender your resignation within a month, so as to preserve some semblance of dignity for all involved.”
Avery felt his fists clench tightly at his sides, trembling with rage and humiliation.
The facade of calm he had so carefully constructed shattered completely as he turned to Margaery, his eyes blazing with fury. “Margaery, what do you stand to gain by orchestrating my downfall? You’re part of the Wallen family, and if Father learns of your treachery…”
Finally, Dashnell directed his attention toward him, a glint of disdain in his eyes.
“So, the ‘family reunion circus’ and the demand for Margaery’s blood-payment apology? This isn’t just surface-level muck—the Wallen family is a bottomless pit of bloodshed. Deeper than the very depths of hell,” he remarked, his tone devoid of any emotion, yet it sent a shiver down Avery’s spine.
“Your Highness, that’s not what I meant…” Avery stammered, his voice barely a whisper against the weight of Dashnell’s words.
—
Dashnell, despite his crippled state and disqualification from the line of succession, enjoyed a peculiar immunity in the imperial disputes. His status, ironically, made him a favored entity in the King’s eyes.
His mother, Lady Serena, held a cherished place in the King’s heart, and behind her stood a formidable General, which only added to Dashnell’s influence.
With such powerful connections, even his reticence in political affairs rendered his words significant to the King.
The thought of this matter reaching the King sent a chill down Avery’s spine. He could easily become a pawn in the King’s game against the Wallen family.
“The King can’t openly lash out at the Wallen family, but targeting a mere Lord Avery? Even with my father’s title as Chancellor, I wouldn’t dare raise a complaint!”
Cold sweat trickled down Avery’s brow as the reality of his situation settled in.
In a moment of resignation, he gritted his teeth and conceded, “Your Highness, I’ve learned my lesson. I will resign from the Royal Medical Hall within a month. Please, have mercy.”
With that, he shot Margaery a venomous glare, vowing silently, *She’ll pay for this when we return home!*
Margaery met his gaze, her brow knitting together in concern.
The Wallen family sons always wore a facade of decency. Had she not witnessed their true natures in her previous life, she might have overlooked their darker sides.
Now that Avery’s future lay in ruins because of her actions, she could only anticipate the wrath that awaited her upon their return.
She needed a strategy to counteract his inevitable vengeance.
In that moment, Dashnell spoke again, “Doctor Fischer, ensure those prescriptions remain untouched at the Royal Medical Hall. However, let the credit go to my friend.”
“You mean… Lady Margaery?” Nolan’s eyes flicked to her, his expression laden with meaning.
Margaery blinked in surprise, glancing at Dashnell. *When did I become his friend? Or is Craig somehow his mentor?*
“Yes.” Dashnell’s gaze, though fleeting, was gentle as it brushed across her face.
“Very well then. I’ll amend the records immediately. These prescriptions will be credited as gifts from Lady Margaery to His Majesty and Her Royal Highnesses,” Nolan declared.
With newfound composure, he swiftly erased Avery’s name from the records, replacing it with Margaery’s.
Avery felt the grinding of his teeth, a surge of frustration bubbling within him.
After 1,500 days and nights of struggle, he never imagined that his promising future would be dismantled by Margaery’s machinations.
Just like that.
Without so much as a warning.
But then, a thought struck him: ever since Tessa had arrived, Margaery had become almost subservient, eager to please everyone in the family. When had she morphed into this person?
A shiver ran down his spine as he pondered the possibility of her being possessed by some malevolent force.
*No way, I must visit the Hall of Divinity to have someone investigate her. If I find proof of her possession, I’ll make her pay dearly!* Avery thought, his mind racing with dark intentions.
Margaery caught a flicker of malice in Avery’s eyes, and a chill ran through her, mingled with a sense of amusement.
Some individuals were simply rotten to the core. No matter how well they masked their true selves, a slight nudge could expose their real nature.
If she hadn’t experienced death in her previous life, she might have never seen through Avery’s carefully constructed facade.
But today, she had achieved her goal.
Stepping forward, she expressed her gratitude to Dashnell, “Thank you, Your Highness, for defending me.”
Avery rolled his eyes, incredulous.
He had assumed Dashnell’s actions were merely a favor for his teacher, unaware of the connection he had with Margaery. But to his utter surprise, Dashnell turned to her with sincerity, “We are all students of the same teacher; it is only fitting that I stand up for you.”
Margaery felt her cheeks flush.
Meanwhile, Avery felt as though he had been slapped across the face, the sting rendering him mute. He clenched his jaw and muttered through gritted teeth, “I’ll return another day to resign.”
With that, he slinked out of the Royal Medical Hall, a storm of emotions swirling within him.
“Doctor Fischer, can we proceed with the medicine now?” Dashnell inquired, turning his attention to Nolan.
“Of course, Your Highness.” Nolan stepped aside, allowing Dashnell passage.
Instead of taking the medicine himself, Dashnell handed the prescription to Margaery, saying casually, “Margaery can handle it for me.”
As Margaery took the prescription, their fingertips brushed, sending a jolt through her as she quickly snatched the paper away, hurrying off to gather the necessary herbs.
Dashnell discreetly withdrew his hand, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he watched her retreating figure.
—
The other physicians in the Royal Medical Hall remained silent, their heads bowed, blending into the background, too intimidated to utter a word.
Avery stormed out, frustration boiling within him.
With no outlet for his anger and unwilling to leave in such a state, he made his way to the inner courtyard, seeking out Joshua.
As soon as he entered, he unleashed his grievances. “Joshua, Margaery has completely ruined my life!”
Joshua, who had just settled into his chair after a shift change and had yet to sip his coffee, was taken aback. “What did you say? Aren’t you supposed to be at the Royal Medical Hall today? Who exactly ruined your life?”
*Did I hear that correctly? Margaery? Aside from irritating Tessa and clinging to us five brothers, what could she possibly have done?* Joshua thought, rolling his eyes as he sipped his coffee slowly.
Avery’s rage ignited like a wildfire. “That backstabbing witch Margaery!” he growled, his voice laced with venom.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of the confrontation, Avery found himself grappling with the weight of betrayal and humiliation that had settled over him like a shroud. The realization that Margaery, once a trusted ally, had orchestrated his downfall left him seething with a mix of anger and despair. As he stormed out of the Royal Medical Hall, the echoes of Dashnell’s disdainful words reverberated in his mind, a constant reminder of the precariousness of his position within the royal hierarchy. The dreams he had nurtured for years now lay in ruins, and the icy grip of hopelessness threatened to consume him. Yet, beneath the layers of rage and frustration, a flicker of determination ignited within him—a resolve to reclaim his narrative and expose the treachery that had ensnared him.
On the other hand, Margaery stood at the precipice of her own emotional turmoil, having achieved a victory that felt hollow in the face of Avery’s fury. The thrill of outmaneuvering him was overshadowed by the haunting realization of the darkness that lay within her own family. As she glanced back toward the Royal Medical Hall, the fleeting warmth of Dashnell’s support reminded her that alliances could be both a shield and a weapon. She understood that the path ahead was fraught with peril; the stakes had risen, and she would have to navigate the treacherous waters of familial loyalty and ambition. With a newfound clarity, Margaery resolved to fortify her position, not just against Avery’s inevitable vengeance, but against the very forces that threatened to unravel her existence. In this dance of power and betrayal, both Avery and Margaery were irrevocably changed, their fates intertwined in a web of whispers that would shape their distant tomorrows.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the upcoming chapter of *Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows*, readers can expect the tension to escalate as Avery grapples with the fallout from his confrontation with Dashnell and Margaery. With his future hanging by a thread, Avery’s desperation will drive him to seek vengeance, but the question looms: will he be able to outmaneuver the very forces that conspired against him? As he plots his next move, the stakes will rise, revealing the darker undercurrents of power and betrayal that flow through the Royal Medical Hall. Will Avery’s quest for retribution lead him to uncover deeper secrets about Margaery’s true nature and her connection to Dashnell?
Meanwhile, Margaery’s newfound alliance with Dashnell will be put to the test as she navigates the treacherous waters of court politics. Her gratitude towards Dashnell may quickly turn into a complicated web of loyalty and fear, especially as Avery’s wrath looms closer. As she grapples with her own motivations and the shadows of her past life, will she be able to maintain her composure, or will the ghosts of her previous existence come back to haunt her? The chapter promises to delve deeper into the intricacies of character relationships, with unexpected alliances and betrayals shaping the path forward. Readers will be left on the edge of their seats, eager to see how these tangled fates will unfold.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
