Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale ` 60 Summary
In Chapter 60 of “Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows,” Tessa finds herself in a vulnerable position, her emotions laid bare as she struggles to maintain her composure amidst the turmoil. She attempts to downplay the situation, but Margaery unexpectedly confronts the truth, admitting to the violence she inflicted upon Tessa. This revelation shocks Joshua, who realizes the extent of Margaery’s manipulation and the distorted perceptions he had held about their past interactions. The dynamics of their relationships shift dramatically as Margaery takes full responsibility for her actions, revealing a chilling calmness that unnerves Joshua.
As Margaery explains her motives for striking Tessa, her words reflect a deep-seated resentment and a desire to assert her dominance. Tessa, on the other hand, is left reeling from the unexpected aggression, her innocence shattered as she grapples with the harsh reality of her sister’s betrayal. Joshua’s frustration begins to bubble to the surface as he confronts Tessa about her presence in Gracewind Garden, revealing a growing irritation that complicates his feelings toward both women. The emotional tension escalates as Joshua struggles between his protective instincts for Tessa and his obligation to Margaery.
The chapter takes a darker turn when Margaery slaps Tessa again, leaving her physically and emotionally wounded. Tessa’s disbelief and despair are palpable as she lies in the snow, blood trickling from her mouth. This moment signifies a profound shift in their relationship, where Margaery’s cruelty becomes a weapon against Tessa’s fragility. Joshua’s internal conflict intensifies as he witnesses Tessa’s suffering, yet he feels compelled to redirect his anger towards her, blaming her for the chaos that has unfolded. This moment of vulnerability exposes the harsh realities of their world, where power dynamics dictate relationships and compassion is often overshadowed by fear and control.
As the chapter concludes, Margaery’s chilling confidence solidifies her position of power, while Tessa’s emotional turmoil leaves her feeling isolated and defeated. Joshua’s attempt to mediate the situation reveals his struggle to navigate the complexities of loyalty and affection. The harsh truths about family bonds and the relentless pursuit of power become evident, leaving the characters grappling with their identities and the consequences of their actions. Margaery’s newfound clarity and determination to assert her dominance foreshadow an ongoing conflict, setting the stage for further turmoil in their intertwined lives.
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**Chapter 60: Just Slap Her**
Tessa’s voice quivered like a fragile leaf caught in a gust of wind, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears that threatened to spill over at any moment. She cast her gaze downward, her voice barely above a whisper, “It’s nothing…”
But before she could don the mask of the innocent victim, Margaery interjected, her tone unexpectedly firm. “I did it.”
Joshua’s body went rigid, the shock of her admission freezing him in place. “Margaery!” he exclaimed, disbelief etched across his features.
This marked the first occasion Margaery had openly acknowledged that she was the one who had struck Tessa with such force that her face had become a swollen canvas of bruises. Her expression was unnervingly calm, her eyes steady and unwavering, devoid of any hint of guilt or remorse.
In that moment, a wave of realization washed over Joshua, making him reflect on all the previous incidents. The memories felt distorted, as if they were painted in shades of gray that no longer matched the vibrant colors of reality.
In the past, Tessa had always been seated on the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks, desperately trying to defend Margaery. Meanwhile, Margaery had played the role of the wronged party, throwing accusations at Tessa, claiming she was framing her, insisting that she hadn’t pushed her or done anything wrong.
But this time, the roles had shifted dramatically, and Margaery had stepped into the light, taking full responsibility for her actions.
Joshua stood there momentarily speechless, grappling with the whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. After what felt like an eternity of silence, he finally managed to voice the question that hung heavily in the air. “Why did you hit Tessa?”
Margaery’s expression hardened as she replied, “It’s freezing outside, and instead of staying in Sunbeam Court, she came all the way to Gracewind Garden just to show off. She had the audacity to say that even if I marry Dominic, I’ll only end up in the Clan Court, while the Hadley family will soon make her the official wife. She implied I’d be banished to the Laundry Bureau or the Labor Division, left to rot away in obscurity!”
Her gaze bore into Joshua, her tone deliberate and unyielding, devoid of any trace of anger, yet it caused Joshua’s expression to darken, as if he were sitting on a bed of nails.
He glanced at Tessa, a flicker of indignation flashing across his face.
Margaery pressed on, “Do you think she didn’t deserve to be slapped?”
He shot Tessa a piercing look. “Tessa, why aren’t you recovering in Sunbeam Court? What are you doing here in Gracewind Garden, spouting this nonsense to Margaery?”
For the very first time, Joshua felt a wave of irritation wash over him regarding Tessa.
‘Of all times, why now?’ he thought, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
He and his father had been tirelessly working to persuade Margaery to marry Dominic, a scheme designed to keep her firmly under their control. Yet, here was Tessa, showing up at dawn and stirring the pot of trouble!
“I never said any of that!” Tessa protested vehemently, her voice quaking with emotion. There was no way she would ever admit to such things, not even if her life depended on it.
Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she continued, “I truly don’t understand why Margaery would say such things about me. I only came here to invite her to stay with me in Sunbeam Court…”
Before Tessa could finish her plea, Margaery struck her again, the sound of the slap echoing in the cold air. “Then why didn’t you come sooner? Winter has gripped us for nearly two months, and Gracewind Garden has been freezing this whole time. Now you suddenly decide to remember?”
The force of the slap was merciless.
Tessa found herself sprawled in the snow, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth as she clutched her face, staring at Margaery in utter disbelief.
Even with Joshua standing right there, she dares to hit me?’ Tessa thought, her mind racing in shock.
Of course, Margaery had the audacity to retaliate; she felt no fear whatsoever.
Times had shifted dramatically. Now, with Joshua and Raul so terrified she might elope with Prince Dashnell, they were practically begging her to stay.
Margaery didn’t just stop at striking Tessa; she turned her attention to Joshua, her voice laced with a chilling calmness. “Tessa’s being out of line. As her elder sister, slapping her twice isn’t too much, is it?”
Her eyes, once filled with innocence, now appeared deep and inscrutable, leaving Joshua to ponder the unsettling transformation.
He frowned, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
No matter how he sliced it, Margaery’s actions felt unjustifiable. Tessa was so fragile, having spent years in the countryside, and now thrust into the Chancellor’s estate, struggling to find her footing. That slap must have struck deeper than flesh.
But this was not the time to confront Margaery.
He inhaled deeply, forcing himself to nod. “Not at all.”
“Good,” Margaery replied, a mocking smile curling at the corners of her lips.
‘So it’s true. Power is a woman’s true armor. Tears and sobs hold no weight. Only when you wield power and force others to swallow their anger does it truly matter,’ she mused bitterly.
With a cold laugh, Margaery turned and walked away, tossing over her shoulder, “Tessa, from now on, if I don’t come to your room, don’t come looking for trouble. Otherwise, as Joshua said, it’s only right for me to teach you a lesson.”
“All these years, everyone used their status to keep me down, and I almost forgot that I’m an elder sister. Others could use their position to toss me into the woodshed or the cellar,” she continued, her voice laced with derision.
She glanced back at Tessa, her expression dripping with disdain. “Now I can do the same to you.”
With just a few words, she had laid bare the truth of their relationship.
Tessa remained on the ground, her mind reeling, her eyes wide with shock.
Joshua’s face turned ashen, fury radiating from him.
He couldn’t afford to anger Margaery, so he redirected his frustration toward Tessa, shooting her a withering glare. “Why aren’t you in your room recovering? What are you doing here, stirring up trouble and provoking Margaery? You’ve been in the Chancellor’s estate for so long. Have you learned nothing? Or are you pretending you don’t remember what you did at the Pero Cela?”
Just the thought of the Pero Cela incident ignited a fire in Joshua’s veins.
Had Tessa not shown up, even if the plan had faltered, it would never have spiraled into such a spectacle, turning the entire Chancellor’s estate into a laughingstock in Sinderin City.
Joshua’s gaze hardened as he regarded her.
A flicker of disdain glimmered in his eyes.
Tessa stared at him in disbelief. “Joshua, do you really think I was wrong?”
“I genuinely just wanted to invite Margaery over out of kindness. I had no idea Gracewind Garden was in such a state…” she sobbed, her voice cracking.
“Get up and return to your room! Why are you just sitting here crying?” Joshua’s voice rose, barely containing his frustration. He turned to the two maidservants lingering by the door, their heads bowed in submission. “If you can’t keep an eye on Lady Tessa and let her wander around again, I’ll break your legs!”
“Take her back to her room!” he barked.
The two maidservants flinched at his harsh command and quickly helped Tessa to her feet. “Lady Tessa, let’s hurry back,” one of them whispered, concern etched on her face.
The three of them shuffled away from Gracewind Garden, their spirits utterly deflated.
Once they were gone, Joshua stood alone in the courtyard, his gaze fixed on the door that now separated him from Margaery, a tempest of conflicting emotions swirling within him. “Margaery, don’t let it get to you. Tessa’s just a country girl. She doesn’t know any better. You’ve already slapped her and scolded her; why not just cool off now?”
Margaery regarded him, the irony of the situation almost laughable to her.
‘Survival of the fittest—that’s the law of this world,’ she thought bitterly.
Back when she had nothing but the Wallens to lean on, they had turned a blind eye to her suffering. They allowed Tessa to tarnish her name and lay every blame at her feet.
But now, even if they felt the seething anger inside, they had no choice but to swallow it.
Years of so-called family affection had evaporated in an instant, obliterated by the harshness of reality.
Now, when Margaery looked at Joshua, he felt like a stranger.
‘Turns out, blood relations… are merely a natural bond—whether you have them or not, it makes no difference,’ she mused.
A heavy stone seemed to lift from her chest, and Margaery felt a newfound clarity wash over her, allowing her to breathe freely at last. “There’s nothing to be upset about. But please, Joshua, tell Tessa not to come looking for trouble with me again. Otherwise, I won’t go easy on her next time.”
“Don’t forget,” she added, locking eyes with Joshua. “I’m the one who’s engaged to Dominic.”
Joshua stiffened, a wave of confusion washing over him.
‘What is she getting at?’ he pondered, feeling a bit thrown off balance.
After a moment of contemplation, Joshua finally replied, “Alright, I’ll talk to her. I’ll ensure she doesn’t cross paths with you again. Even if she does marry Dominic, she’ll only ever be a concubine. She could never pose a threat to your position.”
As he spoke, he stepped closer, adopting a warm, familiar demeanor. “Margaery, at the end of the day, you’re still the little girl I watched grow up…”
‘Oh, really?’ Margaery scoffed inwardly.
If she didn’t have someone powerful backing her now, Joshua wouldn’t be saying any of this.
He’d probably just toss her back into the cellar for another month, just like before.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of the confrontation, a palpable shift settled over the air like a heavy fog, obscuring the once-clear lines of loyalty and affection. Tessa, now nursing both physical wounds and a shattered spirit, felt the weight of betrayal pressing down on her. The bitter realization that those she had once considered allies had turned against her was a harsh lesson in the cruel dynamics of power and family. As she walked away from Gracewind Garden, flanked by the maidservants, the warmth of Sunbeam Court felt like a distant memory, its comforting embrace replaced by an unsettling chill that seeped into her bones. Each step away from the confrontation echoed with the haunting question of her worth in a world that seemed determined to keep her small and insignificant.
On the other side, Margaery stood resolute, her heart a mixture of triumph and emptiness. The slap had been a release, a momentary assertion of control in a life where she had often felt powerless. Yet, as she watched Joshua retreat with a sense of loyalty that now felt misplaced, she grappled with the realization that power came at a cost. The bond of sisterhood had frayed, leaving behind a bitter taste that lingered long after the words had been spoken. In the tangled web of ambition and resentment, Margaery found herself at a crossroads, her laughter echoing hollowly in the silence. The truth remained: in a world where strength overshadowed compassion, the whispers of yesterday would shape the distant tomorrows, leaving scars that would never fully heal.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**
As the tension between Tessa and Margaery escalates, the next chapter promises to delve deeper into the complex web of relationships woven within the Chancellor’s estate. With Joshua caught in the crossfire, his loyalties will be tested as he grapples with the consequences of Margaery’s actions and the fragile state of Tessa’s emotional wellbeing. Readers can anticipate a confrontation that not only challenges the existing dynamics between the characters but also forces Joshua to confront his own feelings about power, loyalty, and the impact of familial ties. Will he finally stand up for Tessa, or will he continue to allow Margaery’s cruel behavior to dictate the terms of their interactions?
Moreover, as Margaery revels in her newfound authority, her transformation from a victim to a dominant force raises questions about the true nature of power and its corrupting influence. In the upcoming chapter, Margaery’s motivations will be further explored, revealing the depths of her ambition and the lengths she will go to secure her position in the clan. Will she become a ruthless player in this high-stakes game, or will her conscience catch up with her? The stakes are higher than ever, and the outcome of these escalating conflicts could shift the balance of power within the Chancellor’s estate forever. Prepare for a whirlwind of emotions, revelations, and unexpected alliances as the story unfolds!
