Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale ` 99 Summary
In Chapter 99 of “Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows,” titled “Not My Daughter,” Raul grapples with the unsettling revelation regarding Margaery’s true lineage. Margaery’s juvenile behavior contrasts sharply with the weight of their shared bloodline, leaving Raul in a state of turmoil. He wishes for her to act out, hoping for an escape from the emotional complexity surrounding their relationship. However, as he prepares to draw her blood for testing, he realizes that the significance of bloodlines pales in comparison to Margaery’s status as the Chancellor’s daughter.
As the chapter unfolds, Raul instructs Mark to take a blood sample from Margaery, assuring her that it won’t hurt. Margaery, despite her injuries, is determined to attend a birthday celebration for Lady Sophia, revealing her lingering affection for Dominic. Meanwhile, Raul’s thoughts shift to practical matters, including finding a midwife, while Margaery remains resolute in her intentions regarding the blood test. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and Raul’s reminder to Margaery to rest before the visit underscores the weight of expectations placed upon her.
The pivotal moment occurs when Mark and Raul conduct the blood test. As they drop Margaery’s blood alongside Raul’s, the two droplets remain separate, indicating that Margaery is not Raul’s biological daughter. The revelation strikes Raul with a mix of disbelief and rage, igniting a fierce anger towards his wife’s portrait. This moment of humiliation reveals the depth of his feelings, as he grapples with the betrayal he feels after years of nurturing Margaery as his own.
Raul’s internal conflict intensifies as he reflects on the past, cursing the circumstances of Margaery’s birth and wishing for a different outcome. The chapter ends with Mark and Joshua moving towards Sunbeam Court, hinting at the unfolding drama and the consequences of the blood test. The emotional weight of the revelation leaves Raul in a state of turmoil, setting the stage for further conflict and exploration of identity within the narrative.
Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below
**Chapter 99: Not My Daughter**
Margaery’s demeanor was undeniably juvenile and lacking in decorum. Yet, Raul found himself grappling with an added layer of complexity. Beyond Margaery’s immediate behavior, the very bond of blood that linked her to Tessa now seemed shrouded in uncertainty.
Deep down, Raul harbored a wish that Margaery would act less rationally, perhaps even throw a tantrum that would grant him a convenient escape from this tangled web. But that hope had vanished into thin air.
He briefly shut his eyes, gathering his thoughts before finally uttering, “If you genuinely dislike Tessa, then feel free to act as you please from this moment onward. Shortly, I will summon Mark to draw a small amount of blood; it won’t hurt much, just endure it for a bit, and it will soon be over.”
In the grand scheme of the Chancellor’s estate, the significance of bloodlines seemed to pale in comparison.
If it was to be disregarded, then so be it. As long as Margaery remained the Chancellor’s daughter, that was all that truly mattered.
Raul decided to retreat a step, and Margaery simply nodded in response. “Alright.”
He sensed the tension still lingering in the air and yearned to alleviate it, but words failed him in that moment. Finally, he managed to say, “Then please rest well. I’ll head back to make some arrangements.”
With that, he turned and exited Gracewind Garden.
Margaery stood silently, watching him leave, her thoughts swirling in a tempest of emotions.
Just then, Adam entered, balancing a tray laden with steaming chicken soup, an assortment of side dishes, and fragrant flower rolls filled with savory beans. “Lady, His Highness sent these for you, saying they will aid in your recovery. I’ve warmed them up; do try some,” he said, his voice warm and inviting.
A flicker of warmth ignited in Margaery’s heart. “Please convey my gratitude to His Highness, and thank you as well, Adam.”
Adam beamed at her. “It’s my duty, my lady.”
After all, soon she would be the mistress of Dashnell’s residence, and every act of kindness felt significant.
Margaery took a few bites, gradually feeling her strength return, all the while waiting for Raul to send someone her way.
As the night deepened, the sound of footsteps echoed outside.
Raul entered, accompanied by Joshua and Mark. “Margaery, we only require a small sample of blood, just from your fingertip. There’s no need to fear,” he assured her.
Margaery remained silent, simply extending her hand towards Mark.
If all went according to plan, Mark would deliver the results she desired. After all, Tessa had already approached Halle, who in turn had sought out Mark.
With a steady hand, Margaery pricked her finger with a needle, allowing a single drop of blood to bead and then fall into a small porcelain vial that Mark held out. He smiled reassuringly at her. “The bleeding will cease shortly. Just press this cotton ball onto it.”
Once more, Margaery nodded, her silence speaking volumes.
“Margaery, make sure to rest. Tomorrow, you still need to visit the Hadley family to extend birthday wishes to Lady Sophia,” Raul reminded her, casting one last glance before he departed.
The visit to the Hadley family for birthday wishes felt trivial on the surface.
What truly mattered was that Margaery, despite her injuries, was determined to go, a testament to her lingering affection for Dominic and her desire for him to marry her.
Understanding his unspoken words, Margaery nodded in agreement. “Alright.”
Raul left, feeling a sense of reassurance.
Once alone, Margaery extinguished the lamp, instructing Amber to keep watch at Sunbeam Court, and settled into the enveloping darkness, awaiting news.
—
She was resolute; she would indeed attend Sophia’s birthday celebration at the Hadley family the following day.
However, she was equally determined not to provide them with the outcome they sought.
On their way back, Raul turned to Joshua and asked, “Have we located that midwife yet?”
Joshua nodded affirmatively. “Yes, we’ve found her. She’s currently working at a bun shop on the outskirts. I’ve dispatched someone to bring her here; she should arrive shortly.”
“Very well. Let’s proceed with testing Margaery’s blood first,” Raul instructed, casting a glance at Mark.
Mark had already departed from the Royal Medical Hall. At sixty-seven years of age, he had retired two years prior. Once closely associated with Alicia, he had been cast aside and now held only an honorary title.
After Avery’s departure from the Royal Medical Hall, Mark was the sole trustworthy ally Raul could rely on.
Yet, at that moment, Mark kept his gaze lowered, obediently stating, “I’ll prepare the water myself.”
Raul turned to Halle. “Please escort Mark to the kitchen.”
Blood testing for kinship was a serious matter, and Raul wanted to ensure that Mark and Halle supervised one another to prevent any foul play, unaware that the two had already formed an alliance.
“This way, Mark,” Halle instructed, her eyes briefly meeting his as they both feigned ignorance of one another.
Mark nodded, his voice distant. “I apologize for the inconvenience.”
They entered the kitchen one after the other, and once inside, Halle turned towards Mark. “The rest is in your hands. If you execute this correctly, the rewards I promised you will be more than sufficient.”
Mark nodded, a hint of malice hidden beneath his words as he gritted his teeth. “As long as my son can take Avery’s place, I would do anything for that—kill if necessary!”
With that, he withdrew a small packet from his sleeve and sprinkled its contents into the basin of water.
Halle observed him with a smile. “With Lord Russell involved, there will be no room for error.”
Their voices were barely above a whisper. Outside, the wind howled, and even Joshua and Raul, standing beneath the eaves, remained oblivious to their hushed conversation.
Soon enough, Mark emerged from the kitchen, carrying a basin of water. He bowed respectfully and announced, “Lord Chancellor, it’s ready. Shall we proceed inside?”
Raul glanced at him before stepping into the study.
“After you, Lord Chancellor,” Mark said, placing the basin down and looking up at Raul.
A fleeting glimmer of animosity flashed in his darkened eyes, but it quickly vanished, replaced by a façade of servility.
Raul, preoccupied with his own thoughts, failed to notice the subtle shift in Mark’s demeanor.
With a grim expression, he sliced his own finger, allowing a drop of blood to fall into the basin.
Mark took out a porcelain vial and poured in a drop of blood, freshly drawn from Margaery’s fingertip.
The two droplets of blood lay closely together.
Yet, after what felt like an eternity, there was no sign of fusion. Instead, each droplet formed its own distinct clot, as if they were adversaries unwilling to merge.
According to the tenets of blood recognition, the implication was clear: Margaery was not Raul’s biological daughter.
“My lord, this…” Mark exclaimed, his surprise evident as he met Raul’s gaze.
Raul stared intently at the basin, his eyelids twitching in disbelief as he gritted his teeth. “She truly is not my daughter!”
What followed was a wave of humiliation that washed over him. “All these years, I was blissfully unaware that I had been deceived from the very start!”
—
Although he had steeled himself for this revelation, the truth struck him like a thunderbolt, igniting a fire of rage within him. He turned to glare at his wife’s portrait hanging on the wall, his eyes ablaze with fury, wishing he could rip the painting down and tear it to shreds.
Mark, observing from the sidelines, couldn’t help but smirk inwardly.
Joshua’s expression was a tumult of emotions, but he maintained his composure. Noticing the presence of others in the room, he quickly shifted the topic, “Father, Tessa’s blood has yet to be drawn.”
“Go with Mark. I won’t accompany you,” Raul said, his fists clenched tightly, his voice quivering with suppressed anger.
He had never anticipated that the daughter he had painstakingly nurtured for so many years was not his own flesh and blood.
As memories of his wife’s premature labor flooded his mind, he couldn’t suppress a bitter curse, “Why didn’t all three of them perish back then?”
If they had, he wouldn’t be ensnared in this predicament today.
Outside the room, in the pitch-black night, Mark followed Joshua step by step towards Sunbeam Court.
Halle trailed closely behind them.
After a moment of contemplation, Joshua turned to Mark, his expression grave. “Mr. Whitney, even though you’ve left the Royal Medical Hall, both we and Lady Alicia will remember your contributions. When Prince Marcus ascends the throne, you will undoubtedly be rewarded.”
Conclusion
In the aftermath of the shocking revelation, Raul found himself grappling with a tempest of emotions. The realization that Margaery was not his daughter shattered the very foundation of his paternal identity, leaving him adrift in a sea of betrayal and anger. The years spent nurturing what he believed to be a bond of blood now felt like a cruel illusion, and the portrait of his late wife loomed over him like a haunting reminder of the lies that had woven through their lives. As he stood there, fists clenched and heart racing, he was forced to confront the fragility of trust and the devastating consequences of secrets long buried. The anger he felt was not just directed at his wife but also at himself for having placed his faith in a facade, leading to a profound sense of humiliation and loss.
Meanwhile, Margaery, unaware of the chaos unfolding in the depths of the Chancellor’s estate, clung to her determination to forge her own path. With the weight of uncertainty pressing upon her, she resolved to attend Sophia’s birthday celebration, not only as a gesture of goodwill but also as a defiance against the expectations that sought to define her. The kindness shown to her by Adam and the fleeting warmth of gratitude she felt for His Highness reminded her that even in the darkest moments, there were glimmers of hope and connection. The blood that coursed through her veins might not bind her to Raul, but her spirit remained unyielded, ready to carve out her own destiny amidst the whispers of betrayal and the shadows of her past. The night enveloped her, and as she prepared to face the dawn, she steeled herself for whatever truths awaited her, knowing that her journey was far from over.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**
As the dust settles from the shocking revelation of Margaery’s true parentage, the air is thick with tension and unspoken words. Raul’s world has been turned upside down, and his fury at the betrayal looms like a storm cloud over the Chancellor’s estate. In the next chapter, readers can expect to delve deeper into the fallout of this revelation. How will Raul confront Tessa, the woman he thought he knew? Will his rage lead him to make impulsive decisions that could alter the course of their lives forever? The emotional stakes are higher than ever, and every character will be forced to confront their loyalties and secrets.
Meanwhile, Margaery, unaware of the chaos brewing in the shadows, is determined to maintain her composure as she prepares for Lady Sophia’s birthday celebration. Her resolve to attend despite her injuries hints at a deeper strategy at play. Will she use this opportunity to solidify her position or to confront the very people who have manipulated her life? Anticipation builds as Margaery’s true intentions remain shrouded in mystery. As the chapters unfold, readers will be drawn into a web of intrigue, alliances, and betrayals that could reshape the very foundations of power in Dashnell. The question lingers: who will emerge unscathed from the tangled web of bloodlines and ambition?
