172: 46 The Right To Say No

46 The Right To Say No

Sibyl’s POV

Azariah's mother scoffed. She glared at me, and said in a disdainful tone, “My daughter and Nuri were engaged six years ago. If it weren't for you, they'd be married now. You stole my daughter's husband, and now it's time to give it back to her.”

She looked at me as if I were a bad woman who had broken up her daughter's marriage.

I didn't answer her. I turned to Amy and said, “Amy, I forgot about the law of marriage in this country. Please tell me, what kind of engagement is valid?”

Amy, answer me out loud, “First, an elder writes a written marriage contract with the name and family of the betrothed. Then, the parents of both parties stamp the marriage contract with the family symbol. Finally, gifts are exchanged and an announcement is made.”

I nodded. “I see. Mrs. Windsor, where is the marriage contract for your daughter and Nuri?”

Azariah's mother was speechless. She looked at me and said angrily, “Everyone knows they're engaged. Our plan is to marry my daughter when she's 18.”

“I'm sorry, but their engagement is invalid without a marriage contract. Nuri has married me, and he does not acknowledge his engagement to Azariah. It's just a joke. I hope I never hear of this ridiculous engagement again. I'm Mrs. Rodriguez, and I have a responsibility to protect my husband's reputation.”

“What do you mean? This engagement is real. Why are you accusing me of slander? I tell you! Your husband has been sleeping with my daughter. They love each other, and I hope you understand that you're the one who's not needed.” Azariah's mother slammed the table.

“Sleeping with your daughter? ” I sneered.

I stood up and approached her.

She was afraid of my approach. “What... What are you doing?”

“Having s.ex before marriage is called adultery in our country. Instead of disciplining your daughter, you come to my house and yell,” I said slowly, “I won't allow your daughter to marry into our family, and my husband doesn't want to marry your daughter. If you still want to protect your family's reputation, you'd better take her away from the capital.”

“How dare you!” Azariah's mother blushed with anger, “Do you really think you're a royal princess? You're just a tool the queen uses to impress men. Your sister Selene was given to the Werebear King as a concubine, and you were given to Nuri as a sexual partner. You really think you're Mrs. Rodriguez? When your father dies, you will be abandoned by Nuri! My daughter is a woman worthy of Mrs. Rodriguez.”

“Amy, Get Mrs. Windsor out of my house.” I don't want to see this woman in my home.

Amy walked up to her and made a gesture to ask her to leave. “This way, Mrs. Windsor. It's time for Mrs. Rodriguez to rest.”

Azariah's mother rolled her eyes at me, “The fight between Rodriguez and the royal family, our family was neutral before. You have to understand, our family's choices are very important and will upset the balance. I thought you were a smart person, but I didn't expect you to be a fool!”

“I don't need you to lecture my wife,” an angry male voice said.

Nuri strode in and stood beside me.

“Mrs. Windsor, my family is my bottom line. If you continue to insult my wife, I don't mind making your family my enemy.” Nuri's voice was cold.

“You slept with my daughter. You are responsible for her.”

“Really?” Nuri's eyes looked at her. “Go back and tell your daughter that if she is pregnant in a month, I will marry her. If she is not, then I will drive her out of the capital.”

“You!” Azariah's mother, trembling with anger, pointed to Nuri.

“Since she has decided to take a risk, then she has to pay some price. I already have a wife. I don't need another one. Only when she is pregnant will I consider her to be my second wife.”

Azariah's mother gritted her teeth. “OK. I hope you don't regret what you said today.”

She turned away, like a proud peacock.

The room quieted down. Nuri gestured to Amy. She nodded, left the room, and closed the door.

“Sibyl,” Nuri whispered my name, reaching for me.

I took a step back.

“Sibyl.” There was doubt in his voice. “I can explain.”

Tears welled up in my eyes and I tried to hold back my emotions. “You can say it, but don't touch me.”

“I have been framed,” Nuri said, explaining the situation to me in a hurry when he saw my resistance. I stood there quietly, listening to him.

“Then I was taken back to camp by Wayde. As soon as I recovered, I came back to you to explain.”

I looked down at the pearls on my shoes and didn't speak.

Nuri says they didn't have s.ex. But why did he mention the pregnancy?

“If Azariah were pregnant, you'd marry her, right?” I muttered.

“She couldn't have been pregnant. For the next month, if she was pregnant, it would mean she had s.ex with another man,” Nuri said, “That's the difficulty I gave her. Either she stays chaste and can never prove that I had s.ex with her, or she is pregnant with another man's child. No matter what, I will not let her go.”

My tears fell on my hands, and I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes.

In the face of Azariah's mother, I was tough on the outside, but I was flustered on the inside. I never tried to resist a member of the aristocrats. I said out loud that Nuri would not marry Azariah, but I wasn't sure if Nuri had the same idea as me. After all, Azariah is a beautiful woman, and marrying her means having the support of Windsor.

So, when I heard Nuri talking about being pregnant, I felt like my heart was breaking into pieces. Nuri made love to her and considered having children with her, which made me feel hopeless.

At that moment, countless thoughts flashed through my mind. If Nuri does marry Azariah, then I will leave the capital alone, and I will take my brother to the south and live incognito.

I don't want to share my husband, and I don't want to fight with other women for a husband in a castle.

When I thought about it, I felt relieved because I thought I had a way out, but at the same time I felt miserable because it meant my marriage had failed.

However, Nuri told me that he did not have s.ex with her.

Nuri cupped my face in his hands and asked me to look at him. “You don't believe me? You think I had s.ex with her? You think I'm gonna marry her because of pressure?”

I lowered my head.

“Look at me,” Nuri said angrily. “I am your husband, and I promised you that I would love you and only you, and I will always protect you. But now we have only one small problem, and you don't believe me?”

“I didn't...” I whispered back.

“You know what I was thinking when Azariah was standing naked in front of me?”

“What?” I want to know the answer.

“I'm thinking I'm done. Azariah is a sexy young girl. Her naked body is seductive, but I have no reaction to her. On the contrary, I hate it when her naked body is too close to mine. I was thinking about you, and I was afraid you'd misunderstand me, and I was afraid you'd get angry, and I didn't appreciate her body at all.”

My tears are running out again. I held him. “I'm sorry I doubted you.”

Nuri did not hug me. He pretended to be angry. “Remember, you are my wife. Even if I hurt anyone, I will not hurt you. You can doubt anyone, but not me. Do you understand?”

I nodded.

“But what if the Windsor family and the royal family are ganging up on you?” I was worried.

“It's okay. I hate being threatened. I don't mind having one more enemy. If the Windsor family gives you any more trouble, just tell me and I'll help you deal with them.”

I stood on tiptoe and touched his face. “I can't hide behind you all the time. I can fight with you.”

Nuri looked at me and smiled. “I was pleasantly surprised by the way you rebutted Mrs. Windsor today. I've never seen you so stern.”

“Did I just look bad?” I had never argued with anyone before, and I didn't know what to make of my face.

“No, you're strong. I love the way you defend our marriage, like a warrior woman.”

I smiled shyly. When I was in the palace, I always told myself to be patient no matter what I faced. I never said no and dared not resist anyone, but today I have bravely expressed my opposition and anger. I'm Mrs. Rodriguez, and I can refuse Azariah to join my family as my husband's Second wife. I have the right to say no. 2

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