The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 128: Ending friendships (1)

Alessandra kept her gaze on where Penelope walked with Hazel. She couldn’t let any of her children out of her sight for too long with what was occurring around the town.

Alessandra’s attention to where Penelope walked led her to find Erin standing amongst the crowd with her husband, Dale Scott.

"Edgar," Alessandra said, getting her husband’s attention. "Can you join me for a moment? I want to speak to Erin. I have not been able to get in touch with her, and neither has Penelope." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Tyrion overheard what Alessandra said and looked forward to her getting answers. Would she confirm his theory, or was he wrong?

"Do not leave the king’s side," Edgar informed Lily. "I will join you," he replied to Alessandra, though he wasn’t pleased to go near Dale.

Alessandra walked with her arm linked with Edgar’s over to where Erin stood. "Erin," she greeted her friend. "I am happy to see you here."

Erin smiled, first looking at her husband, Dale, before looking back at Alessandra. "Duchess!" She greeted Alessandra in a warm tone. "I am happy to see you here as well. I meant to send flowers to Penelope for her wedding. It is wonderful that they have gotten married."

"It is. Penelope will be happy to hear from you. Neither she nor I have heard from you as of late. There are a few dresses I would love to have made, and then we could sit and talk," said Alessandra.

Erin’s smile continued, and she was late with a response. She tried her best not to meet Edgar’s eyes, but it seemed he had already read her mind.

"Be out with it," Edgar said, uninterested in a conversation going around in circles. "What is it that you have to say?’

Erin didn’t have the right words to respond to Edgar since it wasn’t what she wanted to avoid Alessandra or her children. It was her husband’s idea.

Erin turned to Dale for help, but felt him nudge her forward to speak.

"I have been a bit busy preparing many dresses for my shop. The season is quite a busy time for me, so I am always hard at work. I must also prepare styles to show the ladies for winter in advance," Erin said.

"You are still going around in circles," said Edgar.

Normally, Edgar was fond of Erin since he had dressed his wife beautifully, but he didn’t like where this was heading.

"Right now, there is a lot of bad gossip surrounding the Collinses. Gossip which might affect my wife’s business. She has spent too much on materials to lose any customers now," said Dale.

"You are avoiding us because of what is said? Erin, I did not think you would ever be like this," Alessandra said, disappointed.

Alessandra understood protecting what made you money, but Erin knew her family well. Erin had been around Penelope and her siblings enough to know better than to listen to gossip.

"I," Erin started, but Dale’s grip on her arm silenced her.

"It will not be forever," Dale spoke on Erin’s behalf. "Just until it does not affect my wife’s business. Surely, you understand. Duke Collins, you are a businessman. You know it isn’t personal."

"I know that if you continue to speak, you will lose your tongue," said Edgar.

Edgar wasn’t fond of Kyle Scott, Dale’s brother, and after meeting Dale, he was not fond of him. He had been so lucky that Alessandra never asked him to sit with Erin’s husband, and when Erin used to come to the estate, she was alone.

"You could have done better," Edgar said to Erin.

"I believe the town says the same about you," Dale spoke on behalf of Erin.

Erin tapped Dale’s hand, wanting him to stop picking a fight he wouldn’t be able to win.

Erin hated to see Alessandra look so disappointed. "Can I speak to you alone, Alessandra? It isn’t all like my husband said."

"I think you have both said enough," Alessandra said, grasping the situation pretty well. "Rather than ignore us, it would have been better for you to tell us that you wanted to protect your business."

"It was terrible of me to ignore your family. It is just that-"

"I don’t want to hear any excuses. You wish to protect your business from what is said about my family. Isn’t that all?" Alessandra asked.

"Well," Erin stopped, not knowing how to explain herself. It was Dale’s idea, and she understood his reasons, but she didn’t want him to get in the way of her friendship. "I want us to speak alone. Please, give me a moment to explain."

Alessandra didn’t need to hear any more of what Erin wanted to say. She already knew what the issue was.

Still, Alessandra looked at Edgar. She walked only an arm’s length away from Edgar to speak to Erin.

Erin turned her back to Dale and whispered, "It is not my idea. Dale thinks that since I am doing so well, I should be careful with who I welcome as a customer. You hold a special place in my heart since you were my first customer, and you provided me with money. I am in a hard place over two people I love."

Alessandra didn’t care for the excuse.

Dale could suggest all that he wanted, but it was Erin’s business. She made the final decision.

Alessandra sighed. "You have made your decision, and I have to make mine. Like you must protect your business, I must protect my children. I once had your support when you had nothing, and I was said to bring misfortune. Still, you rose to have a business which succeeded your mother’s business."

"You don’t need me anymore. You haven’t for years, so you can turn to others for business. You have hurt me in a way I would have never expected from you. Not only did you do it to me, but you also ignored Penelope. You have been near her since she was a baby," said Alessandra.

Alessandra didn’t allow many people around her children, but Erin was fortunate to see them grow to the age they were now.

"I know. It is not my idea, and I have talked about it over and over again with Dale. You know the troubles I faced to finally marry into his family. Our families are now in a good place, and I don’t want to have something to bring conflict. I don’t want to lose you as a friend," Erin said, trying to think of a solution.

Alessandra bitterly smiled. "I think you lost me. Had you spoken to me about your concerns, I would have understood, but I had to approach you to find out. I wish you well, Erin."

It was bittersweet, but this wasn’t the kind of friendship Alessandra wanted now.