A Chance With You by Paula Camille Wong (the snowy day read aloud TXT) 📖

were focused on Jane. But still, he looked at her with nothing but a veil in his eyes. Uncaring, emotionless, dead. The sight of him was so powerful, it nearly melted her heart. But no, she can’t. She can’t lose herself to him. He feels nothing for her. He feels for her younger sister.

He left her behind.

And by the sight of him, he has no intention on slowing down his pace, keeping her from catching up to him. In this long and winding road.
Chapter 10

Damn it, he tried so hard to forget about her. But the thought of Jane lying in bed, possibly broken and hurt… it tore him to shreds. He couldn’t forget about her. The way she was positioned under that bastard’s body, it made his blood boil. He couldn’t concentrate on what he was doing with Lisa. All his mind can grasp was only Jane. Finally, anger flamed through him. How dare that woman still affect him so. He rode all the way from Lisa’s home to his estate, determination and anger in his eyes. But the minute he walked in the sunroom and saw Jane, all of that anger fled.

Instead, it was replaced by desire.

A desire he tried so hard to ignore.


Lillian’s gaze landed on William then back to Jane, repeating the same process. Her brow raised slightly eyes glowing, a look of pure amusement in them. Clearly there was something going on with the two that she cannot understand. But then, she doesn’t think that the two even know that there is something occurring between them. The two is unaware of each other’s thoughts. She shrugged a shoulder, leaning back against the settee. But then again, Jane’s a widow who’s kind and caring while her brother is a hardened man back from war, who has a mistress that lives not far away, and additionally has a reputation that is enough to cause a scandal to every woman in London. She let out another hardened sigh and waved a hand through the air. “You should get back to Lisa’s bed before she finds another man in the country,”

Jane’s eyes widened at Lillian’s words. “Lily! You should not talk like that,”

“You almost had yourself killed, fainted because of stress and fear. I know he saved us but could he not spare a time from his mistress to at least tend to your well-being?”

Now at that Jane could not argue. It wasn’t like she couldn’t but she shouldn’t. It was not her place. This is a quarrel between him and his sister. His family. Which she is not part of. She can never be part of. “It’s alright,” Jane answered firmly a hand on her gown, not realizing she was gripping it tightly. “I am not his responsibility. He is free to do whatever it is he wishes.”

Her lips formed into a thin line, tilting her chin up, crossing her arms together over her chest in an unlady like manner. “That may be but he should at least care,”

William turned his head to glance over his sister, his expression still unreadable, an invisible veil over them. “As she said, Jane is not my responsibility. She can tend to her own conflicts. In fact, if I didn’t know any better, I would assume that she enjoyed herself in that position.”

Jane’s pale skin seemed to go even paler, her features the same as Lillian’s ashen face. “William! You have no right to say that. If you were there-…,”

“I was there Lily. I saw everything,” He answered with an impassive tone. “She acted improper. Not a lady but instead a whore. She should have done everything in her power to at least handle the situation until help arrived; instead she let that man touch her,”

“She was trying to protect me,” Lillian argued, her eyes blazing. What he had said was far too cold. Even for him. Jane is a gentle hearted woman. She did not deserve to be talked about that way. “Something you couldn’t do! If you would have accompanied me to Birmingham, then this should never have happened! You failed to protect me, she didn’t. Instead, you were off to your little mistress. Disgusting,”

Her words fazed him. To hear those words from what used to be a sweet innocent child. But instead, he just smirked. “I am just stating what my eyes grasped,”

“What your eyes grasped was your own-…,”

Jane’s voice cut through the tense atmosphere. “Enough,” She said, her voice cold and icy, thanking the gods that it didn’t waver. “Please Lily. As I have said, his words do not faze me. He is no one who can be able to hurt my feelings,” Even though that was a complete lie. Her heart felt like it can contract in her chest until it disappears, leaving an empty void behind. “I do feel a little unwell. I shall spend the afternoon and night in my room. Please call for me when you are in need of my presence. Lady Lillian,” She bowed in farewell. “Lord William,” She bowed and made her way out of the room and into the long massive hallway, once she turned the corner, she picked up her gown and ran. When she reached her room, she closed the door behind her, not allowing herself to release the unwanted tears until she was on her bed, still in her light green gown. She buried her face on the pillow, finally relinquishing the tears. She didn’t know why she was weeping. But the tears just can’t stop falling.

It wasn’t just because of William’s words though it contained a great deal of amount related to him. But it was the fact that she can never be happy. Not until she escapes everything about her past. William. Lillian. Stephenie. George. Everyone. Is this the punishment the Creator has placed upon her because of marriage to Marcus? Was this her punishment of not being a good wife? She had done everything Marcus told her to do.
She had not only been her mother’s pawn but also Marcus’s. Surprisingly enough, her life in the Birmingham manor was much more pleasant than living in Marcus’s roof. He had always insulted her in many ways. Blamed her for every little thing that he did not approve to his liking. She remembered clearly the day that he announced he did not love her. That he only married her because of her fortune. That he was forced into this hideous marriage.

“You disgust me Jane,” Marcus had said a low growl escaping his lips.

Jane sat on the corner of the library. Her sanctuary. The only place where she can be free of him. She bit her lip, but said nothing. Over the months, she learned that not speaking was a better way to shorten their conversations. Leaving her short with arguments, insults, and harsh words.

“What kind of woman cannot produce an offspring? Well I’ll tell you what kind of woman. A kind of woman who is not fully developed. A woman who is sent by the devil!”
Still by the insult, she said nothing. Fresh tears threatened to escape her eyes but she refused them, blinking them away.

“If you cannot produce me a child then I will just find another way by myself,”
Jane glanced up from her book, for the first time he had strode into the room met his gaze.

“What are you suggesting?”

“I am not suggesting anything. I never loved you Jane. The only reason why we married was because of your mother and my father. I decided to take the matters of this conflict into my own hands,”

Her eyes widened, a small flicker of hope forming. “Do you mean you wish to grant me an annulment?”

Marcus bowed his head back, laughing. “An annulment? Don’t be absurd. You do know that if I divorce you, you will be taking the title and fortune don’t you? I can’t risk that,”

She frowned. “Then what are you proposing?”

“You will find out soon,” He smiled coldly.

When he had said those words, dreadful sensations made their way inside her. And of course, she had kept her guard on him ever since the moment he had said that. It wasn’t that a couple of days later she found Marcus, in her own bed, with her sister Meredith. She should have expected more from her sister. True Marcus was quite handsome, with his golden blonde hair, but he was not close to William’s powerful body. He was lean and tall. In fact, he looked more like his brother, John, that George.

As last tears from her eyes finally subsided, she frowned. Frustrated and definitely annoyed at herself for crying, Jane looked out of the window. She was surprised to see that the sun had gone down, nothing but a dark veil across the sky. How long has she been crying?

A knock on her door disrupted her thoughts. “Jane? Is it alright if I come in?” Lillian’s voice soft and careful.

She wiped the remaining wet trails from her eyes then her cheeks, sniffing and getting herself out of bed, making her way to the lavatory, cupping a handful of water from the wooden bucket that was filled with freshly fetched water, rinsing her face. She then cleared her throat, thankful that the redness of her eyes were fading, the flush of her cheeks dissipating. The cold water helped, though it only did her little. She made her way back to her bed after her face was dried off of water and comfortably sat herself down, resting her head against the pillow. She pretended to cough. Even though her feelings can be hurt easily, pride and dignity was still on her side. Jane can’t let her know, or anyone else knows that she was weeping, showing weakness. She had tried hard to avoid that in the past and so far, she was succeeding. She’d be damned if she let anyone know she was shedding tears.

Jane cleared her throat, thankful that her voice didn’t waver. “Come in,”

The door opened.

Jane can see that Lillian changed her afternoon gown. Now she was wearing her evening gown. And as always, she was beautiful. Lillian closed the door behind her and made her way toward the bed, sitting on the chair that was next to it. “Jane-…,” She started.

But Jane interrupted her before she can begin. “I do know what you are going to say. I told you Lily, his words are of no matter to me. It didn’t hurt my feeling one bit. I can assure you,”

Lillian hesitated and sighed, her eyes closing. “Do you really think that I am a fool Jane? It hurts my feelings