The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

Michael sat down, deciding to wait since Camille was eyeing his every move.

He didn’t understand her.

’Why is she protecting him?’ Michael wondered.

He was merely a servant of the Hawthorne family, but fury burned within him at what Hayden had done. Most of the servants of the Hawthorne estate would feel the same since the Hawthornes had always been good to them so long as loyalty was kept.

Michael stared at Hayden, who lay awake, facing him with pleading eyes, as though silently begging for help to escape Camille’s grasp.

"Ignore his gaze. My husband has been acting out of order as of late and deserves his punishment. I am merely at his side because I am his wife. Don’t pity him," Camille said, approaching the bed to hold Hayden’s hand.

Camille smiled, knowing very well Hayden hated her touch now. He tried to move his hand away, but her grip was firm to keep his hand in place.

"My guard was only protecting me, and he was furious when he saw how Hayden had abused me. I would agree that my guard had beaten him too much, but he was my guard for many years. He was protective," Camille explained as though trying to convince Michael.

"I have witnessed the Hawthorne guards and servants be quite loyal to you and your family. You have always been kind to us and ensured we were paid well. I am not surprised your guard was protective, and I hope he will be released soon," Michael replied, letting Camille hear what she wanted.

Camille looked away from Hayden to Michael. "I am grateful you are still with our family after all these years. I remember when you came to the estate with very little practice in medicine, yet you were so confident."

Her voice softened as she thought back to the past. "My brother took you in, and your knowledge grew thanks to his investment in you. I would like to follow in his footsteps by investing in you. Helping you to learn more about medicine."

Michael wished to laugh, though he suppressed it. He could not be bought. His loyalty lay with those who had treated him well, and Camille was only thinking of him now because she wanted to steal him away from the estate.

"I am grateful for the offer, but I don’t require more investments for my work. I am now in a better position than I was years ago-"

"You are proving that your loyalty doesn’t lie with all the Hawthornes. Is it because my name has changed? I find that most of the servants do not listen to me since I have lost the Hawthorne name, but I am a Hawthorne by blood," Camille said, her anger misdirected.

Michael bowed his head quickly. "I do not think it is so. You are still the precious Camille Hawthorne in my eyes. I merely do not need an investment. I didn’t mean to disrespect you."

Camille looked down upon Michael from where she stood. Shame pricked her chest.

She soon looked away, disliking how she had acted.

"You must forgive me. I have also been acting unlike myself as of late," Camille said, touching her forehead. "It must be the stress of all that has happened getting to me."

"Would you like for me to prepare medicine for you?" Michael offered, preferring for her to be still.

Camille was ready to answer, but then suspicion struck her that Damien might use Michael to make her sick. "I am well. That must be the maids," she said, moving to the door. "You may start to prepare the medicine again."

Michael stood up and opened the small bottle he had carefully prepared since his meeting with Damien. Had he been told of Hayden’s actions earlier, it would have been easier to kill him during the first visit.

Camille allowed the maids to enter, then returned to watch Michael closely.

The maids came to Michael’s side, repeating what they had done before when they assisted him.

Michael leaned forward, removing the bandage around Hayden’s neck. He ignored the desperate looks Hayden gave him, for he held no loyalty to the man on the bed.

Camille tilted her head, trying to get a good look at what Michael was doing. "How is his neck? Will he be speaking soon? Will he soon start to move?"

"The wounds seem to have worsened overnight. I should have stayed to watch him through the night. That was my mistake for not suggesting it. We need to act fast," Michael said, removing the last of the bandages.

Michael glanced at the maids, noticing them occupied with his tools.

He turned his attention back to Hayden, leaning forward until he was near his ear. "Lord Hawthorne sends his regards," he whispered.

Hayden’s eyes widened, panic flooding them. He looked to Camille for help, but she turned away, as she no longer cared for him.

Michael moved quickly, placing his thumb on Hayden’s lower lip to pry it open, pouring what Camille believed to be medicine.

Michael kept the bottle steady until every drop had run out.

He then withdrew his finger and set the bottle back on the table.

"He shall be unconscious soon, so I can work on him, as this will be painful. This will be a messy sight, not suited for a lady of your status, as I have to check his wounds and there will be blood," Michael said, trying to get rid of her.

Camille weighed her options, twisting the jewel on the necklace she wore.

"I can sit and watch from a distance. As his wife, I should be here to watch him," Camille said, forcing herself to stay as she was determined to observe Michael.

She walked to a chair near the window and sat down, her eyes flicking to the maids who had recently sworn their loyalty to her.

With a subtle nod, they silently agreed to watch Michael’s every move, ready to alert her if he acted suspiciously.

Camille sat still, her fingers toying with her necklace, the only thing that calmed her in this moment.

She watched Michael as Hayden’s eyes slowly closed, his consciousness slipping away.

Camille thought about what to do next. ’I need to move soon’, she feared.’ If Hayden regains the ability to speak, everything could unravel. Unless I hurt him again, but how would I explain it?

Her gaze lingered on Michael. ’What else can I offer him to bring him to my side? If I make the right offer, he wouldn’t dare think of being more loyal to Damien.’

’I need to win him over before he leaves’, Camille decided.

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