Chapter 86


    Annie ced her cup back on the saucer before she exined, “I’m sure you’ve heard about my past


    already, especially when ites to the other Duke.”


    The fact that she struggled to say Greg’s name earlier and was avoiding saying his name now didn’t go


    unnoticed. The fear and difort was very much alive and lingering in Annie even after all these years.


    Lucianne’s face was unperturbed as she said softly, ‘I have.”


    Annie smiled meekly before she took a deep breath and said, “When I slowly started to believe that


    Christian really loved me, my fear of the people he works with never really went away. The other Duke


    was the worst but it wasn’t just him. Some ministers and random people we’d see at goverment functions


    were really condescending as well. They said things that made me feel…” she groped for the right


    words.


    Lucianne then whispered, ‘Small? Unworthy? They make you question your very existence?”


    Annie’s eyes widened, and she eximed in excitement at someone understanding her,(This novel will


    be daily updtaed at .noveljar) “Yes, exactly! I felt like I had no ce in Christian’s life. Him being


    the second most powerful person in the Kingdom, and me being a girl from a small town, who had to


    depend on aid and schrships t o get through my education. And unlike him and his type of society, I


    never went to the best schools. I was just happy to get into a random school that would give me a degree


    to get a job that makes money. We’re so different, Christian and I. I’ve never told Christian this but, on


    my worst days, I sometimes ask myself whether…my husband made a mistake in choosing me, whether


    I’m anything of value in his life.”


    Lucianne then asked her seriously, “Annie, do you think that there’s a reason for your existence?”


    Annie was surprised by the question but she said, “I don’t know, Lucy. I guess it depends on who you


    ask. If you asked Christian, then


    “No, Annie. It doesn’t depend on who we ask.” Lucianne then inched towards her and looked her in the


    eye before she dered in all certainty, “There Is a reason for your existence. You ARE worthy. Your life


    MATTERS. These things don’t depend on who we ask. The only person who has a say in these things is


    yourself. Not Greg. Not the Ministers. Not even Christian. Just you. When you realize that you’re here for


    yourself, to live your life on your own terms regardless of what anyone may think of you, you be


    truly free. You get to choose who you want to have in your life, and who you want to listen to. Everyone is


    entitled to their opinion of you, of me and of anyone else, Annie. And we are entitled to NOT care.” 6


    Annie couldn’t help the grin that was slowly gracing her features when she felt the strength from


    Lucianne’s words. She muttered as she internalized them, “Everyone is entitled to their opinion of me,


    and I’m entitled to NOT care.” Lucianne nodded with a smile while taking a sip from her cup. After a short


    moment of silence, Annie was still smiling as she said, “I like that. There’s so much power, and so much


    truth in it.”


    Lucianne nodded gently with a smile, “There certainly is. Look, Annie. Whatever people throw at


    you is just a reflection of themselves. It has nothing to do with you. They see things how they want to see


    and they react ordingly. I pay heed to the opinions of the ones I care about and who care about me


    but beyond that, I honestly couldn’t care less. I’m not saying that their words never affect me. All I’m


    saying is that… I won’t dwell on it.”


    Annie nodded as Lucianne spoke before uttering with a smile, “You changed your story. You refused to


    y the weak character in your book.”


    Lucianne returned her smile as she said, “We’re the authors of our own lives, Annie. We hold the pen,


    and we OWN the book. Whatever life throws at us are just pen smudges or coffee spills. We can still turn


    to a new page and start better and stronger than before.” 3


    Annie shook her head with a radiant smile as she said, “Goddess, we’re so lucky that you’re our Queen.


    (This novel will be daily updtaed at .noveljar)You have no idea how many people need your


    strength.”


    “A Queen isn’t the only person who can project strength, Annie.” She looked at the Duchess and said


    gently, “We all can. We just have to choose to do it. It’s a choice. It can be the most difficult and


    ufortable choice to make but in the end, it’s still a choice. Anyone can make it.”


    Annie shook her head again with a radiant smile, and scoffed lightly before saying, “Your humility


    reservoir really doesn’t run dry, Lucy. But I get what you’re saying. Thank you for helping me understand


    this, to understand that I get to choose.”


    “Thank you for asking. I didn’t think I would get to spend time with you this soon.” Lucianne admitted


    happily.


    There was a glint in Annie’s eye before she said, “I don’t know, Lucy. We might get to spend time


    together again very soon too.”


    “Really?” Lucianne asked in curiosity.


    Annie was contemting as she smiled, “I’ve always wanted to join Christian when he attends


    government events. You know, to show support, maybe even to contribute in some way as Duchess. But


    I’ve been hiding all these years because of what happened in those few weeks, almost two decades ago.


    Maybe it’s time to stop hiding.”


    Lucianne reached for her hand and squeezed it gently in encouragement as she said in assurance, (This


    novel will be daily updtaed at .noveljar)“You’ll do great, Annie. You have a good heart. And you


    won’t be alone. We’ll be with you even after you’ve taken off your training wheels to assimte yourself


    into that part of his world again.”


    The Duchess threw the Queen-to-be a grateful smile, and for the first time in a long time, she actually felt


    hopeful that she could be in the same room as the people who she tried to avoid all those years.


    After Lucianne and Annie settled the bill, they walked out of the restaurant with Russell holding tightly to


    Lucianne’s hand. When they were making their way to Annie’s car, Lucianne caught an unfamiliar scent.


    It was pungent and she almost choked on the smell when it reached her nostrils. Shemented in


    passing, “What is that smell?” Annie stopped in her footsteps as she asked in bewilderment, “What


    smell?”This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.