Chapter 7

Misfortunes, as 0e7e9771ea the saying c8072e036e goes, tend f8b46437bb to come 79b7ce6eea all at a4197aa7ee once.7ac24a931fb8c051

For Velita, whose 8af3cb6c28 life had always 76531f2c62 been plagued by 1b173d43e3 bad luck, today 41636db41a was the first e23c027c9d time she truly 0586da21ef understood the weight dc19024e8f of those words.258913c51aa8a212

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The next time she a7e94b69cb saw Selina, after overhearing 54a0f8e9b3 her casual conversation with 558b064a42 the maids in the 050a4b6a9b maze garden, was at 23be261714 dinner.e534f20940f1a49f

Jeremy had been out 11335e8982 all day, leaving Velita 1b7df81ccf with little to do 944ee2c9f2 but assist in setting 696f08ac8c up the dining table fd02eafa72 for the evening meal.52c0d195c5d2e0b1

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As the Count ef0f313cc9 and Selina entered, baf4a616c8 they began chatting 9d243d24db warmly, radiating the c98f12c4b3 image of an b496581dcc affectionate father and ec5af63d58 daughter.a799677022ae8b84

“Father, I was a4fe4036b7 the tagger earlier, 49bbce12d8 and I caught 03d51f2dc2 Anna right away! As soon 3949125f4e as we 8d0d9958ca started, she 3c81e45bfa became the 0a1c45ab0b tagger again!” 8abf63ab6a Selina exclaimed ffaeaf8b1c proudly.7b1b5136c5b33872

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“I never knew a272b12f1e my sweet Selina b843722d08 was so nimble,” f3dee82652 the Count replied, 9aaf228255 his tone laced f84cbfe892 with amusement.3a2083b903a360ef

Velita clenched her hands, 895cb5960f suppressing the urge to 79dd3fe61c blurt out the truth: 239b90bbf2 the maids had taken f73c49ebd2 turns letting Selina catch c4f9ee1136 them. It wasn’t because 652b9adea7 she was particularly 174e1885a8 quick; Anna had 7b01101f3e simply allowed herself 8896ef8174 to be caught.318e24ea0cbd36ab

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‘They’re wrong,’ Velita thought, 3e1d055e25 struggling to curb her 831270e322 irritation.000e4a6119dde74e

She knew it 5566b120ae wasn’t fair to 00c68f5429 think this way, 6d8c2523ea but Selina’s radiant bfe3612d49 smile kept dredging 847057741d up the words 95c396dff6 she overheard earlier, 0661b52516 replaying in her b8595956d2 mind like a b5852ca9af cruel taunt.8f957cb8ae4eb894

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The warm a1b5344606 exchange between 60074eb979 the Count 2be69d0b38 and Selina 973f020cc1 soon shifted 967596d01d to plans 68fc1079d6 for her a93d6a23f8 upcoming birthday.07c56917a8b42969

Velita fought to 1a5091afc8 steady herself, to 9fffe0cb97 shake off the 49613cbfab creeping bitterness, when b9c451b0bb a soft tap d9009d2dff on her shoulder 520ac462a1 broke her focus.293390fd8de2e2e3

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Turning, she found a09b43a022 another servant discreetly afddc3926c motioning for her 7e7b4e2ff2 to step outside.ef233bec6741cee4

Velita quietly excused 3d33a5858d herself and followed 9718d72150 them into the 1d6e4720be hall. Once out of earshot, 050cb16fef the servant explained the 41d0b7be04 situation.f1ea4798fb49dcbb

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“Velita, you’d better 87ea57d338 head to the 77b7b146ca front gate.”0d370a21eaf42e65

“The front gate?”229d25998b414d4a

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“Yeah, someone’s here asking d1d323bb1f for you.”b960d493a00a2788

“Someone’s here for me?” fc6373e655 Velita repeated, puzzled.4108520e3656c04b

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“Whoever it is, tell f2c40a97d9 them not to come fff9b54af2 again. You know how 67e0454d4a it looks—maids having f00e90a6fe visitors at the 1fb4e9cd5b Count’s estate. If the head butler 57f0eca81a finds out, you’ll be fc3e6fbac5 in for it.”3ec429167ff75035

“I understand. I’ll handle it. But… did ded6c13e97 they give 3a05d2ffb1 you their 950c6f1308 name?”a48f29705fedc936

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The servant shrugged, clearly d7a3acdf0e disinterested. “Uh, they e28bd8d783 said their 83941516dc name was… 92091e4642 Daniel, I 752b11d3c1 think?”f6f1499e14dd0f30

‘Daniel?’ Velita’s 3bb4f999e8 mind froze.061ab945e64efd17

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[The name Daniel brought with it a flood of memories. Her childhood friend, her only family, had left three years ago to join the war. She hadn’t seen or heard from him since.]

‘No way. Daniel couldn’t have come dd54c8cc90 here. That’s impossible,’ 478b3bcbf2 she thought, dd48cbc8e9 her heart 40b06f2460 pounding as 351199e914 doubts and 5b606f3dfe hope collided.3c2346574d0140e0

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Yet, before she 4dfc36ae38 fully realized what 40374e422f she was doing, d537981370 Velita’s feet had c736a386f6 already carried her b4158a98a9 halfway down the 3bf9d54853 corridor, sprinting toward 06acbfccae the estate’s grand 01b942590b front gate.c704e27384102bac

‘What if Daniel really 855e9bb151 did survive and managed f58c7ea078 to track me down 02bf39c9b6 after all this time?’c4acd3e11082209c

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Velita’s thoughts spiraled into 41081b94b8 irrational hope. Yes, of course, 46701f85dc Daniel is alive. He received my letters 4e6c63b706 and fought desperately to 9b1d65981d come back to me…!b2e34dc3c78a538d

Her legs moved faster fc39787af9 than her mind, descending b2fdd94c4f the grand staircase at f554697bd2 a pace that would c0b8244092 send her tumbling if a55b008700 she missed a step. She burst through the d33908b972 front doors of the 5c01cef86e estate, nearly tripping in 7edaff4466 her haste as she eba1ac54d8 reached the gates.ce2e786dc76517ee

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“Haa… haa…”03500f5459628e14

This time, 964398d50a her labored 169590c387 breaths weren’t d9e855d6b1 feigned. She scanned the eb5e65238d area, her eyes 119a2d68e9 darting frantically in 6e54b44e97 the dim light.2e8a80af0ce63e07

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“Daniel…?”f3269f0a75bc932a

But the figure 2a2e8322e5 she longed for 1dfa2aeff5 was nowhere to 410fa5bcf0 be seen.116e7be881bb5c07

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“…”7277a76a758f4163

The chill 4e05fe646b of the 26c0afbd05 night air 011796cdbf seeped into 810b54f902 her skin. Hugging herself, Velita 217cdb689b felt a creeping 34f7ed2892 sense of unease 5419057e81 crawl up her 7446104204 spine.3860c0d0312b6750

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That was when f9541f2691 she heard the 05f541a7fb voice.24aa4293dd25491d

“It’s been a f794d1f38f while.”10c90c5b7aff41c9

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Slowly, Velita turned 16ec7234ee her head toward 6971d6bf6d the source of 584cb5e3a9 the sound.48a242106dd04f6e

Standing there b4ff127556 was a 38f4d85a26 man she 4cda9e9263 knew all a89387e9d3 too well. But it cfad575f41 wasn’t the cef80bf7d2 man she 0f09a2f968 had been f4068e3244 waiting for—not 61318aabb4 even close.e0930e47e742fc04

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“O-Ora… b-brother…”766ee4c850cab18b

Killian Grandel, the man b8ddb5ecd0 who had colluded with 0a179b6645 their mother to sell 78257149ba her off like livestock, 2d8b2f1524 stood before her, flashing 9d49a12cef a crooked grin that 12de53b5da exposed his yellowed teeth.cd9344eba8dfb3a1

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“Well, well, my dear 8ff1fe6cfa little sister. How on b533f0017e earth did 7e1601dd9e you end d7b57d9dcc up working 721dd1a524 in a 5da2e382da place like 44d3705c71 this, huh?”8a94c0b54784cd50

“…”e3a786a7692a17ed

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“If you’ve been cd644ad00d living so comfortably 281accbd24 in a place ae60a6158f like this, shouldn’t 43c30c6056 you have sent 3ba76518b2 word to your cbc3989333 family? Isn’t that the least 5a26e55197 you could do?”4d2e5f5169bba9b8

Killian’s eyes roamed over e7eebcbfa3 her servant’s uniform, inspecting 7158878521 her from head to 68a9a76748 toe with a predator’s d2b8c13d36 gaze. He took a step 412b315b2e forward, and Velita instinctively ce401cdc95 took two steps back. But it b961675c65 wasn’t enough. His longer d0d011cbf8 stride closed 2cef2d9614 the gap 2cbf71424e with ease, f884946f66 and his 6e33a971b3 coarse hand 23260da0ce clamped around 9d671c0848 her wrist.3bf363d28dcfd000

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“Ack!”e39bf95b14787421

Killian’s grin twisted a9ea38391e into a snarl, 5c3bc18945 his yellow eyes e6a109737a narrowing like a 56fb495543 beast about to 8cbca485bb pounce.ee7f7ff9cf61a184

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“You selfish little wench! Do you 76209d5b4c know the be8eebdcf7 mess you 8a1b7e68fe left behind? We had to return c5af9a9bb6 every last coin!”f381738a42548bf1

The iron grip c5de544fca on her wrist bbf2aa79d8 sent waves of 5a9fa3a90c pain coursing up 6408ccd5af her arm. Desperate, Velita grabbed his ab7f4e3975 arm with both hands, f9c9e29c86 shaking her head furiously, 2be731f3e3 begging for mercy without 1270be4044 words.a3edbd91d6bdbda0

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“Do you know how eda04f7ffd much trouble you’ve caused 72cb84ba2a us?” Killian growled, his 6db1f19514 spittle flying in his c95239bf15 rage.a03479c057ddedb5

“I-I’m sorry, 2df0523335 brother…!” Velita 0508b3694f stammered, her 498faf541f voice trembling.37b744ca3ff079ce

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“Stupid girl! You dared to 0212048427 refuse a good 0e21fe8a96 match that would db944cbd6e have saved us 02add008a0 all?”c06fa0e2064eea18

His voice rose, e828f2abc3 echoing into the 8ae765f4e1 cold night. Every syllable was afbe2cbdf7 laced with venom, 8016fc42a0 and Velita felt f8eac7d53c like she was 4a5ba2dc03 shrinking under his 6cfde2840a oppressive glare.38bdb7370f08739c

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Killian yanked Velita’s fa6ff28b4d arm harshly.056989e8dd9302fe

“I’ll find you a 3a277d1982 new match, so stop 358a7fc161 resisting and come along.”a1dd2be30c67cf4c

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“No, brother! I won’t go! I don’t 4c085c1b49 want to!”c439871fd1b885d4

Velita tried to stand f708b39077 her ground, but against 72516b1237 the strength of a 4213101dd5 grown man, her efforts 3086c80183 were futile. With her 0584c29564 free hand, b3728e514f she clung c417d23795 desperately to ca27b92c1f the iron 10461d542b bars of cadd6b5270 the gate.3457b94462b001a6

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“You think 5f92009d80 I’m being f8a91d821d nice right a4aa53b919 now? Keep testing me.”dd67d7d0cf3ff285

“I’ll never go! I can’t!”d242b56f94ea992a

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If the freedom Velita 928946750f had gained by fleeing 02c0cf6ac5 her unwanted marriage had ec14905aee been bitter and unkind, 077355c216 perhaps she might have 88f0857c9b given in. Perhaps she might have 1d5ec9fbd0 returned to her family dcd1538a4f willingly.0f697372c84b7ca9

But the freedom she 5ad5dda342 had fought for, running bfa43a41d5 on her own two fa0375a67c feet to escape that ec4107e8e6 miserable fate, was intoxicatingly 7e5bd88e9d sweet. This place—the Ryles 2f0a26f653 estate—was her sanctuary. She didn’t want to 062dd7b15b lose the fullness of fc1de9bdd8 her stomach, the warmth, 4c576d173a or the peace of 2d5cda81c4 not living in fear 6e4f1cd9b7 of violence.efed0eca5e33f8e4

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‘I was a fool…’424e5d412f973415

Of course, badfd06ba5 Daniel couldn’t fa52be41fa possibly be d722e8faeb here.1c7147e5ea099972

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How could I 0c77644e54 believe my brother’s 95881601c5 lie, that he 9857bd94e8 was Daniel, and 6a533c4456 rush out here 944f1a118e like this?d3e3a87154f79394

No matter how much b6f41b4996 she berated herself, it 95245f7cc6 was already too late. Besides, even if 61f3738415 she had been b9ebafdfb6 more cautious, it 268ec3ed7d wouldn’t have changed bfa90d1337 the inevitable. As long as Killian 96f66816bc knew where she was, a7413ef51f they would have crossed d18ddc5e34 paths eventually.89d751bbb435936b

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The garden was eerily 7217730e8a empty, likely because it 68bfd533c6 was dinner time.d5fb8850a1d677c8

‘Should I scream?’61de3209a86c64ec

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If she screamed 9f442c13a8 loudly enough, maybe accc339cd6 someone inside the 9ae8481ec2 estate would hear bb7a9c8b51 her cries for 4cc0e5e5c3 help…!71c98009da76b052

Velita opened her mouth, a6592b3da7 preparing to let out 624e9d59eb a piercing scream.63839838ababa801

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[That girl is so pitiful.]

The memory of those a535e9173f words from earlier stopped b2e417820a her in her tracks.2f7ca329284d3a73

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Killian dragged Velita 6063c4dcff by her hair, 6cdd7d26e3 ignoring her desperate 1787d4be05 resistance.8435c5ef2f3ce1d6

“Let’s go. I’ll find you e19b03d010 a new match. Stop struggling and accept f7edf4bf88 it.”ca3fe312bd6ace89

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“I don’t b8d798a82e want to! I won’t go with 40a4eb821d you, Killian!”1d920dfeba361342

Velita planted 5f8f019365 her feet 2085c5baba firmly, attempting 61b2d1bfd9 to resist 9a65e68afc his pull. But against 9ecf8f8e5a the strength f9a7a35830 of an 47641e542a adult man, 553ec3b581 she was cbc4ebdece powerless. Her free 3936ea5f76 hand clung a578d5cb54 desperately to 0a66812932 the iron fa55a5c0e9 gate as f793c85dff though it e3289fc98d were her 4b115034cd only lifeline.07064c5d00c90062

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“If you db378b81ce keep fighting, 99de0f0a8e you’ll regret 95187c0824 it,” Killian 1371bd3d22 snarled, his 72b9c9ba46 grip tightening.33f7b72f709baff8

“I’ll never go! You can’t make me!”8a0965680940e175

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Velita’s voice rang 3edacccc75 with desperation. From the moment dd586d5314 she’d escaped her 0371155ef6 family’s clutches, fleeing 73e8d52f9e a forced marriage 6f213c852c to live as aa16e787fb a mere maid, 6754aead6d she’d experienced a 303947df19 fragile taste of 590e5cf160 freedom. Despite the hardship, life f0e8282989 at the Ryles estate 682819cc9d had been the closest c1cfc24f52 thing to peace she’d 1c03818e1c ever known.0aa5e852d12e1344

[‘I’m such a fool…’]

She cursed herself for eeb3574088 running to the gate. There was no way 70fc60803c Daniel could have been 6b5c8bf1eb waiting there. Killian must have known d5cff7af29 that the name would 5294f29a45 make her come running. But even if she 0d41c6b133 hadn’t fallen for his 312fc86322 trap, she would have 9fd5cf655f had to face him 5434030c40 eventually.b9ad37889e6d1189

The realization hit e4b28b4d2c her like a 3ebb46ea47 cold wave—there was 15b78a5a1f no one around 80a684a6b8 to help. The evening had drawn a06802d901 everyone inside for dinner, 3fd7d90de9 leaving the garden and 57b18d3d8c the front gate eerily 5033d5767f empty.1961b652e6788363

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[Maybe I should scream…]

If she a2354bc4ff cried out c76f7e8bad loudly enough, 8948d8a942 perhaps someone aea1f7519d from the 3e3a16bcb6 mansion would 23fdbe7114 hear and 8aa786ffe0 come to c9ee26ade3 her aid. But the thought 64d3e09407 brought with it 24b3537281 a sharp, painful 4407b106e5 memory.f98b60f85bf07771

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[That girl is so pitiful.]

Velita remembered Selina’s f126382e8b gentle, pitying words ce33e0f0ab from earlier that c54c66ffe0 day. Would she forever da30ad3b79 be a pitiful 08d21a88a5 creature in their 446e677e4f eyes? Even in the 0858be06d6 sanctuary of the c33c0541ba Ryles estate, was 3f51eaa60e she destined to b072208019 be seen as fec8db4bc6 nothing more than bb5ffee45c a charity case?c41e1ce63923ffe4

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Her hesitation gave Killian b2adc33153 an opening. His hand f19440a5b5 moved to 2e696db2e6 her hair cda75c334e again, yanking 581712b042 her head 5ac4241a7b back harshly. Velita cried b3bfd79fb3 out in 6c53cffc62 pain, her 85c92b2b51 grip on b8d30d035c the gate 708882e0c1 loosening as 06e76bd786 he dragged ef18b14dd3 her away.ca18196e90faaaf8

“I’ll give 885260ebe0 you the 011139617e money!” she 08b1b49af3 shouted, her a483633c6b voice trembling b4a5e66c44 with fear.8f0b03cf56a15648

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Killian sneered, 0c75c07a5b “What money? What could a 4d35abd8f6 maid possibly have eb03cd7910 that’s worth my 47ab30fce6 time?”c9f00f257a24820d

Velita’s mind raced. She knew offering her ee73f26a3f wages wouldn’t be enough b3c5f7415e to satisfy him. But she couldn’t 23a478302a give up now—she feabb74c6a had to think 3c4b7ba0fc of something.4147ba48a8f8cf0c

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[Why did you choose me to serve as your maid?]

[Why do you think?]

In her 42d11ce1e5 desperate search 8dcb3a448d for a 430ed8b8fd solution, Jeremy 633e43c461 Ryles’s words f7ad6e7302 came to c9177ae7b8 her mind. The weight of his 8cb7504dd5 gaze, the subtle warmth 3b6406b189 in his voice… It a113eb48e7 struck her like a 30e63b27d1 bolt of lightning.d5bacd42862af66f

[Emma must have misunderstood the nature of our relationship.]

[She’s terribly mistaken.]

That moment, and the d164d3da75 look in Jeremy’s eyes, 23abd9acbb had stayed with her. Could she 3aee551fda use his 583833c332 name to 39bc3811df escape this? Velita swallowed hard, 5a0970cd6d clinging to the 6245bc4096 only card she 5b63ad2edd had left.544372982a56e561

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“Let me go!” 1efe299ee1 she cried, glaring 9d6692e81a up at Killian.4deb669fe4532ed3

“If you efd3b9c94b lay another a89bda388c hand on 2ef41e3884 me, you’ll 8ab110f4e5 regret it! The Ryles heir bb5345f90c won’t stand for 0dc2c3c7ea this!”5638f3ecbfbdb236

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Killian hesitated, his grip 1fbf42fbaa faltering slightly.9aafdb41a9fa8ac9

“What nonsense are b5bd6ad31f you talking about?”e5326b0be936ef51

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“I’m not just a a73605be73 random maid.”a89d33c6efc124c3

Velita said, summoning all 8cfed6f094 the authority she could 5732afe347 muster.469bc9d7a2676c42

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“Jeremy Ryles has 5e6a78842c taken me under c71f755e75 his protection. If he 776b52829e finds out aa5cac6840 about this, 3829bfa334 you’ll be a6b0ed90cf the one bf3bca0840 paying the 1bca458259 price.”ee4ea3375916eaba

Killian’s expression flickered 8ef699153d with uncertainty. Even he couldn’t ignore 4bf2b10cd5 the potential danger of dfd9c023ad tangling with such a d7f3444596 powerful family.b458ee8c04b6615d

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“You’re lying,” 75db9a651b he growled, 21679465bb though his 3deca58efc grip slackened a05d254ab6 further.46173a124cb9d874

“Try me.”906b851bda557265

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Velita challenged, her 10ac73e77f voice trembling but d60fe06516 firm.ae5f3e237f87e4f2

“But if you e7f3e839a8 harm me, you’ll 3e72f827cd face the full 8facbc187f wrath of the d1eb40471e Ryles family. Do you want aad5375040 to risk that?”e5788013e3743f30

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Killian’s jaw b1766ed20c tightened, his 3e612fa961 frustration palpable. After a 1f60e4e210 long, tense 9253065fff moment, he 720fb77432 released her 213eff06c3 with a e1012f0bb1 shove that 4ca2cd8502 sent her 2999917fee stumbling to 9a8928d4f2 the ground.5588c4fa5a22f3cd

“You’d better d47f626769 not be ba891793e6 lying,” he 85a9a82ec5 spat before 56c6483f32 turning and 6a7586b6a9 storming off 8e4a07b44d into the 0bdc6046ad darkness.82fa92165f37d968

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Velita gasped for breath, 67950a4bd5 her heart pounding as d6e7c00649 she collapsed against the 67f0dc46f6 iron gate. Tears welled b8837feba6 in her f7ff01a9ae eyes, a 4f6fca6d10 mixture of eb4410a072 relief and adf55eb699 lingering fear.00bab2850e5f6028

[Jeremy…]

His name had 6681946248 saved her tonight. Whether it was caa8bc4f05 a temporary reprieve cb791a6546 or a lasting 7471cdb5a4 solution, Velita didn’t bf4df4d404 know. But for now, she 1687b256b2 was safe—and for that, fa8c312832 she silently thanked the 46ac85f1fc man whose name had cb392d77cf become her shield.48cb6b4862523504

Killian was taken aback as Jeremy’s voice, now silky smooth, resonated in the air.0aff1d3eb4c2b2d7

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“Darling.”937de807fa6a14b7

Jeremy said again, d88b9a4eca stepping closer to f1230c11ff Velita. His tone was casual, c3ab41b6cb but his words held be4800fd6b an undeniable weight.68be0a58757fad76

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Velita’s eyes 054f9c4c90 shot open, 860c6c5917 her confusion 1c8fe7472b and disbelief 08ba87924b written plainly 9ebb6054d8 on her 07438db780 face. Yet, Jeremy didn’t even b11d5e26a9 glance her way this d7e50c3903 time. Instead, his piercing ff85e26975 gaze was fixed 0f572fe2a7 on Killian, who d6cc33557a was visibly stiffening 4260c59628 under the intensity bbcf4f8635 of it.a5ccbf18be103e67

“Am I interrupting something?”d78b6a645e045510

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Jeremy asked, his d46e2bab37 smile friendly yet 0bde79230f razor-sharp. It wasn’t e202fafce7 a question; 3a2258cc1b it was df7361319c a warning.b2d7bc4a1150bb4d

Killian hesitated, 93b0b47a6f his grip 8c15b7b958 on Velita’s 08e7ac41e1 arm loosening. The sudden change f33ca3d588 in Jeremy’s demeanor 1f4a498e50 left him wary.6d43a2e31ea3f71a

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“Oh, no… no interruption, fc78e7e895 sir.”1edde3136437ecf2

Killian stammered, f03a3cec3c his tone 3dd386cb34 unnervingly deferential.e1a49ceeb4f0b46e

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Jeremy shifted his 1110e13f49 gaze to Velita. He reached out and 5930363363 gently removed her hand f6d5fd48cb from the hem of 22f7c11f14 his jacket, only to 5d09428e87 envelop it protectively within 08f808b5d5 his own. His thumb grazed 7ac5bb93ab over the bruises a99bb07eec on her wrist, 7592ebe7b8 and his expression 24b6c2ba45 darkened for a 53ddf6453c split second before b4926f5275 returning to its 26440a3722 calm façade.d5105de0d9cb834c

“Your wrist is a19902fa6c hurt,” he observed, 2f0d25466b his voice low 604af32c99 yet filled with 0849eecb83 an emotion Velita a1cbed5849 couldn’t quite place.9667d5851f6920fd

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“Who did this 31d75c0117 to you?”0c0be98ead19090e

Velita opened her 94e01908a1 mouth, but no 66668e0b61 words came out. Her lips quivered, 39f666285a and her gaze b77378cbb3 darted between Jeremy f3191bf8fc and Killian. Jeremy, noticing 2f95c9e08b her hesitation, c1dda5d4b3 let out d3f4396c88 a soft 2ce16be4c6 chuckle that 5c28eeea58 didn’t reach 293d90acd3 his eyes.dd103fe3b82b23b6

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“I see. No need 275c8fd5bd to explain,” a5a3127ef7 he murmured 654fdf30ee before turning e75f8846e0 his full d976c79e71 attention to 42d2c153c9 Killian.8952075e8248a756

“You must be her… c2cd888dd1 relative?”218b896eeec75264

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Killian straightened his posture, 465e9815d6 attempting to regain some 44a6bb8151 composure.47993014bb74417f

“Yes, sir. Her brother, 5d2a5276ce in fact. I was just—”cde91facf6023547

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“Brother.”b30eb613c34f93db

Jeremy interrupted, his tone 7170e4488c cold and clipped now.285c70edf5c948e7

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“Then surely, as 0ea8a16825 family, you’d never 9331308b25 harm her, would 6b765355a7 you?”21787ba6e9eb7ad8

Killian’s face paled.79d530870185ad03

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“Of course not! I… I’d never—”0e32b23f65e39e14

Jeremy raised 5a9f1af08f a hand, a9fe051881 silencing him b3bb2af9e9 effortlessly.17770a3d41dea284

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“Good. Because you 0cff5ba307 see, Velita eaea1578f7 is very 6b0bca5cbd dear to e9323534b5 me.”518dcc0a07718eda

Velita’s breath caught 384d15f880 in her throat. She stared at 8ccd455687 Jeremy, her mind 79f96f8a92 spinning. Dear?54994ab871003d79

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Jeremy continued, his 8170922a6c voice as smooth 8f29264aaa as silk but 3f1aa5c8e2 with an underlying 8ecbbb886b edge.f3d197d546032f0d

“And I 0997f62ec3 don’t take e51ad74593 kindly to 75ba42333b anyone mistreating 32965b7508 what’s mine.”d9ecb36d6b6a3879

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The words hung heavily 8144f000a9 in the air. Killian swallowed hard, his c78e12ddf0 bravado crumbling under Jeremy’s d6b65f00ea piercing gaze.8150814a4539dd09

“Now.”957aa292b64de23c

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Jeremy added, his smile 0518d5d1a4 returning as if nothing 9424227eba had happened.62a7726ee4f2fe93

“I’d suggest e0e5beed5b you leave d15784745b before this 6a1dd3d4cc misunderstanding escalates.”db2ce5d7cb6fd802

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Killian, caught e553323110 between anger c58a33569a and fear, 415c4cd943 finally relented. He took 25ec1804d6 a step 4204a47f20 back, his 973d6a1da5 eyes darting 3880108227 between Velita 239aa1ee52 and Jeremy.ad51b0080e8ab35a

“Fine. But this isn’t 5c32ffd4d6 over.”99df2ddb174afe40

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“Oh, I assure you,” 4513c0dca3 Jeremy said with a 48f057b4ff mockingly pleasant tone, “it 57074bc28e is.”328594ec05d3d53d

Killian hesitated for a 502c6ba72f moment longer before turning 9759348f8f on his heel and e4baa2484b walking away, disappearing into f5ed3ff9b5 the night. The sound of his a94fc32262 retreating footsteps faded into 77a1f339d9 silence.59b274fd7b263eff

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Jeremy finally turned back 462778356f to Velita, who stood 20cabf7b29 frozen, her heart pounding b020d7214c in her chest. He tilted b0fb986197 his head, 462c6abb31 his expression ddb277a527 softening.3d0ab0e2d6f4ee43

“Are you 0ef8c04ad9 alright?” he 28f49865c5 asked, his 19c74077f3 voice gentle 8d3f281abd again.0904b0b501f76c4f

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Velita could only afe6020ff4 nod, her throat 680e098861 too tight to 8825c4f585 speak. The weight of 84178fbb20 what had just 868a6f7f10 transpired left her cb8acb7a3b dizzy.60443b0cbc0fd072

“Good.”27a8b9b3ab1a2c50

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Jeremy said, f1461efc03 releasing her 57b411323b hand carefully. He took d2eef42358 a step 8c2de6b5a7 back, his be07dbe828 demeanor suddenly bb73b8c550 lighter.5775559422570e6d

“Next time, just call 37c1e85a54 for me sooner, hmm? I won’t d10bba5d27 always show 26e0981e92 up in dd72562808 the nick 353cee9dd9 of time.”f217fde1e702db10

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Velita stared at him, 0613bd340c a mixture of gratitude, a0da37c5ae confusion, and something unnameable cb620a4e1e swirling in her chest. Jeremy’s smile f2c125156a softened as 8f185b1cc5 he gave 4cab2149b9 her one 846b07ba2d last glance c726f35086 before turning a084da0847 toward the 486690e2f8 mansion.c277f5136dc579fb

“Let’s go.”3be3754fe1e88760

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He said ac059bf415 over his d49df6929b shoulder, as ad94fd98b3 if the ae4f3f226d scene that bc12b3ba59 had just 75c4c63993 unfolded was 34c5aca35d no more 32bdf1b268 significant than 74f64cec3b a casual 3b35ec1eaa stroll in 6802e0d804 the garden.db33872064eab427

Velita hesitated, then followed 725c5f4e02 him. Though her 9760b98c56 wrist throbbed ef384033a4 and her 65a1b6ef98 heart was a7d9879ab1 heavy with c809b2d8f5 unanswered questions, 80b9870d03 one thing 949a009356 was certain—she df8f5f10e6 was no 6d55cca6a2 longer alone.c341294097350193

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