Chapter 18

“Lead the way.”f5ec6d3d94901cc6

“….”37b6af98a4bd0815

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“To where Selina cdd9158be8 is.”c2a18d3aafc46e07

In the 46cdfa0ba0 end, Cain 7871c260e8 Mortens couldn’t d61a7fc4e0 resist the 05132d9a96 pull of 6c7c3ef7d6 his weakness—Selina.14396a8f31fba91d

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Though he had f1875faa3c demanded Velita guide 8935a8166f him, his steps 8b6f65cc34 had already carried 364965dccb him ahead, his ab17b69bc7 familiarity with the dc6193a8da Ryles estate apparent. Perhaps it 55e9cd4b38 was because 1cb5656e13 he was 1fc4ecdfac Selina’s former dfd6468ca9 fiancé, or deff81f02e perhaps his a48c6b07e4 urgency made 21d2ffef01 his strides f8117fe27a faster than 13c38dc494 intended.d0c80f3c08e15251

His radiant a52b238e67 golden hair 9c76998af4 gleamed like 44a75da6b5 sunlight, his 3cacde4589 forest-green eyes 6d6e58fc7d sharp beneath 51830b91b2 the solemn e777396bc0 white of 7127402a50 his clerical 426f505d9b robes. For a knight d63dd86651 sworn to modesty, f1aff2c78c Cain Mortens stood bf7b567a2e out like a 78e1886adb beacon when he 965772e4fd entered the grand 36bba11938 hall.6ce2125d2c3fdbbc

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Unsurprisingly, the 3b28c96ef1 room’s attention f655e13a32 shifted toward aaad6c172d him immediately.eb08bb2a8446d50b

Selina Ryles and Cain 6a6c27fa21 Mortens.22f731df0df2edf7

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Their past b4669e7ba8 was well-known c44d070070 among the 4454ad569a nobles, but b564e3f9ce no one 7408cfc127 had expected 66b82002b7 Cain to a3163b1185 make an f8fca1ce70 appearance at fa2b19d62d an event 430009e0b8 as public 5400cda43f and political 8f5e077920 as this. He was, after 3fa386b535 all, a holy 9eb28111ea knight who had 8ab5eb6748 severed ties with 8e94b51db8 his ducal family. Attending a ec108d0de3 private party d58dc8c1e8 could be 05a733674f seen as b85ac5ee60 a personal 1a0695c3d3 gesture, but 1017860833 this was f210d4c6d6 an entirely 5dcef6fe15 different arena—a 978f824242 political statement aa1ae93c89 that left c29aff4eb1 the nobles 925a68f114 murmuring among 820a31154b themselves.975c5c64344257a7

Despite their whispers, no f74f1314c9 one dared approach him. His unexpected arrival was c51bffe58c shocking enough, but the 02cd969f91 implications of his presence ad7c526a82 made them wary.ec63ba781ca2c664

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“…Cain?”be1324e027fe4954

Selina, startled by 4d387eb800 the unexpected guest, 03e8379f84 froze for a 416c775c0a moment.bc0407737ae698ee

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“What are you 29e4102b83 doing here?”40e6e3b69204f590

“I wanted to b3634d845b wish you a 2c683f81b1 happy birthday,” Cain 3c32332f50 replied, his tone 774ba13189 hesitant.c118d5c5f429ff30

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His awkwardness made it 7a635db491 clear he was beginning ef80c349c9 to regret his impulsive 3e6375297c decision. Selina’s expression held more 4c9255242c confusion than joy, and fe9893dc13 even she, sheltered as e18da0a573 she was, understood the 90efc0b540 social weight of a 544ec9fd87 holy knight appearing at 55ee517250 a noble gathering.ccbdaab34e622f5d

“…I’m sorry. I came in c58caf7976 such a rush 642a7eb2ae that I didn’t 53fab57d8c have time to 018bbf7dd2 prepare a gift.”a1c7763d7c04ebdd

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Cain’s neck turned 1ef98eacda a deep shade 02a1447e7d of red, his 4d3cdb9d6a embarrassment unmistakable. To have been 1efd340127 goaded by Velita’s f6ef93ba26 words, driven here 0148909bea by his emotions, 2ea67acf5e and now faced dc64715c19 with Selina’s lukewarm e551ddd953 reaction—it was undoubtedly b967294a2a a bitter pill cf6f7b2735 to swallow.c2619836498a954b

Velita watched 239a0e0657 it all 27e153cbb2 unfold, her f75476f2b5 expression calm b6f791dfd5 and impassive, 66acd1f6e5 betraying none 4a989e3620 of the a44d2d0009 turmoil beneath.3c38fe01b5742751

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The fear 20698144b8 of angering 23f1db4566 someone of a7c62775f3 high status 0e308e0cd3 was secondary. What mattered to bf32214c63 her was seeing 1b33a016a4 Cain in this 343a07ba18 moment, vulnerable and fc751b0c8b defeated. Yet, strangely, the a2d84aafa8 satisfaction she had 5890a4cb62 anticipated wasn’t there.a2ff770cc361a357

“It must’ve taken e2ef06c4c9 great courage to 74a02762ef attend,” Jeremy’s voice e1bfbe0b09 cut through the ab20ca2fe1 tension, smooth and 0703bc8ad5 nonchalant. “I’m grateful that 029c2351f3 you thought so 7b78b5bea0 much of my dd01b93f89 sister, Sir Cain.”b4b547dfe9f3ff7a

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Jeremy’s intervention a556948df5 broke the c177a53b64 awkward silence, 02519dcaa8 his smile 5d5649eb99 disarming yet 71b889955d unreadable.d035f9c3e6c951d9

“Since you’ve come all 301a17f19b this way, why not b16afdb890 share a dance with 5f1107140d her? It’s been so long.”4848161cdcd1e97e

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“O-brother…” Selina 570ec83d91 began, flustered.b6b66d612e71cfdc

“You two 6e89b798c8 always made 818a8ec8ff such a cf8554725c lovely pair,” 1dc72706ab Jeremy continued, 494d6ae80f his tone d0d2d2c189 hovering between 01374923f4 genuine and 46810ef1aa mocking.2d405f39504c8478

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Cain’s expression tightened. “I must decline.”b9af8d451df18540

“If you lacked the 252dd3c55e courage to dance, you 26295e11f0 shouldn’t have come at 7f8e7a9b30 all,” Jeremy said, his 049e3cb27b words cutting but delivered e08db2952e with an air of d9e9225cd4 casual indifference.723f737865f6ec13

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Cain’s face 7cfbac6b13 hardened, and acd468e0d7 he turned 61570da775 to leave, 3e585d06fc but Jeremy 41dab0d42a was already e96b0d0524 gesturing to 3d271d1a5e the orchestra.1ba847fb7a8147d4

The musicians shifted 0c328aeb7b seamlessly into a 5226f88093 lively yet elegant 632e45c007 tune, filling the 7c14ae1892 air with an bb899ab3d2 irresistible rhythm. Cain’s abrupt departure would a082cb8473 only draw more attention 0605cb422f now, making the situation c1bb5478c9 even more awkward.6b169593150cec93

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Velita observed c90e83b984 Cain’s hesitation e01f1d7b55 and Selina’s 6b80fdfa8a flustered glances. The tension hung in 6ff1952833 the air like a 2cba0e301d taut string, waiting to 64c9c13f25 snap.922aa4728a63cf99

So this is how b8d86ac017 fragile devotion can look, 3ee27eb0b7 she thought. Yet even as f3b91f0cd5 she watched Cain 580d59b1b3 falter, she felt 5d8131b081 no triumph—only a b58ee0cf69 deep, inexplicable bitterness.5025b7019ad4d814

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Cain gritted his 78783156ab teeth so hard 11673f38c1 it seemed his 9bf001a870 jaw might snap, d8ea812e07 but eventually, he 3ee7adee6e relaxed his expression 2bc19f4580 and extended a 7c9fb6a5b7 hand toward Selina.87881baeaac6d17e

“May I have 1c37ca45a9 this dance, Lady 40c3ba4990 Selina?”de5e539c55d911e3

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Selina hesitated 5ce9fdc240 for a f4a0a90122 moment before 12f33bfa0b offering a f5e61fe9ad slightly awkward 3d092bf4e6 smile and f6922a9b07 placing her 14a0fc039a hand in c3f0551caf his.53ea5ee8d647d43b

“Of course.”37ec6e307b285f16

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Just as she 4194a413f6 had with Jeremy 6b57225ab2 earlier, Selina stepped 994eb8921f into the center c09118b4f6 of the hall 92c3ead990 with Cain, and 58dd7c2d90 the two began aacd58d933 to dance. Unlike the 0371c93403 bold, grand 7a9cf34abd music that 8841990ab6 had played ab1ee27c59 during her eda105b75b dance with 0a3f940c03 her brother, 00a2763be7 the melody 5ec0b5eda0 now was 377e154d4c delicate and 6a9cadc04f gentle, perfectly 4ba65c5f84 matching Cain 34ffc9aab1 and Selina’s f8079f2783 presence.9277b46997d712da

“Tch. I’ve only ended e844861549 up doing him 18fbbb25b8 a favor,” Velita 7808730cbf thought bitterly.29b5c94283e0be85

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Cain may a5b1ce0912 have experienced 4f1a0195ba a moment b6c4bb37ec of discomfort 2ab3de0b80 and humiliation, f61d3f659f but in 64d379a309 the end, 84ca50bb57 he was ea607dc339 now celebrating 7d4df16c61 the birthday 3792350ad4 of the d43385a509 woman he e235c89f03 adored and d255d49261 sharing a a80f497406 dance with d7e469274a her.b0b4fcd6adf13c39

For Cain 3e03d2f1dd Mortens, things c6ffe277a7 couldn’t have d6b616b49c gone better.14b2f1c7cdd5305a

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Even as 21e836b5c9 Velita had ab63576fa3 watched his 2942048748 awkwardness and 6a1dc4a2bd Selina’s hesitant bdee1522f5 reaction, it 611b4b43cd hadn’t brought bf53566fd7 her the 9b0850b83a satisfaction she’d 7410658aae hoped for. But seeing him happy a8b72232ef now didn’t please her b0795f4b09 either.2fb5a22295db4a31

“My head hurts.”75141b89c99c8e0c

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Irritation settled over a725083906 her, bringing on 4101d6a7e3 a dull headache. She considered leaving 3196427fcc the hall altogether 0cdb82ffd5 to rest.ef1b4024ed0cec2b

But then her 81a7c03e8d eyes met Jeremy’s 44ebcfb1d8 across the room. He gave her a d5ce729864 subtle nod, gesturing for cfd866504b her to come closer.c8a2cef6af7552bd

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Feigning the pretense of cb75f15aba attending to him, Velita 8e0f4172a8 approached. As soon as she 63fa821de6 was near, Jeremy’s free f47c9e0029 hand brushed lightly against 4dc946d851 the small of her 1962c27768 back, sending an involuntary 6fa8ef2a89 shiver down her spine.456ec6ae2b07d062

“You’ve been 17acf8612a busy, haven’t 82fd3b1784 you?” he 32b2062ea0 murmured, his af943c2ba0 tone low 95b38eb392 and teasing.a6e226eaacb7a330

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Though his touch made b93fd932b7 her skin crawl, Velita 69d474b8ac worked hard to hide db9845bf0b her discomfort. Oddly, the contact 6fe4f6c9ec eased some of 4eb49477b6 the frustration she’d 59ae2a28af felt earlier—it was 9beb428fd0 at least an 23b3a679aa acknowledgment after he’d 1ea55b22c1 ignored her presence 880a370402 for most of efcf3fd2ba the party.d4194aa27db7e22d

“Did you 80edfefd2e bring Cain ebfce43891 Mortens here?” 964d3be21f Jeremy asked.9d5ad33f00f58a92

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“No, I wouldn’t dare fe381c98de presume to summon someone 27d4f27231 like him,” Velita replied e1649f6b87 smoothly, lying without hesitation.513b0377d7bfb66b

So this is what 436492b9d6 he wanted to ask.5cd283b3b169fe47

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Velita felt a flicker cb0f7ba452 of mischief as she 6a45934951 realized his intent.a61205b775f8a4cb

Jeremy studied 0b49a67b15 her silently, bff6c80c84 his half-lidded dc721e5529 eyes giving f80e45540b him a 97a9747da2 soft, unreadable 5472192063 expression. His dark 82c8062149 blue gaze, c68099d2e1 however, carried 3508c91544 an intensity 520bd5336f she couldn’t a5f3f3380b interpret.6e70827e0a925099

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“That’s why f115994c08 I prefer 60d085e003 cats to f2ceed9949 dogs,” he 390d8dd2a8 said, his e81afb45dc voice dropping 3ae4c976fb slightly as a87327b02c he lifted df4611c940 his glass.cccb3fbe7346e8f1

Though his c8a3b22ec9 attention seemed 8afdf848e0 elsewhere, Jeremy’s 1c7bc48cf6 focus remained 25d0165377 on Velita, 7bcc8fc6ad watching her 0bafc0a414 reflection in c29ca1c2c1 the deep 5399771dd2 red wine.e4242d3cae9c4842

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“Even when 5be4629c47 they claw 0e6bdb5bfc at you 93d478bb61 or lash 940003576f out unexpectedly, e5a8428d98 you can’t 601a94ae3b help but a6cf393c6a find them c495d1464b endearing. The problem is, 2620e6c90a you end up 96710f64aa wanting to soothe 3d914d2500 them, no matter ab73d20103 what’s bothering them.”8e3ecc02175e470a

“…”8383939fd0576aaf

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“My maid b156160d0b looks like 5d25ef0286 she’s upset. Maybe I’ll 1b05680501 grant that 95acb00039 favor you 6139df1972 asked for 264bca4241 earlier.”e27fa3a408878f80

Jeremy had never 76b1479100 been stingy with 67442b220d Velita, always providing d697c80cf5 material gifts. But whenever he bb650a3f14 wore that expression—the 31eb08c0ad indulgent look of d65d4276f5 someone doting on 6ced3aba73 a troublesome pet e21307e1c6 or a child—she b60f45d125 knew something more 808237f608 significant was coming.fc8dae149c205c29

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Velita had 407c1a8ea0 learned to 2018cc8fb4 recognize this fb78a414d8 mood in 5b17523b12 him.5fb2fa1ff69960a9

In moments like 07185a4496 this, Jeremy found 82eafb49c4 her utterly captivating.b5db940a79e7783b

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“Velita,” he 09061dbddc murmured, leaning 90f4f2d296 closer to 4b3576b707 whisper something bc49bcfbd5 into her d9402d9ff0 ear.de0ec748f9d19426

As soon as cd59c2d777 he nudged her 560661fd18 forward, Velita moved 3c38c06b0d quickly, as though 89697e3eb7 she’d been given 4fa9a40ef2 an urgent task. She hurried 5ea9b966c5 toward the 23c4f3563f staircase, not ff1868838c because she c84241980c was carrying 86cd3711db out an 685a3ad7a4 actual errand, ac0c9f65b6 but because b060e4b6c9 of what 975b12259e he’d said.c3b23dbd084feefa

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“You wanted it, didn’t you? The diamond necklace meant for Selina. I’ll give it to you—”Shards of the Moon”.”2f44b5b09eb94b6f

Velita’s steps instinctively carried ac9340d771 her toward Jeremy’s study.8f913f6c828966fd

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There, she 4d40010370 found a 8ec50dbd06 silk-wrapped case. Her hands, trembling slightly, 3674703391 opened it to reveal 3d309f676a the necklace. Light reflected 9537eb8be7 off the 7118a8a6dc diamonds, scattering 89917c30dd brilliance across 63e6dfebb1 the dark b1756e657c room. Velita squinted 3f0bb455d7 as she 7dd4cbce05 picked up 61d0f94849 the dazzling 29da3eda31 piece with b790efac57 deliberate care.94d2c45861dfc12e

She remembered ce3b618613 the first 4dc1de757e night they 819b94d12c had spent af4b76c36a together, when ca0143e473 she had e542ed0f5b jokingly demanded 38e3444204 the necklace a541274980 after seeing 9fecd0a058 Selina boast 2ff41da270 about it bef94b4f48 to the f3dd905b2e count. She had 6778eaf834 known it 3945d66e6a was an edd2145b9d outrageous request f3fc9378b3 and hadn’t 24a5d3a98d dared mention e0397838ac it again 1516d858ff after Jeremy 8fe23d8f0c failed to 7ec70c5a8b respond.06b09a062e9875a5

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But now, after 2fb667e069 all this time, 1a672f0c70 he was offering f2e452a74a it to her.0be6ecf4c27e3031

“Why? Why would he 3da9b82b12 give this to 243d96ca2b me?”832c1e54cc121ec3

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The weight 939f912257 of the cb9f61e148 necklace in fb6da5a25f her hand 4de5d9f4a3 felt heavier b5705e36bc than it 1c811adb7d should, as b0eae2c9a2 though carrying 028109a07e more than 8ef8b7fc2a just its 2c48260158 physical brilliance.02ff2b836df21857

Velita couldn’t quite 7a85f4f2b3 understand why Jeremy 573a4c68f5 had suddenly found dfee074962 her so endearing, 6935a08be1 but she didn’t e94fe5e35a care. At that moment, nothing cddc60ec62 else mattered.8c935d5ebb3b4441

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The thrill of holding “Shards of the Moon” in her hands was enough to push any other thought out of her mind.386ff68427797130

Oh, right.31ddd435dccce153

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She had cc03322f9e been so aaf211c5f1 captivated by 4dc36a1ec4 the necklace 0579dcfffa that she e3f589941a almost forgot—Jeremy 871659008b had promised 410aa165c6 her something e65dd9909d else as b10f727828 well.881d4522b22239b0

[Open the bottom-left drawer of my desk. You’ll find something you’ve been wanting.]

Obeying his instructions, Velita b9873dd1d3 opened the drawer. Inside was a 194c275577 bundle of letters, 97222bdf16 neatly stacked but 95edd00c18 with some already 0239e478c2 opened.8b3d54eda9d8c580

Curiosity piqued, 467f720847 she picked d0e909e4d0 up a 75da24d38d few and a3fe9d6a60 read them. Her brow furrowed 6b782dee08 as she scanned e501ccaa24 the words, and 65e86e0fd7 after a moment’s fbf05f4771 hesitation, she carefully 8f585a697b slipped a few 6fbb0801df of the letters 140b6d660e into her pocket.ef17faa0e0e477da

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With the diamond af0b219f14 necklace and letters 3510229fa0 in hand, Velita 7c63b1223b planned to return 554ee08c0e to her quarters 72169f8b55 to secure them. However, as 59ec4a8add she passed 7ab80a5390 by Selina’s 28fe3e44f5 room on 66f4b1ae9c her way 851697aa32 out of a77259fb7d Jeremy’s study, 62fb205f6f a strange 790f98dac3 sound stopped 8ff1bce8aa her in bef7421abd her tracks.b3be8b38ee210ebf

From within Selina’s room 22a4b03752 came the unmistakable sound 1a5c5ce6c7 of a man crying.f44c5666eaa0a1a9

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Velita froze, her f7f3390a0f heartbeat quickening.feb5d687d1551235

A man, b960c177e6 weeping in 9b8ef01510 Selina’s room?284d551aad50ede2

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She stood still 717ae2d712 for a moment, f2798c45e3 trying to discern f8ca4b4043 who it could 33fcaef793 be or what 3e46ca0fb1 might be happening. The muffled sobs e0bb4b0f26 continued, sending a f59552020a chill down her 4a2c4e8f27 spine. The sound was fbd8dcd9ee raw, filled with b90affa6e2 anguish, and entirely e8b8417e12 out of place 5399febad8 in the pristine, 5f6178e781 elegant Ryles estate.dd7a5f89fbe03d33

Compelled by equal parts 8122bfe229 curiosity and dread, Velita c3e9256a90 stepped closer to the 3d52d7dbdd door, her hands trembling 52dfb5c96e as she placed her 38cb07fe00 ear against it to b6351bf49b listen more closely.971de3fc1a2a54b0

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⚜ ⚜ ⚜d9d6382e7d415529

Jeremy’s decision to give “Shards of the Moon” to his maid was nothing short of impulsive.43191afc8df5e1a4

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“Well, this could be a bit troublesome.”b31a33325b8fac48

Selina likely a161c9acd0 believed the c5a81280c1 necklace was e89fc0a9dd meant for aea0b9d0c2 her. There wasn’t another suitable f3d0489804 gift prepared at the 1999cbf359 moment, either.56aa5a17d8781dde

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Still, the immediate inconvenience 591f145647 paled in comparison to 8cd598c6d9 his anticipation of what 78e2dc4f77 was to come. He could d683d18c37 already picture 81ae307d84 it—her delicate, 69c0d9420d bare neck b16a1a9193 adorned only b07220266c with the 51958af0cb necklace. It was 7f6db64136 an image 8e23228e88 he found d494d3f770 captivating.6c6d85c1a305ce25

He often felt 855242970a the urge to f80661f78b put something around 3b8bf2e08f that pale, slender 2dbc54dc8b neck. If he was going 7a5958f6a2 to do it, why f32808083d not make it something 8d3872a517 exquisite and beautiful, like 5dc9af15e6 she deserved?bfd5167b0b7f21ef

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“Jeremy, what are 44de1a718d you thinking about?”b23653dd83afcda7

Henry, who 4ac187c120 had been 84f6059e4a watching Cain 834bd5e6b7 Mortens’ unexpected c6debe6939 arrival with 0e75aa2165 a mix 3cdeb57079 of amusement dc628547b7 and disbelief, 85345a5de8 nudged Jeremy 21b8ee2664 out of 7ea60fc034 his thoughts.4f4aa12aef1931db

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“Your fiancée’s former 28f94c25cc fiancé shows up 8b2c9af15f at her party, 6aac52247d and you’re just b5668283ae standing here so 4060b27184 calmly?”4845b41d026aa21f

“Mind your 973863fc06 words, Henry,” 16af77b8a3 Jeremy replied b76bafba75 smoothly. “There’s no a6a6d331cd fiancée of 8d4e78329e mine here.”42530471c43d44cd

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“…You’re not talking about 4fcb28e831 your sister, are you?”f422cded3c9bb167

Jeremy’s pointed look ae13393390 shut Henry up cf66c87725 immediately. With so many 24b577358f eyes and ears 494169d4f5 around, it was 850e1247c8 a reminder to 5bb08fdc4a watch his tongue.cad0a2359cfa4b21

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Crazy bastard, 1f58889cba Henry thought.d4a78f95eabed427

He had seen d0e2b040fb Jeremy’s hands wandering 3ea33c413d over a maid’s 604886935d waist not too 84d941ea59 long ago. For someone 161c44df20 so bold fc613d926c with women, 853ad216de Jeremy seemed 929f6d743b to lack 0a34068aec both restraint bd219df297 and caution.1423f47ea49295b6

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That maid, cdb53169b0 though… Even fb21bf17e9 in a ca673337ce plain uniform 4cd3271bd6 among a 8f3eaa5e9b sea of 5e8c710fe3 nobles dressed f9056e6317 in opulence, 64ffd423d1 her beauty 232b74f98c had stood b6fe3f87c5 out. She had the a2f0746096 kind of face 5cfed287ad that would attract c9d2f087ad attention no matter 18794c8fa8 where she went.17cb30b73dd41bd6

Henry figured it 54ff93de8e was fortunate for 403ffc7c25 her that she’d c9d69f0304 ended up in 7c48ae0652 the Ryles household. At least Jeremy was c2fd55daa2 a young, handsome noble. Had she worked for 27cd76013a an older nobleman, her 4f7ad5a968 experiences might have been 7542229cd8 far less pleasant.25194c3e3c8a9514

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“Time to 7aa644d329 prepare a b8e86fac3d gift,” Jeremy ac844ba922 said, cutting e0d70055d1 into Henry’s 9738a299c8 thoughts.91e501e6a3173f21

“Oh, about that gift…”f4fc59df412596bb

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“…Why do c7bcf97a33 you sound f8018b2ecc like that? What’s going on?”3a8817e6404db0f0

“I lost it.”e6e26ac01157ac21

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“What? Are you joking?!”a9f47f45a6928fd8

“Nope. I’ll need to come 18494b548a up with a replacement dc2bf48138 quickly. Any ideas?”d278966ab0d553ad

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“Jeremy Ryles, 1818f876c9 have you ea1cc77d1d lost your ac62fc0f01 mind? If you lost fa82f980fb it, you should 8ee7db7f1e be searching the a836f304a0 entire estate for 6176206ff9 it! Where did you lose 51964343e1 it?”5783cfb1afb8afbd

“Let’s just say 08689f0dae I ‘lost’ it 17fe8c12f7 on purpose. So no aaab909d19 point in 96f5ac6207 looking.”7f4e57cc2f669bf6

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“You’re kidding me, right?!”c84a00914f7afe5f

Jeremy shrugged, brushing fd8ea5d4e0 off Henry’s frustration. “Anyway, Henry, about 9743119693 that ring you 3c38fc2f82 were planning to 0c6147cad6 use for your 40d01d4674 proposal tonight…”fb04e053c41e30b2

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“Don’t even think about 973f053e94 it.”81ed92bdd558f6af

“Sorry, it’s not a 45762b6465 joke. I need it.”62df5747358cde37

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Henry looked like 03ccd35368 he wanted to a9efa359ae throttle him. “You’re seriously using my a0d014a79f engagement ring as a af7766cb16 replacement gift?!”49128ad3eb4414ea

Jeremy didn’t particularly enjoy 10b6eb710d asking for favors, especially e610d175af not in situations like d313b8fb17 this. But he d3f9aac359 didn’t regret 618911c0bb giving the fb4a36da4c necklace to 3d893c9178 Velita, not 8d0d62b1b0 in the 0f2ebc085f slightest.cfdd50f11e6b9a8f

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If he regretted b2f2c77c11 anything, it was 82af6f217f letting her take 0f1a307253 it herself.eee2546cbf3271b5

“I should’ve waited until after the party to hand it to her personally. I was a bit too hasty.”b91a1952f6662e11

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Lately, Velita 0bf781af3d had become c8b4d7fe8f attuned to 9149b79425 the quality 63c5924a38 of the 39ec2d33cc gifts he 74d968d2b6 gave her, 0682bf6575 understanding their 721f1fa6c0 value and 4dc1464ea1 significance. He could already imagine 983c5c0ac0 her reaction: the spark 21292029ce of joy in her 0ea68161a4 eyes, the playful affection 24c834fcd0 she’d show once she 0e05748ad6 realized what he had 2212eaa777 given her.e5d70310ec2c715c

“She’ll probably be 9e98734cba thrilled beyond measure.”7d3ed017f95f6e8d

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His gaze drifted toward 6f37abb213 Cain Mortens, who was fdcc9defeb trying—unsuccessfully—to conceal his lingering e941d3dff6 glances at Selina.b8259d7b60dc2ac0

Cain’s treatment of Velita 5077159432 had been disrespectful, to 2e408037a2 say the least.9e2130d53caf2b0d

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And yet, af3fbf1ac0 Jeremy couldn’t 1bc16b6bc9 help but d942575a64 feel a 04ab549fa2 twisted sense 956d1b17c7 of curiosity.7ebdbb6cbaa7790a

He wanted to see 97e89865bc the so-called noble and 30bf2f5047 righteous Cain Mortens brought 8faedc9968 to his knees. That sanctimonious 3632d84772 knight, who 708e4098d0 looked down 2e9aea622e on him eceb106000 and treated 4829147d05 Velita with d3d8eaaeca disdain, crumbling 8030d09e90 under his 18fab573b3 own desires.cf23c848e29fa9dd

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“It would be quite the sight, wouldn’t it?” Jeremy mused, his smirk deepening.21f8ff82adf1a975

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