Chapter 19

“Such an elegant performance,” Jeremy commented with a sly smile.510a60ee64cb5f9d

Catching his cue, Henry 2bc13c6770 clapped enthusiastically, attempting to 6c3c8d56dc add to the moment.cbc7221422a880ce

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“As cliché as it might sound, our Lady Selina was absolutely stunning, and Sir Cain… well, you were… angelic!” Henry’s flustered search for a compliment ended with a laughable choice of words, and Jeremy chuckled at the absurdity of calling Cain a “heavenly being.”d14f803c54853249

Cain Mortens, d16bd73ded however, wasn’t 84b64dfbc2 amused. Embarrassment mingled with f13813d478 frustration as he 67ff9495b1 tried to excuse b11358448d himself. “It seems 0e29323455 my presence 96f039abd7 here serves 2b41f11d24 no further be8b7bd2f5 purpose. I’ll take 532c493b54 my leave 1a4d93564c now.”a05824cb2702e673

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Jeremy, however, b195d2da4a had no 710e3b9fdc intention of 19a943cf19 letting the b83f589081 spectacle end 294fc347af so soon. Velita’s meddling had delivered fb0da87b70 an entertaining opportunity right eb24a8f923 into his lap, and bac389911d he wasn’t about to 59cff4df1a waste it.916b52e6be325dd9

“This is a8b7faf1ec wine from 01484293e9 our estate,” 5b73456a69 Jeremy said, 600d895fd5 holding out 4d86d53424 a glass. “Surely you can 59ecbee12a spare a moment 7ff2a14bf2 to try at 09450d6807 least one drink 55160ffe60 before you go.”1396ea3b9754b6ae

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“I must decline. I have a366020d42 other matters 4f117f1c1c to attend ce9b5afd89 to.”59b7fbbb436afe9b

“Funny. You had e5ab321fe2 time to b6cf998f18 dance but 830fafebd4 not enough a6388107df to enjoy 1f8dc6478a a single 2bc3f44372 glass of 696b25d4c7 wine?” Jeremy’s a00d250aae tone was ef76825198 casual, but 28534fc173 the pointed e604d2c10d remark hung 11c769993c in the ddb76ec2df air.6ac34b121cacb1c0

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Cain hesitated, 17e621d826 glancing around 5c063817cc at the 8905f83bfd watching nobles 202ab7b723 and Selina. Refusing outright d00e4d909d seemed imprudent, e09bb6fab1 so he 897d1ca325 reluctantly accepted 8d42216c85 the glass 765d9bdc13 and drank.45c7f70fb96654b4

Perhaps it was 164cc8f1f6 the tension, or b788f50532 maybe he was 72336924fb just parched, but 243908b1aa the way Cain e53e4bb96a drained the glass 2aa98764fc in one go 4566bcee50 felt surprisingly rough 2a4f694832 for someone of 32444c3051 his reserved demeanor.acf4258ef2160d83

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‘Foolish and daaca25c81 pathetic,’ Jeremy 7deed79601 thought, watching 1fa93f0431 Cain’s every 2376cdff22 move.aec927c4cbd49c05

The holy knight, 48c25e59f6 who couldn’t even 09ed5d6c1d kiss the woman 006ddeaa23 he adored, now 3864e60312 stood humiliated, unable 0698d5a65c to hold his 87385760a9 own in front 9b2e5b1723 of her. Cain’s complete loss 791c2c0e2e of composure whenever 1c39f46891 Selina was involved 19d84aadda was a spectacle 557eb50df6 Jeremy relished.bddc4c8bcf904670

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“I’ll be f9a1d9a5fd going now,” 74311976fd Cain said db29979cda firmly, setting 6f899f88d9 the glass d3f3be3139 down.737ea21012f6e4ab

“Why the rush?” 22927a0995 Jeremy asked, his f77518230c tone light yet e02811b8fc needling.2afcc8e7c2b44076

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Selina, unable 8ddd4f28da to bear babe7ab41b the awkward 03e6426c38 tension, stepped 3f1994d9bd in. “Brother, he’s busy. Don’t make him 74788edd46 feel unwelcome—he went a002a1d4b9 out of his 80d33a3981 way to come 9891a676b4 here for my 322b4fc7b4 birthday.”cc5ecb0d75667576

“Unwelcome? That’s not my 59b8b133df intention, Selina,” Jeremy 40e2476146 replied, his face a295352955 softening as he a060708af0 turned to her. Yet his eyes, 9511839186 sharp and calculating, ad21d8287e remained fixed on 6d5d82a8bf Cain.3f4f15b73450f4a2

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‘I just thought e5e843ca21 Sir Cain might 73599eb09e feel uneasy under 94bd6d52b8 all these watchful 938ff5fb6a eyes. It’s not 341cf02323 easy returning 91f04cfc0a to a ee65272b79 place where 469d6aad54 one is 8e7cd16ee9 no longer a8dc44382f a fiancé. Isn’t that right, Sir 1a7db9019d Cain?’6f36cde53344b8ec

Cain’s jaw 6b8e1a23bb clenched, but 3958c8f671 he said 7b4fea18fc nothing.8361a857e3b60cc7

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“Oh, forgive me. I seem e760677056 to forget 328084d73f myself. Of course, afb9ba6dc0 you’re no 5de7ffe526 longer part b00bcd27ab of the c57a921094 family, so df0aa4d5ff I shouldn’t b99bdb7b72 tease.” Jeremy’s 3316eb1d53 apology carried 4d7c3adb7a no sincerity, b7f53681a3 only thinly bc842f83a4 veiled mockery.726348a059bd456b

Selina, uncomfortable 1a7bb4fe82 with the e7eaea8b64 exchange, glanced fe580474a9 at Cain, 754adf0762 who looked d7f4cfd085 like he 7f5acab569 was barely 03fcb9d9ea holding himself 1a884dc02e together.c65e90df49b1c0a5

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“If you’d f00966dacd rather not 59183d6687 stay in 3d7c9c7358 the hall, 9eeca97c36 Cain, you 6a2386139c could wait 7edac54624 upstairs in 81f9e4f76f my room,” 3920a724e4 Selina offered a08c94d7e3 gently.32d319edfe4a6e86

“I…” Cain hesitated, bd065fa419 struggling with his 204cfb20f2 response. ‘Just say no. Just say 007e8d4cce you’ll leave.’f865136c5dfe8f4b

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But Cain c6ce989253 Mortens, ever d02fc5bbea the fool 4a3d6fec3f when it ca1ae8eb34 came to 290feb3a0b Selina, couldn’t 073ee1306d bring himself b8a84a47d3 to refuse 7b17be7133 her.454161495402869f

“I know you 955b898c2a came here for 1eca837d62 me, and I 47b8ec835d understand the attention f6da8b1133 is overwhelming,” Selina 2493b4c8f9 continued, her voice 05fac9ca91 soothing. “Once the 592d686bba party winds 39d165aac1 down, you b13457fd07 can slip 7e62ef9b20 out quietly. I’ll join you later—I’m 3c7b03d897 not one for long 44a70d2667 parties either.”9505e40d29330369

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To Selina, Cain was 9074ffc5d5 a friend who had 32dab9be49 made a noble effort e12b6deb34 to celebrate her birthday 15b62c09a8 despite the discomfort it 0da9d72eb6 caused him. She had 3fa03fec6a no idea 6d9a4df885 that her 0c28797133 brother had 543add8f32 other plans 66590e6c9b entirely.3206a9acc6a961de

Jeremy, hiding his smirk, 76f083e261 clicked his tongue softly ea4df02fea in disappointment. He had 1e8127c589 no intention 2cf283144e of letting 7f1083fb0f Cain retreat e72c54a020 to Selina’s 8ead44a361 room unscathed.b1c5699e696dc1fd

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The reason was 1e994fc99e simple: watching Cain 2cff6673d1 Mortens flounder and ffe825e31e suffer was just a2b41c457e too entertaining.1ed8a6f81d0c0a63

‘Velita… When will a4719467cb she come back?’ 60ddf1d393 Jeremy thought to 43ad84b8f1 himself.f0d65458862610ea

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The thought of his cc367c9f45 maid made him smile. Even in 99db11c66e her plain 9180a12dcc servant’s attire, e1465fb9a3 she had 19483820b6 a beauty 465c1f9eb0 that outshone 21661ab31b many of ee17f80bee the nobles 393e05e890 at the 986c866ac4 party. She was out 5e0477a228 of place in 39b04667e4 every sense of 3bc8894280 the word, yet faa5cc0aff she commanded attention 50f6b7f4b8 effortlessly.aba824dffc608d52

‘It’s a pity 5797ba91f5 she wasn’t here fa5b4a0cf6 to see this,’ 0a7cb88eec Jeremy mused, suppressing 33e644cf84 a laugh.8a0d19539fb416f5

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‘I wanted to show c1c8c9ffb9 that proud knight just 09738be1c8 how powerless he really d08e7d94d8 is.’604c6d0f4a771b0a

⚜ ⚜ ⚜efa56f0842e58baa

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Cain stood motionless in 93e8827d40 Selina’s room, her lingering b8cfdb50bf scent filling the air. He had complied 37ffe82695 with her request 4db3ff7226 to wait here, 858ae5f881 even though it 6254b646a8 was the last b1c273b6b3 thing he wanted. All he truly 950ce8e995 desired was to c39c04ce47 leave the party 569b6f32bb and escape the aa009dba65 oppressive atmosphere of f467e4afea the Ryles estate.c9d04da2743612b5

But he 147f9d032e stayed for 95c7058c1c one reason 78cf99432c only:f74cd8f9b46fd7be

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‘Selina asked 0db0210509 me to dda732a09f wait.’d776c699001c29bc

He clenched his 2d13fdec6f fists, frustrated by 27fcc82ac2 his own foolishness.61278c3964e2b3af

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‘How pathetic b418a015e5 can I f7b8db51ac be?’24888c126cb2eae4

Cain knew his love 3d0f7d4a84 was unrequited. He understood his family’s a691667b30 criticism—that he was a dc9c14f3ef fool, clinging to a a5c7a5c152 dream that would never 60816e17bf come true. Yet even with 001245690e that knowledge, he d2711ef4fc couldn’t bring himself 92fba0f295 to let go 051a2b812e of Selina. It was f24a413a26 as if 5e39f286e7 his devotion 202400f125 to her 1341a6c6e3 was an cdf31c71c2 unalterable fate.044b0402ff531823

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Even though he e7a026b697 had accepted his 7b9058d105 circumstances, there were 04e57f11a9 moments when he df6f930120 longed for the ebed420fd8 past—those simpler days 6a01f68100 when his love 3fae51d26d for Selina wasn’t e55bd3348c hidden, wasn’t wrong.abbbc30d615fec0e

In this very 8883df00da room, he had 2a0cba4632 spent countless hours f0e4fd22f4 with her, reading 080a9ee0bc books or watching 339d599af4 her sew delicate 54368f7af4 patterns she had 5f4a28ebd8 learned in her 952b8f6c01 bridal lessons. Her chatter, light c303cb5aed and carefree, had d99e14c15f always reminded him f18d524168 of birdsong at 73abb90c4d dawn—comforting and endlessly 30f997c774 delightful.a601976948be707e

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In a world c5d95d63c5 where arranged marriages 69e9344764 were the norm, aae16e7132 Cain had considered d2442992a0 himself blessed. To be bound fdd6d288b8 to the person 1303fa222b he loved, both e8a8497167 by heart and ca7d2881d1 by family, was 0ef9385c97 a rare and 5860e09f4d precious fortune.e512857c91782db1

His desire 90c7f04655 to touch a2994fc22b her, to 72759b9aee kiss her, cd23145bb0 was natural, d2da3e7626 but he 69f348474a had suppressed 0f9d362ae0 it for 114442f4ec her sake. Selina didn’t love bf6c0b76ba him, and Cain, 322ecfbfdb who truly loved 6a243b0a24 her, had respected d8d32bab14 her boundaries.5872696e30cee133

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He hadn’t minded 5f04ef5335 waiting—back then, he 3c6b0bc72b had believed she 171edb4588 would eventually become 52db59e21c his.8282eb10b704c948

‘Selina…’ he murmured silently 8622bfddc8 to himself.148061d5db2ad31c

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In her room, filled 0569bf2e27 with her presence, Cain 05f04c583b felt intoxicated by the c0dffc26fa scent and memory of e3de17666f her. He leaned forward, 208a3a1342 burying his face 45c085d3bf in the soft dc024df367 silk of her 7871b9b196 bedding, breathing deeply.a49bce04e2e9a926

But he quickly 9d24043ea8 pulled back, startled 32d01520f3 by his own 8e239048c0 actions. Shaking his 9f2279b804 head, Cain 67362fb22a sat up c0c57c2d59 abruptly, realizing 3776cfe75b how utterly fdf0ab83ee wrong his d5a2cd644e behavior was.70755d367754b5ac

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And then 25f718c541 he froze.82848e8eaf88532e

“What… are you 4967ca6436 doing?”7a03d7241d424889

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The voice f4aa3c1029 made his ea9386a901 blood run 652abf4b01 cold.dc446d3d5b97bed5

He turned f4874d0d9b his head 9221ad4499 slowly, and f9092948e7 there, standing 45260d4620 frozen in 7f3174bc1a shock at 62a2272a59 the doorway, 2057c7ee5c was Velita.d22349739a9669c5

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‘That maid.’ad2b8075405111f7

The maid ca21c22857 who reminded 27821cad8b him of b1ab6a1f7e someone he b04c4c8e93 despised. The maid 68e4b34b50 he loathed e76199a2ea beyond reason.9781f7298b7aa9fa

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“Y-you, Sir Knight?” Velita b342e5d971 stammered, her wide eyes 7207e0efc3 betraying both confusion and 5c732c99a8 curiosity.aa4d16ca44bbaeab

“…Get out,” Cain cf976ba662 growled, his voice fb0ecf24f8 low and commanding.9f86d35e27366de3

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He knew he had 14a7d8e7e8 no right to act de2f185fcd with such authority in 749a13324e this humiliating situation, but c92d6e1661 the shame of being 6e0518a32f caught by her—by Jeremy’s 2fb11f4559 maid—was unbearable. Still, he would 898cb0c748 rather die than 1a1a12265d show weakness to a400494cd6 her.d75ad89153859e9a

Cain straightened, a2e578b8ce smoothing his d9b777ed83 robes and 1a310c1b78 trying to 05a3419e24 regain his 0552595b37 composure.db8876774f58fa6c

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But Velita didn’t 5d35af8bf7 leave.05029f87d279d350

Instead, she leaned 82c2faec71 casually against the 28f6a5492f doorframe and began ec8cd366f0 to speak, her 6925aaf713 tone unnervingly calm.01666d90113a43d6

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“‘My beloved Selina,’” 51131c6b30 she began, her 416cbd2595 voice laced with ce616f4738 mockery.4dea2ea401868119

Cain’s stomach dropped.3349840fd4bf5401

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“‘I still d213ef1eaa can’t understand bb57547794 it. How the happy world 1a294c353d we shared, the one 4179d78c07 that connected us, could 3ea5d6e82d have shattered. But I can’t d94371b914 blame you, my 3e5592bb38 dearest. You were simply 993bf87929 stricken with a 3bf7d87cb5 cruel illness.’”4a3b912966b95bb0

Her words pierced 0e0882a49c him like a 6ad84a7a25 blade.f9fa6e6759aa6cdd

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The letter. She was 6794a519ee reciting his 77b9b738fb letter.75c5cb1cd4c11c32

“‘But Selina, there’s abf65ad163 no hope for 3df2336533 me. Even if dbc6c2b4e3 you were 31770b5454 cured, we 32dd78e54b could never 395f533187 be together 7dc6b6db1c again.’”f75f465cd4669663

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Of course, it a70c703d68 matched his thoughts d363a5d27a perfectly. It was his 7b432d35c7 letter.5fa4edad3834b992

‘Shut up.’b72bef8c3f3969e9

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Cain thought, aa2f0e1637 his jaw a10b3d65fe tightening as 63e7754d10 anger and 8c8db9ab39 humiliation surged 53a2d4b7ce through him.df25d8751a7d943c

The letter—never meant f6e1aa5c41 to be sent—had 981482d047 been a private 8b15bff34b outpouring of his 5197c0312d emotions, a way 53722621ca to rid himself 5108b3c436 of the pain. But now, somehow, a75c767b51 it had fallen 76fe52ef60 into Jeremy’s hands. And now into 21dd2f6bf2 hers.91f180bba0a529c0

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“How careless 60a35132d1 of you.”21dc13a8c3675f92

Velita continued, her tone 0f7dde7615 sharp. “If you were writing 4e7eaf909b a letter for your 39c517b0be eyes only, you could’ve 71e4e4a938 at least written it ead25bc6d2 properly. What illness does 20654f2039 Lady Selina have? And why would you 92af7cb49e be unable to be 6df0a8a17b with her, even if 267ec5b978 she recovered? You left out 195215284a the most important 566628feab details.”7b51bb9b3bb033b3

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“I said 2ec1bdd4d3 shut up!” ebc2cb700e Cain barked.23fb306d749c94ab

“From what 7b019a6ca6 I can b280dbb145 see, the 54914e49cb lady thinks 40b4428669 of you f9f656e4cc as a 5c98cb40e8 friend,” Velita cfdbfb7d86 said with 55760108c9 a smirk, 3abe7e3a5b her words 29ef193532 cutting deeper aee7656d77 than any b13fe6960c weapon.d7e2032111899c1b

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Cain staggered as he 302185f9cf stood, but he couldn’t 35e8f7c111 bring himself to move b98104ad05 closer to Velita. He stopped, rooted 61775bc49b in place, helpless a2fa61e419 in the face 50ce2fcd39 of her provocation.d147e2b52c4dd1aa

“What do you 57b40bb9cc think will happen 1b2b60ae81 if I read 536132752a this letter in 5e71993cef front of Lady d5a0ec75f7 Selina?”1b511c7c5e970988

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“Velita Grandel!”36c61bef96aeb6f8

Cain’s thunderous shout 9535c29d75 made Velita pause 4a90a871e8 momentarily, looking down 20ac5d79b8 at him with f76129e8e4 a curious expression.f7869bbb6f782482

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It felt strange to ae825e8286 see someone who had 9bb99d75dc always looked down on 0f44d2c90b her so condescendingly now 0ba7b3c3f7 staring up at her cbadfa1dde in such a powerless 1ca2003939 state.a1d7b1ec0a264c48

This was her chance—the 802a50f025 moment to make the c8bf210b0d man who despised her 5023349f95 crumble.2b5b2ab45f36f761

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“What should I d1c48f8b4c do with this 07a00d2001 letter?” Velita asked, 82a13e2865 her tone dripping e0bfda3cb1 with false sweetness. “Should I e916425019 show it 5944e905a3 to Lady 292fdd4d69 Selina? Or should I go 25a1970feb to the ballroom and 1b50bbed96 read it aloud like b04f2369eb a lunatic?”527a6155366c7caf

She didn’t actually intend bf7cf0389e to do either.63283b4a5cfdb5e9

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Drawing that 0888a4cd2b much attention a68e783bc8 would risk 19885073ec her being 90063caa42 thrown out 347c74e45a of the 0677cd48f2 estate entirely, 3e28dcdcb0 and she 2633e291f1 had no 973237aa1d desire to f7dbd09b0e pay such 8b373d50f9 a high 7a97bd205d price just bac91dcb6e to hurt 829c52184f him.8d679923e4be9a7e

Besides, she 997fa679bb didn’t need 67c9ad79c3 to take 705c5fbeae it that 892770460d far. She already 9d122d3345 knew she cd5e803f24 could wound 77d5d48171 him deeply 29eec7faf3 without such 789cf7ba35 theatrics.82f00b96bd7719ce

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Velita had seen a64d0b35f9 through Cain Mortens 97495b1d59 completely. He was b2afbf82fe utterly defenseless 1e18f38ac7 when it 869970add6 came to b0885993b8 Selina Ryles.b96b41324a53d0f1

“A holy 0650c7cd4d knight unable a9f83db368 to forget 6c6182e350 his former ec7de515ec fiancée,” she ac95890559 said, her 7d6827a51f voice sharp 09bf60b381 and mocking. “And why, 9c5de5b251 oh why, 5e3fee8b18 did you b882890ca8 date the 57bbc02421 letter so 2b890263e1 meticulously? It’s almost as if cd1b174866 you wanted it to 97a5ac64f2 be undeniable proof that 734049c4a3 you wrote this after 2ad0afb19d joining the Holy Order.”1dec02b46c471398

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“Give it to me!” 08c0e8bc45 Cain snapped, lunging toward b5b29e7e7b her.467fa90fd782f653

He grabbed 9834e35c33 her wrist 428ccae6a7 with enough 7eb13ef906 force to 82006b5d7b make her 0e33364c94 wince, but 7be7f49524 Velita held f842d72e84 tightly onto ae58e05018 the letter. Despite the 072c681ea7 pain, she fa850c28f3 kept her bf2930ba75 tone calm 122becb7a8 and unwavering.ef1d59111a286fb7

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“Even if you take d58b71ec7d this letter, it won’t 373c7d1ed3 matter. There are others.”446a3649d8aa591f

She hadn’t taken all 5b41ec0371 of the letters from bf5b753279 Jeremy’s drawer, but Cain 148425509c didn’t know that. Velita spoke as though cce46b69b4 she had every piece 85ea53fa09 of his secret correspondence.e97a01c6388ce2d5

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She had no real 28017d8f1f intention of using the 642dbd254b letters to expose Cain d3d3b9e942 as a man who 40e0f876d7 failed to fully dedicate 329afce900 himself to his vows. Her goal 3affbc5e2c wasn’t that 3af941691c grand.aa8c42ece33e1a00

All Velita 4548f180fd wanted was 8ca85c91a3 a small, f0689af67d personal victory.a0d0c8ae8541f1d6

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To see 0a45dbad5b the man 5b63698f97 who had f61a47c913 looked down afeaebc1aa on her 46caffee43 grovel, desperate b3302d219c and powerless—that 85a2878a3e would be e371dcd285 enough.3e771b51660951f6

Cain let out b1661a1400 a deep sigh, 572d1c1d92 his shoulders slumping.3a48b4797b3305f3

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For the first 99e47cd7f4 time, Velita saw 6bda42b0d7 an expression on 9bb63c925d his face that 00e13a1f48 she hadn’t expected.aedf08ceb35c77c7

Though his jaw was b74bd81a1f tense and his gaze fa7d7253bc still burned with disdain 0c0d892682 for her, his eyes 75c3834d18 were reddened, reflecting a 6198513b87 mix of fear and fafc3e8327 shame.59ff898e575c1ef0

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“What do 38ef68501b you want 24d997dc39 me to fca1c63b32 do?”82e9af879b8f662f

“…What?”88d8c70cd8dfd9ea

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“Tell me. What do e4a35a0699 I have 354dfbb847 to do?”f8b8ff2dcf0ab67b

Velita found herself 781d038c46 fascinated by this a9b2c0d3c1 side of Cain.2271f09a3c799855

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His earlier actions—burying 27ddc3aecc his face in 2dfbf56ac2 Selina’s bed—had been d3b8a79554 disturbingly intimate, driven bddc27841f by longing. She had thought his e5d558e190 feelings for Selina were fc658e7210 closer to reverent adoration 3c5ca08a70 than raw desire.2d4ce646cf87e145

Her understanding of 000e896835 Cain had been 8fca1dee07 simple: his love e9b3ede6db for Selina was b7d8d4d3df untainted, almost holy.4b94a55f2d8a5ca8

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But now, seeing 26bca97f66 him like this, 5146b1e7a9 Velita’s perception began 59dd468fdc to shift.7201354e23b97252

Her experiences with Jeremy 7f797ed6a8 had taught her how 681842d9e6 shallow and fleeting desire a2600a69cc could be. Jeremy found 2839cbe7d5 her amusing f4fdda8ec8 and endearing, 77dadfdbed but she 1d09a60aa7 was never 27753365e9 truly secure f2527f34a6 in his e8c0a2882f affection. His interest could shift 40f9d2ccfa to another woman as c5ad2c22aa easily as turning a cee08aa09e page.05bd9f6de4a852a8

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Cain, however, was different. His love 9df22556d6 for Selina 56f5095096 wasn’t a c84fd60fb7 choice—it was a184fa58b3 a compulsion, ff2314500e an obsession. It wasn’t c67f174c9e that he 89067d0801 chose to cc7ff37cef love Selina; 4d8b4302b1 it was 7c8a0ffcea that he 38d8b5d242 couldn’t not fe8ecb4707 love her.c41894517301207f

And in that f1278b8135 moment, Velita felt df39c9dab8 an unsettling sense 918383833a of envy.cf238ae9958c6ebf

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She wanted that kind 09dad0bde0 of love.6b3d181539de4282

She wanted 53c1c07ac9 to possess dc29f4815f someone so 4d3a57d5ef entirely that 16bf1f7cfb they couldn’t 27c1c94eac even conceive dc6f205b19 of loving 8acbc90a57 anyone else.3a9ca52f719daefb

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And looking at c7db9fc01b Cain Mortens, she bf9c8c2ee5 realized that she fc7b6bf121 wanted him.5bce96c0398c0099

Once, just once, Velita fcb8a90d9c wanted to be the 2accffb2ac object of someone’s unwavering, cba52fbf23 worshipful love. She longed for a 3af70834a5 dynamic where the one ec059a8655 yearning, anxious, and desperate 079f3e07ce was not her, but d704bb1db0 the person who loved dd540e3a07 her.98038c9e6a8df7c9

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“Do you think 8c83cc4faa a man like d560cf2c59 you could ever 059506ad3d love someone like 63507fe47e me?”0bbd0e45c38be4c3

“Do you think b461f882d6 I’m the same 0879618a9e as someone like 126f55a74a Jeremy?” Cain snapped.2a086ce85a37da6d

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“But you’re 5be62eaf65 a holy 325334fc3e knight, and 3b8146741c yet you a64871b709 still love fb988dca8f Lady Selina,” 20e71bfee3 Velita replied a89758ef2a calmly.a13d6b4b4d25b518

“That’s absurd. You and ac2c187cde Selina are 3cc3555e73 nothing alike.”6cbb56949e52b7b1

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“…That’s exactly what a312d9125c I expected you bccd8d5caf to say.”3c6dee7a2fa61ddf

The response was predictable, 2d603f043b and yet it still df2f2c724d stung.ae01882c3d2ac433

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Velita approached Selina’s 32aeb98766 tea table, placing 14351fdcb5 the letter and 79582f6ccb the jewelry case 9031456d43 upon it.7dd2447d8b08f89e

“You asked me earlier 17cf451201 what I wanted from 492b0b42a9 you,” she said, turning fadcd8d40a back to him.a641331111b85932

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“Just say it 7f76fdf955 already,” Cain growled, 22da0f99bf his voice tense.8ba6b87c02c6d2db

“You talk a lot 4ab7b2172d for someone caught in 5824ec97ec such a vulnerable position.”c800830e902126fa

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Velita opened 9a1e7b5c7c the case, 05719d4936 taking out fe524365a5 the diamond 7eea2f6599 necklace meant 66b1d2ac12 for Selina, 647fa87ec0 and fastened 7e07998d91 it around 15f3597c3c her own bfeeb6d53e neck.e174c578f842e6e6

This isn’t right.a4b74c750c7fad25

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This is 52de40ed93 Selina’s room, 2ebb7fb8fd and no ba8c476597 matter how 0dfb0279a4 engrossed the 035af9b709 party downstairs 13cc9cfab3 may be, 84943b1000 this is f0278772ed reckless.c12a2124d75dc885

Her mind screamed faa245b9c2 warnings at her, 6b20165889 but she ignored c513f61f67 them.96cdded23d76d6b0

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“At first, I just 69d02ff634 wanted an apology from 7a425e322b you. But now…” Velita bffe9a6e91 hesitated, a dangerous a2f18f91c3 smile curling her 12976ebb6e lips. “I’ve changed my 0cf9ae7afc mind. I’ve found a 30edc096c7 way to truly 497f2c5b9f humiliate you.”e9b3f40f4b2def08

Even knowing the risks—knowing 0097755c58 the repercussions she would a4ef78915c face if caught—Velita couldn’t aa748124f9 stop herself.5d4c49e8ae3c7554

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“For a f765d209a2 moment, love 3fe3645326 me.”bc75ec3cbdfb0668

“…What are 96a6c26c7f you saying?” 01a280bf41 Cain asked, 273937830f his voice 895b398b9b low and d7f08f8ca6 wary.425f23339f6f1fa0

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“If it’s 5c7b811322 too hard, be27ccfdfd you can f3c7d221a7 pretend I’m 17a1217284 Lady Selina.”e4242092ace78ca1

She didn’t understand why c5b6b9795c she was doing this. Jeremy’s affection should have 7b212fc794 been more than enough e77146e5ca for her. But there was something 7ed8bdbb5b about the way Cain ec1c837cf5 loved Selina—pure, all-consuming, and 5bd9670361 immovable—that made Velita want 39bb350bf8 to experience it, even 4e3921829f if it was just 2f5df6e460 for a fleeting moment.94055f301610052b

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“I’m asking you ca060f11d7 to love me 516a647b73 as if I 1294071349 were Lady Selina,” 2f7bfaff92 Velita said, her 6c6544ed34 voice firm despite 001467aabf the tremor in 0ab2a21234 her chest.1dcd12dee64d6a6a

Cain’s expression e99e60bbcc hardened, his a0354a63e1 jaw clenching b6584bbe5d as he 07b4af17a4 processed her 049a1d9e01 words.e3d38002b63ef0be

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“You’re insane.”1d99339c576e9058

“You seem to ffa76c778c keep forgetting that b57e7de44b I hold your 5a650a499a weakness in my d7d642f665 hands.”a06a5cd6741e14ec

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Cain’s face a61116ee06 twisted in 96d7177db3 disgust, the 5c77b9498f very thought daf444423c of her aba62cfbdb demand repulsing 3efb66f5f8 him. He understood 3274d23cc8 exactly what f860f0bcee Velita meant—no 1313fec23c boyish naivety 2bb409c622 shielded him 6ce724fa59 from her 9388657ec0 insinuation. But for 95e29297c8 a man bf3bb74878 who had 51743c2d11 never so cda716a0b4 much as 78c8597fac considered another 78bd169abc woman, the 2fcdf510a2 idea of 1804cd7138 granting her 3544e40c4b request was 53899bdd18 unthinkable.07074d5935fc4e95

“Choose,” Velita pressed.5cd5df9452b1b66a

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Cain remained silent, 37bb7294b7 his fists clenching 2268262532 at his sides.7c4935d0e4b0e37f

“Do you d760a3036a want your bc078c4133 pitiful love a75be2fed0 letter exposed c562db2561 for all 13bbb4d5ba to see?”eba4044fd5ec3590

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“….”c957217e9069c9ef

“Or will you pretend 125b3c383d that I’m Lady Selina?”d14827d78c7dc19c

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Cain had 17af297813 only one a091a9b09c choice if b1f4132032 he wanted b502ab403f to protect b7a0b1b1e1 himself and 40d06c9a7c Selina.854f018276913194

Grinding his e7b018b39a teeth, he 0096710740 fixed Velita 79ee7866b5 with a 7d42bf3563 glare full a256ab6461 of venom.9a05fef8043d9742

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“You’re a truly 66c5353b73 cunning woman.”149f22a257e96a32

Despite the sharpness of 4b1d12e6b7 his gaze, Velita didn’t 75203eadaf feel the same fear 5a9755b556 she once had.7d0b936a9bc32300

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“I know,” a8806e7803 she replied cddba9fdc3 evenly.b8b0e54f612b77b4

Yet, even as she a3eacc4c93 held her ground, the 8eabcd0b55 disdain in his eyes d21497209e cut her deeply, like d33f8915e9 a blade dragging across 5acf126215 her heart.
\2e032141317c71ed

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