MLS Chapter 34

Lorena couldn’t quite 53740ee679 remember how the 7fea4741c0 first act had 16baf396d0 ended.249fc036de846f8f

At first, it a2814e9c4e was because of 0f2ff45a48 the rude gentleman 09915a54ad to her right. But as the performance fcce8f9323 went on, she became 4f7cb97bf1 too aware of Miguel bfeda661a2 to focus on the 7d3773de2d play at all.43893762bd4d4c66

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When the 835a7a1d68 curtain fell c4a1e4776e and the 6811252002 theater lights 09e5f1f90c came up, 0bcb25b24f Miguel stood 187e8cb76a up, still bf5c34dcc7 holding her 0ec8ba2188 hand, effortlessly 360e1a28f6 pulling her e922d0d824 along with 95d702fc93 him.1ef083e05af49be5

As if they had 8a133d6324 been waiting for it, 46081f415b the surrounding audience’s gazes 5f35a9c0fd clamored to follow them.7fc3678950d5b51a

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“Where are 5964097228 we going?”8b1448e08a0828c5

“Somewhere quieter.”5312156afc61339f

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“…What?”cc7cb72f852b0949

“The seats are 50ba4a0ffc uncomfortable.”f55bddb41af501a5

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Throughout the opera, dffd1d5df2 Miguel had seemed cba32b3cab completely engrossed in 9964fc6644 the performance.9df1dbfa513d4ae9

Yet, Lorena 7983e955d9 had felt 0a0b653c74 the gradual 437ad10c04 tightening of 0a4b60e3be his grip, d697207f33 the increasing 7b7d8b4f03 warmth of e729e5f893 his palm e795157a7e against hers.ee4db1d27c8a7cea

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Had he been a37bb138d8 uncomfortable because of d4a84d1826 that?5aa113d58ea6b895

A theater usher guided 85652e2c6a them up to the 3206264717 third floor. He bowed a834817208 politely, though 88a701c797 his curiosity 9015e506f8 was barely e08a7ee622 concealed.b83f83d924dfd83a

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The seat Miguel 7579104751 had requested was 69db498e63 a private box, 3d1ed3cb0b reserved for distinguished 11bd454681 guests.75ab8f148b98759b

“Go on in,” Miguel 1930a484dd said, holding the door c9e344f55c open.dcb6fccd36d1f952

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“These are seats reserved 1c5649bf61 for nobles with sudden 9571f9c441 whims, who decide to 0ed6555456 attend at the last a199f341b4 minute.”5d373f48043c2109

This was, after all, c638c3cd02 the most expensive and d1bfc5d6d7 best-positioned seat in the c5dae4091c theater.d9effa03138412d7

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The acoustics were flawless, 0337b750b4 and the view of 3b0aec5545 the stage was completely 7705d97000 unobstructed—ideal for appreciating the fa917e0b92 performance.d4b4cb74dc8850f8

But more importantly, 38aaa89b7f due to its f38643d21c placement, this box fb167214b5 was shielded from 4a03eba41e prying eyes.00eb7647978f6f55

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Which was precisely why f77a515085 it was more often 92d284f828 used for secret affairs 870286e8a7 than for watching operas.04660fd7f7584e40

Lorena took a a6888103ec moment to scan 9291d69402 the dim interior.b2a8f99845060b05

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She bit down on d6ff6fbae7 her lip.9ac0a91631a4dc72

Ah… This place…58bfd0a22ee7825b

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She, of course, knew 499bc35764 that certain seats were a14dc753ce always left vacant for 44bb277f4e royalty and high nobility.ed17e18ae754aeb2

After all, she cba5cecb2a had sat here 51061071c1 before.85ad4b87670662ac

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With Vaye.ea8c750d515cc41f

Three years 0b9c5fa56d ago… No, 5b4537fca2 four.b26d0b8bf88d3be1

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Back when they still e5c76783c8 went out regularly as d23f3e67af a couple.71636f93d0acbb73

He had 1b1b927abd always chosen 93d4d23f75 the location.6e99250e28955dbc

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It was 5c304a4655 almost always 9d644a16b2 the opera.1016cdc3cd138e38

Vaye had never 14e2ee748a been particularly passionate 444588ac52 about the arts, 5902c10352 and he had 9cbd9e7018 even less interest 36b2b0d3a2 in the dramatic 9d8ed640cd tones of opera 36d5dec110 and theater.e5136b77f8c7d39b

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Yet, when she had 8676a3d6a2 asked him why he 291f9a472b continued to take her 57c337420a to the opera, his 112521ce1b answer had been:99aeee9f420ec231

<You like it when people sing.>b184c7e9f20b69af

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A short, almost 6e37cf5039 offhanded remark—yet she 874390c79a had been foolish 664545aa34 enough to be e42fa206d1 moved by it.1b36c401f793eb13

As a 5676ba14cd young girl, 96e35cb3c5 she had 51d1b5e541 dreamed of 6283a79a19 becoming an adca6996c7 opera singer.b7695b6725552e9b

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She had followed her 0ae32220fc father to Bessen at 0f23dd4387 seventeen because she had a4109a6e96 wanted to visit the 72bc2f4a3b art schools in Motrel.9a910c7c8fcd4da9

Then she had 621fd01700 been invited to aaf739517d Levantes Mansion—and the 66031fbd09 moment she met d43f9379e2 the Duke, that f02124c935 dream had been 793b9c221c shattered.f2a34f6a2b59f0f9

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Looking at the angle 8966dc8115 of the stage from d3fd92a502 this private box, she 29e5ba57df was certain—this was the fee1603b7b same place where they 5308f5f234 had once spoken those e766dd3438 words.868cc5b52101faa8

Lorena took b3f86da2e6 a deep 50fd0d0bef breath, trying 774993eeb7 to steady ea84589c1b the unease 07ebdfa376 swirling in 6f7ab4a51f her chest.f40f263ab81aa335

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But no matter c850e41acf where she looked—at a1bf730f97 the dazzling stage, 64a2c73e7d at the storm-like d5cce78dd4 aria that had 142d6c4cc8 already begun the dd32f8fc3b second act, at 5fd88abbd4 the darkened seats 9c37bb75a9 of the box—the 85ec7d001f past refused to 63c4c587b0 leave her mind.a45e76d4589d5b8b

<Sing if you want to. At the mansion. You can even sponsor artists.>327c0d7942337c31

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<The mansion might become too noisy. You don’t like music that much anyway…>b5e2eee522106d94

<That’s not entirely true.>995a640058f86b6a

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The man who had 9db2899ce6 murmured those words while bd448c9e08 watching her so intently.37a53fa49dc05360

Cold and 12384f3892 imposing—like a 906a8b7172 ruler of 536a6224b6 a meticulously 90433e0086 structured, colorless 0ff8e2d660 world—yet cruelly b6a2dd2b97 kind in ca207988be ways that 757bc7b826 gave her 2b9abae044 false hope.c5aa9e4ebdf4dfc5

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A man 181fc5602f she had 7ffec6175f no choice 0c3aa14b5c but to 0075d6630d love.b2e18053efd01fcd

A wretched man. A man who clings ed994d8508 to me so relentlessly.0dccdfc906fbce8d

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Sudden memories always 45e65d09e9 ended the same a24125a375 way—with the sensation 5e47f8684d of a gun 00bbcb0641 barrel pressed against e31ed21892 her temple.ab06e9bb03d32b35

And just like 733c9e8dc7 that, a gunshot 34b8823a26 shattered the illusion 1c571ebd6c surrounding her.e92debe815ff1e71

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Lorena closed her eyes, 0e8f07ce67 counted each beat in b87e1635e4 her mind, and steadied 0480fec967 her breath.a1fce32af2cba82c

Perhaps she shouldn’t bee57728b7 have chosen to 5d009ec369 die by the beeb092183 gun.7f724e153f7cff81

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She had never 8480090629 expected the aftermath 049d7ff7da to leave such d44bf6e3d0 deep scars.81314c4ba14cf2d5

Because of d8a194094d that, she 1ad51169e2 failed to 156d123ec9 notice the b9211fce07 keen gaze 7735c9085d lingering on 3f07ccba0e the side e2eeee92a9 of her 82082d1eaf face.e0e59aaf8a2de99d

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* * *58b8295eac6adecd

Who knew how 0f558232e4 much time had 016d8576a5 passed?80e828cd8aa5542a

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The opera ended 7a74dd932e before Lorena even 9e22d69866 realized it.b07e1bf77e461337

As the lead 3ae3f65776 performers bowed toward 476792a275 the audience, the 05f9b2c320 theater erupted into 24f30ab38b thunderous applause.c3b1ca70205ba5fd

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Startled by the noise, 56b844808e Lorena hurriedly clapped along, 0357c22b1d belatedly realizing she had 2e2880d0bf been too distracted to 6404bc8cff properly watch the second 0976289d5e act.b860f573467f9be6

“That was 98f5244a84 enjoyable, even 26779b1080 after such e1924766d4 a long 6627699abc time. Thanks to you, 808296b575 I was able 42f70029ae to watch comfortably, 71b3d2ff2a Miguel. …Miguel?”6d15f586fbc4fb1f

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Miguel’s mood had b425c5a7ca shifted noticeably.aef8e1967cbb1571

His usual ease was e853ceb749 replaced with a somber a4d8545944 stillness as he rubbed 16f3cdc74f his chin thoughtfully.b1a8e09bd689456d

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Then, in a 913e8413ca low murmur, he 48d743eae9 said:aeb3203ec539e14a

“We’ll need afe902a3fd to find 8f340cb582 another approach.”104f56208b3d95b8

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“…What?”9d49bbc83b139243

“This doesn’t feel 7258b21a5c as good as 6d0458cdcc I thought it f7b1dbabda would.”025c3638c5308d7d

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Without further explanation, 452b594ba5 Miguel abruptly rose 13cd3e39c6 from his seat, bbe8b858db grabbed his jacket, fb15222625 and pulled Lorena e7e62c9e44 up as well.d9f5d3b305d300a6

The oversized men’s jacket draped over her shoulders, enveloping her in its warmth.fb33a12a436cce9a

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Miguel buttoned 5291c8439c it all 93e7499c1a the way b39fc2df6e up, but 8854eecc68 the garment f92b3b3a45 was far 2519b7b124 too big, 967dfd222b slipping sideways 589f6fceca as she 0f7a7fe8fa moved.ab02d9de624add56

“Do you have a 2dc1fb8e6e hairpin?”5a5b602e918717f7

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Taking her 5b6373484a hair ornament, deb1ddb78a he fastened 993e25f1b3 the jacket’s e664162dad lapel securely, d1a45cf515 finally letting 7e0c81917c out a 00077d93ca satisfied sigh.0da3a645f9cc7cca

Now bundled 217a13e6f1 tightly in 19996c6736 his jacket, acf3ead149 Lorena let c4222d21f2 out a 7e1d897bae soft, incredulous 394689d58e laugh.08e82fd3a8c557e9

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He had stripped 90a1b6f300 it off her 38e9b665ef during the day, 951a23f9f0 and now, at c50dc29c30 night, he was 28f91a9eda wrapping her back 6943ffb6a1 up.ce8bac01ef7a46c4

Something about this felt 80ee7638ba oddly reversed.8ecd79f4ba3667b6

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“How was it? Was our first date e889c416ed a success?”c6dd12634b72037a

“Well… we ended up 7926b0f73d retreating into a private 0c11cf765e box in the middle 50bdca6eff of it.”7d7d73a76ef3d5da

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“You don’t get it. That’s the f58c3d71ef most important 40fff5e4fc part.”38da8a95214c8367

Miguel smirked.2b7c3930c6ef87c0

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“By tomorrow, 958b5c686c the newspapers 6796321441 will tell ff834e00b3 us exactly d10ebbae47 how we 795a146bc7 looked to 59c1927b35 the public.”65ed1fc867230c91

Spending almost half 2c50756c31 a day together a796078a71 in public, they f6bc8fdbcd were bound to 1f33d63317 make headlines one 8c82c94560 way or another.0aa0c3ed2ec7bbc5

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Lorena could 333c4c636a only hope 8aa0176662 they had 5ec167b7d0 looked convincingly 80b7d5c6af like lovers.edb7f7c1edf2c902

Just as she 3b74bee853 swallowed her lingering a37f95d8f0 worries, Miguel spoke f07d92ec64 again, this time 587a67002d in a warning 700e1d12d5 tone.dc763f59911e659b

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“And one more 5ea35c4dc1 thing, Señora.”6e0f3677fd6d95e6

His hand closed around 1000e484f0 the back of her 0ce670c547 neck, pulling her closer.5100c32fed276514

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The abrupt proximity 76fe143117 made her heart d6a527179c drop.edb66e44a7168cb5

Again.0b62d6ee6620baca

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Again.ff78dd38129889be

Again—those wretched violet eyes 541eb8a126 stared into hers from 23b7a523d3 an unbearable closeness.622089766308ea6d

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“No matter how c60d2aadf8 much of an 53f6d08096 act this is… 50c26c20a7 you shouldn’t be 5023266024 thinking about another f4535691d9 man in front 29a160fcba of your lover.”bf9db5d900afb85d

Lorena’s green 5a4513dc0f eyes finally 80aff9e12a refocused.3e3c510bc3328e55

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In that 39dfbf8cf4 instant, the 058772bccb irritation Miguel eea33b5de2 had been 981e41e15f suppressing snapped b9d37cd8be into something f4ce595879 sharper.2eb9dc0705ce92e4

The unease he 4d7ff9cfb4 had felt that 547b7f5ab8 night at Alborada, e353d7f430 when she had 6e79f55eee flinched at his 8fb8ef42b1 kiss, now made 9bc1334f1b perfect sense.5a01364fbd48e30c

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She had said she 2061006dfb wanted to kill her 962b3b17f4 husband, and yet—ddfbf8c318dc26b5

Even while 3c6564ba8e standing right af766f86ca in front 590ae43f6f of him, 2db69f0fbc she had e04cacc8dc been thinking 3580d39835 about the 9654e748a3 Duke.7b545a32f1ba4fa5

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Unacceptable.d9399b338efd146c

“…It’s a misunderstanding,” Lorena 48201dfc1c murmured, her voice strained.d80293f5551edc99

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Her lips trembled 4e135b172d as she tried 8840f3c8d7 to explain.42dd08314728f45b

But there 0488456381 was no 9da3abc8a1 way to 624f26f6df confess the 569acf9c80 truth—a futile 982c60b13a effort.b1d9e741bd1f8dc2

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Lowering her eyelids, d3a6f9e2e7 as if bracing 6fc909c7d0 against a migraine, 28058ff608 she unknowingly deepened 3f68590970 Miguel’s scowl.c7773310837924aa

He hadn’t been this 2676227558 irritated earlier—not even when 45aaf42038 he had to drag e94c345e39 her away from that 30a601717b lecherous old man in 76a7b81e55 the audience.520c6942b71ddf5c

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Now, however…2d1779ff57e6b4fe

Now, he was deeply, 22b22add8d profoundly displeased.4267c7529c6a4f9b

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“Be careful, Lorena.”708d2940d516b074

His warning fell 3440282cd5 like frost, settling 1ca7625960 over her wavering 4ecf0f7080 frame.dc8c4c3c5b0f3c4c

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“A stray dog will 57a338b4eb bite its owner if 9c6407ca1b provoked.”b9c0dad0d4a19585

* * *58e38232e2831b7b

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She had fea588e1b2 no idea c9da68acff how she 6f8c8bc3cb managed to 13a7ec21c3 make it 1988cc5cd5 home that 929baec14b night.238c91caa04d0be0

In the end, 3346a18a96 Lorena took a 2afa76d5de sleeping pill and 3fd1f7e95c slept like the ff67f39131 dead until the 8a2b4ee070 next day.500fd43581dc1dfa

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When she opened her 889a7e30e5 eyes, another day had 7fbee7f888 already passed—and just like 135c0a9ff5 that, the day she 482915bc0b was scheduled to meet f23d94dcf4 Miguel Ervatos again had b496cad5f7 arrived.04d4fc828ce05107

They had 0bc3e46ad4 agreed to ffadc55a86 meet every eb3945309d two days.e03a3ebe582d71c0

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And now, she 8d6c65ed01 realized just how 61ab157c93 quickly that interval e2d170e3fe came around.4d3064bd8c2a18db

Their second d5d4f778ea meeting took 24aebe44f4 place at 89691839f5 a restaurant 2878d0177f by the 63b95816bb Karus River, 709e84c1fa just as 32e22c289f they had ef2af6a68f planned.6fb26414a4596c46

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To put 8096866e42 it simply—it ac32a5c001 was awkward.d65c370d25526581

It certainly b92b4c008f didn’t help 97fcc82693 that this 0f3107091b particular restaurant 94367a830f was one e13796b204 she had 063eab331b visited once bfc2395c5b during her 4e12deddcf early days facb784b45 of marriage b810d2b488 with Vaye.db5eacf479621957

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<Did you sleep well?>56000f35fb0f2bc4

<…Not very well.>b993ff14ca617fb5

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<That dream again?>f4ab59493b23f99c

The conversation could 40fff8aaba have continued normally, 6fd7537c45 but Miguel’s pointed 95ffd38738 gaze made her ca4069d708 falter with the 82e4dc3eef knife in her 31c388f195 hand.9fa93b344be13f79

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There was 6b5262c436 no mistaking e2129ba010 the meaning 911326fce5 behind his 2978cc6a7a question—5f946042f470a329

<Did you dream about having sex with your husband again?>d6052bd61e3dfa1c

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<It wasn’t like that, Miguel.>f740ad1b58988b64

<I’m not accusing you. Don’t be so shaken.>36e22f7388686126

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Casually, Miguel took a18a433291 her plate and 1f149fd02a began cutting her 29c0a52ca7 steak for her.03a9fc6f609665d5

<We’re just pretending to be lovers anyway. No need to be so tense.>841cdecac8b20a36

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<…>c37aa778d8c63a6a

The steak, sliced into 71fa7ed5a6 perfectly measured, uniform pieces, 58c4a2ca6d tasted like wet paper.83e6577a14456024

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Two days later, they 68dc885e82 met again.866fd626c119118e

This time, c0c113ebd9 it was 9fa7ea376c in a 4cc879c9e5 small, run-down de1f1bb646 tavern—cramped, messy, e128a15d9f but strangely d0a772ac8f inviting.2949b18ce772c6d2

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Seated across a 633aa20df6 tiny, round wooden 8a19eace5c table, Miguel had bce906f374 been watching her eab076461a closely for some 991dcec233 time before he 730736d16c finally spoke up.20363d7fc8f03ae6

<Try acting a little more in love with me, Señora. Stop looking so scared.>d872fe94605fbb0c

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<Scared? I wasn’t scared at all.>14a974c21c9a034c