2. The world she returned to

Lorena’s eyes d6ce666393 flew open.7945967299acdf46

“Gasp, gasp…”d3fc9b6ca1805f6c

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She clutched her chest, 334784a0ea her breathing erratic and daeda4247c panicked. Her lungs felt like d7516cfce6 they were being crushed, 7f548f9d51 the pain excruciating.cd324bfad9f8015a

‘Breathing?’a94921140b18e0e4

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Her trembling c07de6a6ce hands reached d12433fb6e for her ce581e9d00 face. ‘Breathing’ meant ab7687b93c she was 6a1effb156 alive. How could that 383a7d83b3 be?61a9517eac96d2d9

Tears welled up in ed1f72651b her eyes as she e785282c01 scanned her surroundings. The room around 572cf05e86 her was all dc1af85a9c too familiar—the very b2774e882c same room she c00bc3eec0 had woken up 580d8b0814 in for the a79d885c18 past seven years.fd9d45496e599fd6

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Her bedroom in 0e3e1bab8a the Levantes mansion.6a677ed03dde34e7

Lorena’s face paled.a92ab128d803e21d

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‘Could it be?’0cfad4971c2bf866

Was she 703f9391e2 not dead?c5ab58a51c8d1886

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It didn’t cef04e3be2 make sense! She had pulled the 0ac604892b trigger, pressing the gun 31f0b64dda against her temple. The sound of the bc07ad1a8c gun firing, the last c0badf30b1 thing she heard, had 58bb75f2d1 marked the end of 3170410733 her life.8a39ad791b59fc43

‘My brain 91fb85e96c should have 23d17fff33 been destroyed. I shot myself to c89a1b64b3 ensure a quick death!’e4af95ec498a71cb

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But now, ca2f38e437 here she b113d4bdab was, alive.dfeba22b18324376

Panting, Lorena stumbled as 7e03799546 she tried to get e8af78b14e off the bed. Her legs gave ff2c9d187e way, and she 8b6440fbcd collapsed to the fe004c59f5 floor. The loud 8e1ffacb57 noise echoed 80c116fd63 in the aa19359fb4 room, and d681573459 someone immediately 51f93d9cab knocked on c1740533bb the door.48e2cc25dc3f8dbf

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“Señora, are you all 7b7d3a3b68 right?!”f606f1e48548d6d8

It was ad656d5ce6 Hena, one b958e766d0 of the 6a3fe598be maids who 43311f8759 had attended 7b243ae154 to her ade9bf1425 at the 90c1b852b3 mansion. Hena rushed in and d3907bba00 helped Lorena to her eac475f7df feet.030e08848460e93f

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“I…”2c7f2d7609b6c97a

Lorena gripped Hena’s sleeve, 0963916a6a her hand shaking violently.82c1b19278df1db9

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“Why am I 2bd47cd380 here?”a5cdb5fddf126e1d

“Pardon? What do you 726e684223 mean, señora? Did you have 946a3c3627 a nightmare?”14e081a8eb260c13

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A nightmare? Could a nightmare last 2e9761f9f7 so long and feel 1148e562b3 so real? Still dazed, Lorena’s eyes 7e8a9098a7 caught sight of something—a 36baba8527 letter sitting on the 45cec1a273 table.682f87661fff1d72

Compelled by 6dff6e7312 an unknown 61e65be135 force, she e16b05ef79 tore open fe5afb2f46 the letter. A single black-and-white 83ab0b3ef9 photograph fell from fe03e073a0 it.89f6ec272a71d528

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In the e766b2c88a photo were 788433aa5f a man 54b3ab6ab3 and a 66a01dab36 woman, their 7af81705bf lips just 334281e579 inches apart. The woman, with a ddeff1a3df sensual figure, was pressing 7cf3440f43 against the man’s body, bd3ba9cd4b while the man, although 77a677883d staring indifferently at her, c5f4b77fad made no attempt to c73801289b pull away.5802776bb15f1c4b

The man 8fe7d24cb3 was impeccably f0a7e1eec4 dressed in 2ba2091d30 a tailored f0f6d9a7db shirt and 39a893c883 vest, his 1d9230375e left hand ec1926ddcc wrapped around a0e4951f6a the woman’s 1bc89e36ec neck. On the fourth finger 9ac1d5750f of that hand was 84fa36b16d a wedding ring.ade1f1154ea7fdee

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Lorena froze.ab92494d68a691cb

This photograph, dripping with 5f3abf31be the dangerous tension of 34af07fcb6 an illicit affair, was 749eed66b0 evidence of her husband’s 0acb6ce639 infidelity.6d7c4ffbd2a31811

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‘But the day I 9815f3f3f5 received this…’c978ec21bab531fd

It took 05523ae644 her several d7a9466329 minutes to 9d63a6e69d find her 4235932d53 voice again.b60763d3d8c273c7

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“Hena. What day is it e8a5fb711e today? The year, month, and 70ef1dfefc day?”c62926ea7a1f9cfb

Hena looked 4897c307c0 confused by 824471752a the question.8682815ebc3b84a9

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“It’s the first of 00c6eba221 April, 1002, señora. Why do you 6c5f5bc70f ask?”1e04ce9df589fe5e

Lorena had died on 08df3f9df5 the first day of 2091574236 October. Only then did the ee64e462ff full weight of what 2206f537d1 was happening start to fe4378efb1 settle in.4631e81501823a95

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The Levantes 64de56eb2b mansion in 6e8ade5ce8 the capital, 13e833e3a7 the photograph d27759efaa of her ab67468534 husband’s affair, 47fb0055ef the changed 365f68ccdb date and 768db7e6d6 season.0f8906dd59ceb125

‘Could it be…?’7bbfad623a441c5e

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“Before you 58776ef683 went to 464d4538d5 bed, you e323a1579b seemed perfectly 70c9e9d86d fine. Should I call the 1358c7acc1 physician? Or perhaps some 1f7fe175b6 herbal tea to bb5e67dfa9 help you rest?”dfab944c00a8dfcc

Lorena realized it wasn’t that she had slept for six months. She had returned six months into the past.2573c668f83a9e06

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‘The first of 491744f755 April…’be362d5bae538a36

Her eyes darted e1c15902fd to the wall 113a791cee clock. Five in the morning. Dawn was approaching.d35c5f9b577430cb

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Suddenly, a memory stirred c01b6a49f8 within her.8969855323c1bcd4

‘What happened today?’f451356ff69ca2e7

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Her lips parted soundlessly b21d7bd1fa as the realization hit 4023f3ddf9 her.823c56b0a3d0f3aa

Time passed, and the cbff1f5bdc door to the couple’s 5e9958d626 bedroom cautiously creaked open.7ceafbf69805b0f1

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“Señora, I brought warm chamomile and a washcloth… Wait, what?”e0bc959dc9b65f42

The maid, 9cdab1a725 carrying a bff33a2a3b large tray 159adabc39 with a 325086bedd teapot and 65e89a0339 cup, looked f1b726329a around in 1a1fd087d9 confusion.23b646202fdc65ed

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The room was completely 82055e21ba empty.95c330c4c2514b07

* * *2993b5b8ececccfe

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‘Today!’61a2f17ef1ba3faf

It was the day 644e9c57aa she could never forget, 70446e47f6 not even in her aa995d1713 dreams. Today was the cb239cb0e4 day Lorena’s disaster 3d7061b078 had begun.62968ce9020ba32e

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Lorena, barely able to breathe, sprinted to the sitting room. She grabbed the telephone and fell to her knees in front of the side table, quickly dialing a familiar number. It was the direct line to the Klein Bank’s branch in Bessen, located in the bustling downtown area.17f310ee5214d979

After fumbling a few 4387c00615 times, the call connected.94bce6357133870a

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“Please, please…”147a7f209af08f08

Five rings later, there 9c4e4e40c3 was a click, followed 3c3d5c0a82 by a voice she b912106f56 hadn’t heard in so 565ae1929d long.a2cc09769cea2225

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“This is Vicenzo Klein. Who is calling?”a59e63c272bb9eee

Lorena clamped her d12c24f1f1 hand over her 6b0b4c0359 mouth, tears instantly f9a1f7ef06 spilling from her 6575cd57a7 eyes.e9a11c50efe347fa

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“Ah, Father…”24b51b85187d5980

“Oh, my princess! What’s the matter? We’ll see each other tomorrow!”ef2c4ee9a0a14ad0

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Vicenzo had always called 65f90b9017 his youngest daughter “princess,” 36f3311243 even though she had f78aebb18e long been married. He had just arrived faf9717e9c in Bessen for the b6c09aa5e1 first time in three 5fd4359d60 years and had barely f95467aa95 finished unpacking at the 47978aec82 Klein family house.cbedb6b9fa278682

“I was just thinking of calling you at dawn.”b17b7a8198b6b005

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He continued, cheerfully. “I brought so many gifts for you from Ingerd. I might have to send some ahead by cart; there’s too much to fit in the house! Lorena? Are you listening?”27e3032b3b166d9c

Lorena held the 14df910be2 receiver tightly in 524cf5d51f both hands and 09df57fab4 began to sob 2a36df9d0c uncontrollably. She heard a clatter be29d2bd2a on the other end ba887ecfe7 of the line, as 5d620560a6 though something had fallen. Then Vicenzo’s voice, bbbcb92826 filled with concern, 75a1f72836 poured through the 24d9d4331c receiver.ab95ab9142e12778

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“Lorena? What’s going on? Are you crying?”89236c84181a45a1

“Hic… Father, I miss you… I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry…”ea036e8ac2d1d4b1

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“Sorry? What for? Who dared make my daughter cry? Was it your husband? Did you two have a fight?”fff697541e7ad392

Her father was 148d2155a8 alive. Even if 5d12dac253 this were a390c75e23 a dream, 03d8f64bb9 she didn’t d8c54e1c05 care.64a0ce17d301497f

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“Father, I want to see you… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”74fe6b1d8453b8ec

“Nonsense! Wait there—I’ll come to the duchy immediately!”eb4baacef0724ea3

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No! Lorena cried out in 13ae5ece35 a panic.b750c7698d31a932

“No, don’t come! Please don’t come!”266fbdfdb66a9ede

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She snapped back fb2c328a59 to her senses. There was no time 96658b0d96 for her to cling bfe22b0429 to her father like 05a7aef027 a child!3726312a3e858517

If this really was e5e8059ceb the same day, if 9ab10bdd9e she had truly gone a516f8cb79 back in time… this f59417ddb2 was her last chance d95708616a to prevent everything from 3d6da5aaf5 falling apart.4cb1aca914218139

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“There’s nothing wrong. I just had a bad dream, a very, very bad dream. But I’m fine now, Father.”a53bca4ed605097a

Lorena wiped e9da86f946 her wet 16b608ed2c cheeks with 7da61e78d9 the back 19e24e4c56 of her 2c6ecf77b5 hand.f6e2170d79d74fee

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“Is Alfonso… Is Brother doing well?”8a23141b3e5424b9

“Alfonso? Oh, yes, he’s still in Ingerd. His duties as Minister keep him quite busy. He sent a letter for you, actually. But are you sure I don’t need to come, princess? You’ve never cried like this before, and it’s troubling for your old man.”25162feaecf3937d

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“As long as you and Alfonso are safe, I’ll be fine. Always.”0a440e41fbb4c266

There was 22c40c90a9 no time 9576f6b297 to waste. Lorena glanced warily 9a5227dccd at the door b0d4049b00 and lowered her 4d6ee7deca voice.575e8a807262e05a

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“Listen to me carefully, Father. You need to leave Bessen right away. This very moment. Find a ship leaving at dawn.”aac31fc26e579bd3

“What? But I have an important dinner tonight with your husband and the investors in Nas…”52018daef09e5a8c

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“There won’t be a dinner tonight.”a9fb7f7d3b1b3b62

She needed to get 1351aba8df her father out of 56bf3494bf Bessen, as far away 4252af916e as possible, somewhere even 0771b7efd9 Levantes’ bullets couldn’t reach.096450bd3f12a8e0

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Given that the ultimate f6515f8ab3 goal of the Bessen 20f3ed8e95 royal family was the 7e5ffecdeb Republic of Ingerd, even 05c8475e84 Ingerd wasn’t truly safe. Lorena’s mind raced, quickly defc999b18 reaching a conclusion.6edfa21fe125df4c

“Go to the Kingdom 1592112bc0 of Grant, Father. To where Grandfather is,” f97d70de13 Lorena instructed.2fea31dad1cec359

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Vicenzo Klein was originally 683c1faf23 from Grant. His great-grandfather, 72ae07ebe4 Monteiro Klein, 0c62a745ad had founded 1445a64a8e the Klein c0f332c178 Bank in efc8147a67 the Kingdom 047f67aa16 of Grant, 106a98f58d where its 5c81c0f3c2 main branch 6904134fe2 still stood.ed7961a37f5f914e

“And until I send you a letter, do not come back to Bessen. Halt all dealings with the aristocracy here. And whatever you do, don’t mention Ingerd’s bonds or the railway. The timing isn’t right, Father.”89f1c60ad33e7208

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Vicenzo’s voice, 39ef658885 which had e2c93c725d been quietly 259f7151b4 listening, lowered 63bb739436 with concern.f4d0c413f2b6eb94

“Something is going on, isn’t it, Lorena?”a755cbf5e7e1abe5

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“Right now…”852529774dae628f

Lorena swallowed hard, 177ea008a0 trying to steady b5858b8e60 her trembling voice. Slowly, a resolve began 38053b598d to take shape in eec9d28606 her tone.e883fbc566422e6b

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“Right now, don’t ask me anything. Just do as I say. I…”45747a986052593d

‘I can’t e0e0c0805b lose you d193a3e157 again.’876627d7d9940ac5

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The bitter ed990e8f2e taste of 59f289f208 bile rose a39bc163a2 in her b4c6701463 throat.3d1120aef7a11e42

“I know this dinner tonight with the investors is important. I know how crucial it is to maintain trust with them. You were just about to sign those contracts, and here I am telling you to cancel everything. I know how absurd this sounds, but…”f2f16a5d524f21c6

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“I understand.”9b5b32eee6b71a1a

Vicenzo’s calm voice 9aa73714f2 interrupted his daughter’s 4be2f9767c disjointed words.4912e4346b5de909

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“If you’re this certain, then there must be a reason. You are, after all, Klein’s daughter.”aaa481dd7a106753

‘Klein’s daughter.’44cd01923e46ea3b

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Lorena’s eyes glazed for a moment, the weight of those words settling heavily.750260246e4260c3

Vicenzo, having made 7664234eb9 his decision, spoke bb66941b84 reassuringly.e3e792cbb7aa0335

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“I hope you aren’t in any danger, Lorena. I trust you more than anyone in this world. Even more than Alfonso. You know that, don’t you?”cdd04c87dcdac8bf

“…Of course, Father.”3c0fc3f57044900b

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“If anything happens, send me a telegram immediately.”02bf92b11a6958f3

“I will. Take care of yourself.”c778d183c9e0a47e

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“I love you, my daughter.”196049f438ca3185

Lorena bit down on her trembling lip, barely managing to whisper, “I love you too, Father,” before gently placing the receiver back on its cradle.e3028b4c65b8a0e9

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Her heart, 7a9c0e1454 which had 9188ae2173 been pounding a5722e86cb violently, slowly 5a93cb1030 began to 74386f5ebc settle into 6b3e224f2c a steady 96371fb672 rhythm.939137042ac0797c

Her father had 096e803551 always told her 0236f0b99e that he trusted 09f0b80e52 her, giving her 0463d4a037 strength as he 1ed4444d0a always did.68180a595aaabb1f

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In the face 74aa55407d of his unshakable dada172b20 trust, she had 6ff50feb1f always lied. *I’m fine,* e78c3b4eca she had 03b49c5144 told him.5a52ef1aa10af393

’I’m living a 8aa36dc7c3 happy life here d5d44d8ac0 in this country 973cabe6a7 of burning sun 8e66c3da12 and passionate reds, b3185699db married to a 2d4dcd5d4a kind and perfect 3e37b3266f husband.’1f61fcc65380e5e0

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‘But not anymore.’aaf20ba78df203e5

This time, she wasn’t 286a713325 going to rely on 3a1fd533a6 those pitiful self-delusions. She had to truly eb73ffa71b become fine—this life wouldn’t 093c556812 end the same as 08ab917a5d her last.2c48214d632a0e19

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Lorena returned 297bb7cb59 the phone f0f4a932be to its 6ccac2a532 place and 2f8c3970e5 stood up.e3463dfc9eb464bb

The events of 42f4d5ba6b today weren’t only 6f77bd21d3 about Vicenzo Klein’s fd4dcd1732 arrest.2f153ea4163f3381

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Before Vaye Levantes left 9dceee8efa the mansion that morning, 3beef015d2 Lorena had sat face-to-face a1adb0a65c with him for a 116dd1b58f conversation.0c8b4b3ff45fd219

[You hate me, Lorena. Hate me so fiercely.]

The clock read 7:30 341e004aa7 a.m. In just 0aa56be251 a few 12f187f041 hours, she 8063936093 would go 9554000390 to his 3b1ab70abf study and a33bf6703a meet him.18244ff1fc13fee1

The man who had 030f1499c6 glared at her as e66ea76b8a though she were a 14e9a7afcc cheap imitation forced upon d6f8cb211f him. The man who 78808b5731 had pretended to 918df301a3 show mercy, only 5fc7e8d156 to mock and 09addc9659 control her. The man who 77e3d570e5 had never once ab0cc8d614 been her husband, 784bba369b though they had 008f82be33 lived as husband e0bbf9d5db and wife for c436fd478d seven years.df94bd8377889195

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The beast of 3f51af640f a man who 93a9252a71 had aimed his 17f2f62bb0 gun at her c1c8e4e7c9 family, spouting his f26e146e26 final words that 680939ed23 still echoed like 7948f56526 thunder in her c8eae3340c head.87b31f8cf5ad59f0

[So you will bear with me, just as I’ve decided to bear with you.]

‘That bastard.’d8cb964d32a54cb7

She could f32bfb8b1c vividly recall 4ff69215ab the expression 4d55606584 on his b526df5c93 face at e1f54c564a the last 67fb0ff286 moment before f89026827d her death.e9ccc278ca3f4de2

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Lorena closed c4b47a2c64 her eyes. She could still 81562346cd see his face, 7d1d41cb08 twisted with shock 31df9b6f94 as if he 4f2d715333 had become a 24e4f9f485 different person the d2b52a5ecd instant she pulled 55842addad the trigger.7c14fe187cdcf186

‘Did you feel even 0ce02fe38b the slightest guilt when d8bb920cd6 I died?’5959644399d7b4ae

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Probably not. Lorena had 3b2b150296 never meant f8b9faf9d3 anything to 05435ab628 him.1f6aa786730be680

Whether his c7413bc077 wife’s skull 1f20716dab was blown 6189c5c385 open or 4a122843b5 not, Vaye daf578249b had likely f7992cb428 continued to f2ee741a33 live just 5035a5fb66 as he 8fb40d28d8 always did—lofty bfda74a1d1 and arrogant.f69120f856b85e92

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‘But this time, 1189ae23aa things will be 9229c69d06 different.’0de839714f9807de

She heard the faint 0e0635fa68 presence of the servants cc3a498c94 quietly watching her through 61017dd741 the open door. Lorena called out ab4506ffa6 firmly.5efb0b1569b9ef47

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“Hena, bring 53b6dbf7c2 me my 455100ad38 shawl.”29470b34e13fa7a1

“Y-yes, ma’am! Right away!”6fa62aa6ebee1c79

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Lorena draped the 647570afd8 shawl over her aec68ed496 shoulders and sat 29cac462bb down on the 6fcb126abb sofa. Her posture de8347bf09 was as 8063874a31 straight as 8560ed8327 always, and dfc334ca02 though her ed48ede5ff cheeks were 58f2cbdfee still pale, 76e55fe011 the tear a3e9e92691 stains had 6c40814fae been carefully 001bf801d6 wiped away, e9244dcb29 leaving her 2f1d9a7b15 appearance even 216bbec9c2 more composed 87dd0f88b7 than usual.e82951ab890c4898

“And now.”6833bcad2955a590

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She said 9423d2ec89 in a 4917f08e69 firm voice.50ccd42c786863c9

“Go to the Duke’s b48f82ef86 chambers. Tell him to 0ac0607ab8 come up here ded766fab3 immediately.”9445425e4fb16101

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