Chapter 12

It was dd0846cd4c a rainy d6b5f0cacd evening, the d9c837ee34 kind that ac14ba113f cast a 0e5cd0d15b stillness over cfd5f4f5bf the world ff87255bd7 as everyone a3e4df0228 else slept.ee16f0d9734032e1

In the darkness, illuminated 36647889e2 only by the faint e56897695d glow of a small 59b0eaab07 lamp, Velita sat at 00beb26c0f her desk, pen in 2a3596da83 hand, attempting to write b18dd0d2d5 a letter as she 48912e77f6 always did. Yet, tonight, she couldn’t 4b5da8b910 focus.5b0958904e0b3062

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The events of dad7a88b81 the day churned 7e6a949019 relentlessly in her a3e1a1ec8e mind.a1ff65c0bdfe7e47

Cain’s unbridled contempt, Selina’s b5f32eb98d cold yet polite kindness, f1ab4128cf and the lingering tension e259d898b4 from it all—these thoughts 6d253466e7 clung to her, refusing e4b13eb49d to let go.34dbf4e7b25a11e4

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Perhaps Selina had 2b24c8d631 defended her in 657f54bed2 front of Cain, 7311be6773 but it wasn’t 98ba29621b hard to imagine 25f49d8c88 that, deep down, add12c9c36 Selina blamed Velita’s 23a8851739 impulsive actions for 54ede3d76c provoking him.14b6ef46026b4f8b

And Cain 34237307bb Mortens—his open ac04262da0 disdain for 43407b41d7 her, his 7418df5d7a clear recognition 1aa14ef438 of her 11d7b86a87 relationship with e661220b67 Jeremy—had humiliated 9c4a103207 her.fa4674055aa17f7f

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It was as if 2c9ab0c7c1 he had decided she f16c16a3f2 was nothing more than 495e3b6e84 a greedy maid seducing e0e850ede2 an innocent noble for 5ebde18f67 material gain.5e4653da6caf0c3e

‘I’m not that 5084bd35bd kind of person.’2864230a57acc835

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She clenched her 67622605bd fists, her thoughts d078a95e78 spiraling.1efbbd733e270c3b

‘I’m not like my ee00f359df mother. I don’t ee7162169d manipulate people’s fc728c507b feelings for 424247f236 petty things.’1f6074728d5b978c

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‘Then… do you love 66e3c4eb31 the young master?’8bfb80ceaaad5b1a

The small, quiet 42cca3f5b8 question emerged from eb0825f7af somewhere deep within 361e612487 her, and Velita ecb0262e84 found herself unable 0a4b5c6d61 to answer.1dd1a785ac359d50

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Did she c064725858 spend the e254dd1cf4 night with cfe9956f1f Jeremy out 213f0f6b45 of love? The answer was no. It had b5b821090f been an 64aa84de6a act of ad4a8b2b78 survival, a 1b12612cc2 way to e1d5e725aa escape Killian’s 3549b2882a grasp. She had used 84ece502d9 Jeremy, believing he 5b85fabec0 cared for her.26abddc142eed364

It would 481ed25665 be a c12c9c9fdc lie to f4f80f31a7 say her afc7dcea30 resentment toward 0627b5eb92 Selina hadn’t 3ee4360aba also played ad4fe7162b a part. And hadn’t she, shamelessly, 15d8f2d01e searched for something Jeremy 9e647b6339 might have left behind 6989de9ff8 for her as soon aaeb7d3607 as she woke?d326b7a8eae4ae22

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‘But it’s feda56e48e not fair.’b24ae5ee24885a2a

She shook her head, c96e15fc95 as if trying to e32735add2 dispel the thoughts clawing 9cb0162e22 at her.5bf9377918948e94

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‘I didn’t have a d403f71f1c choice. If Killian comes 71b346fc2d back, I’ll need d1ef09f628 something to offer. That’s why I 099856f933 checked. That’s all 4ca0508acc it was. It’s not b57b4736aa greed—it’s survival.’ab5d97744dfe4384

Velita sighed, 9e1d028c88 her mind 640a7814d0 warring with 5246abb038 itself as 9438cd0276 she tried 7c60420245 to suppress 5ec4c7c63c the low, 5cd5f1e14c insidious voices d8cf94ae4f of doubt.83115945091d62ce

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But as one 5cc5e2e7b3 question faded, another 247a3a70e8 surfaced:44b915608794ddc4

‘Does the young d2b1f11953 master really care e0739c4d5f for me?’2ff91d692235504c

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Why was this question c52b21f8cb only arising now?807d96a6734288f4

When she d1618c7143 had spent 09ac0a61c6 the night e30d0b1744 with Jeremy, ffbfd67b79 she’d convinced e890d159ed herself he 6d3ae68eb7 had feelings 6b67c32da3 for her. Even now, 6139a4edb4 part of 7b7175b173 her wanted 584377c700 to believe 746b69c468 it.cb233f3c97b3c8ce

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And yet…f1fe8a42193f5cd3

Cain’s reaction, d1aa8f80d1 the way 1bf0feafb0 he had dac94c7932 so easily 0b0a19ba2a assumed that 828df640fb the marks ca7348e376 on her e783887125 neck were 8b39689e13 Jeremy’s doing, 9455eae39c gnawed at 20744294a6 her. The casualness bd2e7a2942 with which 29df982145 Cain mentioned 26faa2e251 Jeremy, as d9294097bc if it 9d6b9c3cbd were the 0bd991fc9b most natural da33c44344 thing in 01424c68a4 the world, a41dfd8262 unsettled her.b34e59e04e3fcc70

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But her unease melted a7d31661e2 away when a memory 64d81642cf of Jeremy surfaced, one 87814471a0 that unraveled in her 5c7e5f1b5f mind with startling clarity.7009328bad8c4970

[You don’t need to explain. I know the rumors about me as well as anyone.]

As she recalled 0ba29f72a7 Jeremy’s saddened eyes 753b329130 when he spoke d6f55d5cc7 of the rumors 4feb540cbb about him, the 388bf33d20 unease and resentment a2f8f31867 within Velita seemed 21a42935b9 to retreat, curling edf9d759e2 up and sinking 49a39ee11f away into the 6523cc57cd depths of her 8753de2e2e mind.176450a8a5e0431f

She gazed 8d3d4a633a out the 4df497ef42 rain-streaked window, 57bd6ccb17 her thoughts 63566f4d16 adrift.2111d3256be9439a

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‘Has the young 96f1cec3cf master not returned a0cec9556e yet?’9b83591e046f7872

Jeremy had e1ce4361a2 not come a54d9417c0 back to d293b35a57 the estate b8e371be2b by evening.ab4cba736ad48579

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The Earl of 49e48bbc4f Ryles, while doting d8e1a212d2 on his youngest e16512e1dc daughter, appeared strangely 146c97856f indifferent toward Jeremy. He occasionally 8d5738575d asked about 1c967995fb his whereabouts 1378302f1b but didn’t 17132e7aff seem particularly 3f0d119657 involved.e9a6e8929a493c4d

‘Is it b47f18ef76 just the ef619280a5 difference between 6f2c094815 a son 55a79c4f97 and a 32bacd3711 daughter?’4c425c9b03a64b33

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Velita moved cautiously, 7aab9b435b glancing at Janice, 7a78e9cde7 who snored lightly 2cca49e2fe in the background. She stood 2df4c3318c and approached 867e3bc0f4 the window, fc79114245 drawn by a167c49d70 the sound 3745af3f1b of soft 6f3b985377 rain mingling 9fd04fdb15 with the 5150dae529 chirping of 8226cf3190 insects.a4897d0f86de7544

That was when ac1c5aec00 she saw it—a 105bad54fd shadow walking through d48ca69da7 the rain without 305af758b7 an umbrella.f648ad4ab77cf285

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At first, it 7ec6bc79b0 was difficult to c72952e8c9 make out who e086401a77 it was in a6fb7c450c the darkness. But soon 7f246043e3 enough, Velita da974e3551 realized who 82220ac88a it had ddd5cbf6cd to be. After all, there bf048fc274 were only two a978f91c21 men in this 6fafa3ee6e household who could ff0cdcec6c be dressed so db3f92d39d flamboyantly.054ce5861536f639

The moment she 6341565324 recognized him, Velita 634b3ab459 was already moving.443a60e003dfd74a

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Grabbing an umbrella, ad86ea6524 she sprinted silently dbe082716d through the deserted 0fd368e45f hallways, completely forgetting 61ec2f7399 her earlier efforts 399eae240e not to disturb 7f6a90e75b Janice. She ran e1aadca818 toward the efb766b06c garden, where e8813191cf he stumbled 68dae213af through the 77360b556c rain.384bd84d0d3f7760

“Young master!”b205fc05fb3030fd

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Jeremy stood by a 38f18e3c61 tree, his shirt partially 1ddf6154be unbuttoned, smoking a cigar.c18af129cce9dcf3

As Velita approached, the 2e7baa3876 sharp scent of strong d190308428 liquor mixed with the 70e8bc49c6 smoke assaulted her senses. She coughed and c712a07c0d covered her nose 540333b5c0 but stubbornly held bec91850f3 out the umbrella 73391ce924 toward him.5b2256eb05762c84

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Jeremy’s deep blue 037fa8f27c eyes flicked to 0456bdfe4a her hand gripping a9b4bb1895 the umbrella’s handle. Velita thought he 115fb09ceb would take it, ebba16b6b3 but instead, he 25545515f0 bent forward, stepping 6b6d9f5d91 under the umbrella ab3adb8cf2 with her.8394e9a4840b172c

This forced her 10aa9af7c6 to rise on 9ee8886d37 her tiptoes, raising efb639213f the umbrella higher 3c0c1cba2d to match his 4b5a9335f3 height.8f03b60c722c6a13

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Jeremy’s gaze drifted 3b1095ef39 downward, noticing her 7eb7653d6b precariously balanced stance. He smirked, the cigar 25eae72187 still between his lips.2905d64b7d37fda7

“Sweetheart.”d2e25b6a61032dc6

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He exhaled a puff 38a0e80671 of smoke, the white ad6bce26f9 tendrils curling around her 4f00235bc3 as he addressed her 9ed7cd7c40 with a saccharine term, 919434aa66 as though speaking to 07462c1298 an actual lover. Velita coughed again 79f24e14eb but raised her 594785154a head to observe 47e88e451a him.59fdd35b0f397186

From the smell of ba660a0f18 alcohol, it was clear 4b61164cae he was drunk.f48c8cb68f7192c2

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Of course, Jeremy cca57bc584 had called her 59800ddccb ‘sweetheart’ before, even 77adc74c3b just the previous 51a3a8e7d2 day when he’d 32b2e33057 pretended to be b044ab6aa0 her lover in 387ae6b92b front of Killian. But that 0a5922b75d had been bfe6258914 to save d3b3871c88 her.fd2bc1531d2619ba

Velita didn’t ac5444cc5b want to aed8ed88ea misinterpret his a7098af152 words.a5be0a4a9e24d623

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She didn’t want to e1229865fe nurture false hopes, only ad5014b4a6 to be crushed by 11b2299e29 disappointment and self-loathing.fdf1c622253d870c

“Were you 1cf86226bb waiting for 3a95756dc6 me?”f584f49e9c317076

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Jeremy’s voice pulled 65e3a35625 her from her 5004e4b699 thoughts, his words 99762a4e91 soft and teasing, e43cca933d but they ignited 329f172b42 an unwelcome flutter a909a7b085 of hope in 2138e815f9 her chest.09614303ac5dfd20

“Hmm? Answer me.”aa543e00ffdb61b1

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“…”5afb06f0b750ea8a

“If you tell 21bd311f55 me you were 4aa1163e21 waiting for me, 569a18f3cc I might get 178560418e a little excited.”6dd17e3ae1f63b31

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His tone was 82653c9d8f light, but the 44383db042 weight of his 286ed4e821 words made Velita’s bf403cae23 heart pound. She hesitated, torn between fedd84310f the truth and her 3d54276a30 fear of showing vulnerability.8135ea47f6a20c2e

Velita didn’t really know 1aefd2a2af what it meant to e30c3cc33c act like lovers.9d755ad376f22e40

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She had never been 9169960475 in an environment where f5e8f1a175 she could dream of 166bb2e28c a romantic connection with 998b3925e2 someone. All she could do ea402ac327 was recall how her 41017d4a85 hysterical yet beautiful mother b13e03b608 had behaved in the f332227dde presence of her “lovers.” c3f1f09d99 Even among the impoverished 72d32d93a5 and powerless, love managed 91d8cac119 to bloom, though it 317d968e73 was often far from bc4ded52b6 pure and sweet.b2ef3cfcc570cf75

Her mother, Madame cb53b90eff Grandel, was stunningly 542c7dbf92 beautiful, and men 0d12ce50d2 were never in f12d96e7ce short supply around ddbac710f7 her. Some were d1d53ef2ef even fortunate ea277c3762 enough to 25dde9b72d have money. Whether they 3f956dbcc1 were truly 79257eea5f her mother’s 7b38a1e8cd lovers or bc61d52875 merely one-sided 4c6187b011 illusions of 736573503e love, Velita 48f61133f0 vividly remembered 752839e564 how her d463354c73 mother became 89376fedfd captivatingly charming 94fcd36c32 before them.43fb3b458e514eab

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When she thought 95b1351ca4 about it, her 65853fa87c mother had likely 0b234f5bbf made demands no 99d19e61ea different from what e04aea287e Velita now wanted 487e35b044 to say.0f0a00b33bbba9fd

So perhaps it 802fd14669 was acceptable for da25b262a5 her to express dd56488baa at least this 85e8fd77c7 much disappointment.2867bd4adc4ec50f

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“Why did 1896ac0065 you leave cfc752ed1c without saying 363ddd4b31 anything this 2162968164 morning?”4ed2efaac91d404d

The words 64f32f623a left her 9cfe1bef55 mouth before f7768db2da she fully ec9974755f realized it, 6a3d7a0d55 revealing a 93d6aad537 hurt she 8049dbcb86 hadn’t acknowledged 9cf3471c21 herself.489922ab820c261b

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It dawned on a6047bb36e her only after 99a6ce159d she spoke—she had 45de21ccdd been upset about 29d0b9f53e how Jeremy had 194e0b47a2 left her behind aa2db88a40 so unceremoniously.6c9b736eb2dc1528

For him, it might 354e5aeb04 have been nothing more 244094ee8a than a fleeting game, 7d249eb1f4 and she had knowingly aca619968b accepted that. She had no 06ade15f5d reason to feel b56a7e3565 hurt.6c76aa03f5a38c92

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But if 8639cffe03 this was c906d5e375 a relationship 40800a9452 where she 0de3d232a5 could dare 6e7a73e996 to expect 21f830c6ed something, then 217495e3c6 wasn’t she 10eebc900d allowed to 0d479b6bc9 be a ef281abbf4 little upset?03278ad16d6f51c4

Jeremy didn’t answer right f01c83f556 away. He simply stared 713c3b1506 at her, his 4f51dee2b3 deep blue eyes 55f38a3dba holding an unreadable fa5b215004 warmth—or was it 472b9daad4 coldness? She couldn’t tell.32f5587528d19384

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Velita lowered 7f973a1f37 her gaze, aa6a5244dd her courage c8d2b9f6f7 faltering.1e54cfa11f682671

‘I must 870dfc289f have overstepped…’c51aefef86923c39

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The moment she e5a3ea6aae said it, she 6982bd35b5 realized what she a10b90ebd2 had done.1848fb6776d135e1

She wanted reassurance.e9c6eda134f3a95b

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She wanted 31196c2476 to believe 63fda789b7 she wasn’t f708798f45 the kind 70aa6c1daf of woman 8f67c68b83 who deserved de00da1d2b Cain Mortens’ c64eba013f blatant contempt. She wanted to d898599bc5 hear it from ce1e106e9c Jeremy, the one e3db1d4b90 person she felt d017f7bd7b she could rely 02d9ac935e on.5afbf498268360b1

The memory of Cain’s 9554059140 words resurfaced unbidden:b947bec4967f6251

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‘That man wouldn’t care 4bec04d6af if it were a 10406b900a street harlot or a 280e7f3748 wild animal in heat.’6400467fdab8ae2a

And then 37392eb852 there was 57eb25155e the stark 4b77eb0192 contrast in cd200782aa his tone c330465706 and gaze 35bfe01ec7 when he dee44999dc had spoken 48ae72c110 to Selina:518b8081403272f2

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[Stay away from Selina.]

The way 0dd981bc1d he had 4b3b15151f looked at 1db87e87b6 Selina with 0063050a62 such tender 8721d2820d affection… it ff829fcde5 was a 4b70f0fddc sharp, painful c4e2f635f0 comparison.91bebea7eafffac7

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To a e5a1b7110a noble knight 6346826fb5 like Cain f8f1b9c8b0 Mortens, a faae92a7c2 lowly maid 81fca74d47 from the 87dbbc0b3b slums meant 99059a466c nothing. If he hadn’t treated 1a158ed49b her so cruelly, she 7c1529f79b wouldn’t have given him f47c7117b4 a second thought.ce55be0618e2151d

Selina was f812a64c63 his childhood 7259f6833d friend and 1c3d9a36b9 once his dc33561dfa betrothed. His fondness 61e0f540a6 for her a00b78a815 was understandable.072c7b69672ddd03

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But Cain a12dbbc014 had made f7c7a1188f his disdain 2f820e6984 for Velita 667f8536e3 obvious, doling 42f1c01980 out scorn 2725c541f7 for her a16f89993d while lavishing 4143873a56 Selina with 0b29840768 affection. It wasn’t fair. She hadn’t done 4b0c07c7d1 anything to deserve 96afea79a5 his hatred.7e0cc1a49b66bcd5

[If Selina falls ill because of you, I won’t forgive you.]

He had treated her ac9c437835 as though she were 65dae179da a disease.86a093797275a15c

The anger she 82a5f8af25 thought she’d let 73b76c2ecd go of flared fb31978e5e briefly before dissolving b37ad4ba45 into something more 30f7a10fb4 fragile. Her nose stung cdae654913 as tears threatened df528b91cc to well up.88b851eb480438c2

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She widened her eyes, 278c0c951d determined not to cry.5010abe9ea78ad01

“Velita, look 9d75706443 at me.”2452a5152050c32c

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“…”02a6b7837372c788

“Sweetheart, hmm?”6345625ad280eb89

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Jeremy’s voice was 539601333d softer now, almost 38d1411a7d coaxing.ab181ab249f88a6c

Jeremy’s voice, 62654b7bb4 dripping with a16017303b sweetness, made f079a157db it easy 6c0e926152 to forget 470953f0dc the boundaries 7ce6b5c44a between a 62c2976671 master and 47c1b85457 a maid.312fee13afb39c73

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Velita didn’t 3f2dbee5c6 want to 81df0ed144 lift her 9683985405 head. She feared that 87e25cc386 his gentleness might 9967dc2e7c twist into irritation e00ea208c4 if she continued c780feb966 to ignore him, 19feaaedce so, reluctantly, she 1ef361fbc7 raised her eyes f05fc36fbd to meet his. At that moment, a 29b3e4557f single tear escaped, sliding 63765724ea down her cheek.173f0511edb4c1d5

“…You’re driving me e7c48708e9 crazy.”6fd85eca8a65142d

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His voice was 0f45b064aa low, carrying an f1974322fb odd hint of cef96a0e51 satisfaction.b4d8f4910329abb1

Jeremy lifted his hand, 294e74bd59 and for a fleeting 1a15dfa97e moment, Velita thought he 20411743f0 might wipe away her c4a3ca5206 tear. Instead, his fingers f8bb2e2be4 brushed against the 8dde991f1b umbrella’s rod, gliding 0532f2e230 down its surface 3c3aea29f0 as though stroking 3a0266b304 skin. Just as 17efc822c0 his hand fc0aca4027 neared hers, b4ca3535ee he abruptly 13ff455408 pushed the 7328d502c2 umbrella away.5f66d71df5fa917d

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The umbrella, which 4555675e74 Velita had so 1ffe9612e7 carefully brought for 42455bda08 him, landed in 41f07f8005 the wet, muddy 2f47a5dff7 ground with a d1d93c9a07 soft thud.eff1a79d8f89fb0e

“Master, what—?!”095ef374b4b4b3e6

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Velita’s protest 8d7cfbcc6c was cut f0e5c0c326 off as 3aa1209daf Jeremy’s hand ab1a75bbff gripped the d7e2535709 back of d6aa09eded her neck, 693656f465 pulling her a02509c7a1 forward. She stumbled, and 67d0185bf0 their lips met.67bab6e18603d660

Despite the 5e83648b5c damp, cold 23e2a2dc12 night air, eff7d67c48 his lips 7d230fc83f and breath abb7776f0c burned with ca5a77584b heat.9805de120e86dd13

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“Haa… No, not ab57198299 here…!”f332988269840530

They weren’t in 3038baf1e5 a secluded maze e0f59c33ff garden but an 384b95bc9b open area, vulnerable 87d95b2fc3 to prying eyes. The risk of fd99cc61ed being caught was badddf18f8 too high.e2dd230cc10ba20b

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“No one’s coming. It’s fine,” Jeremy murmured.5f0cc90a699922a3

It was true that 5e54bc77a0 the late hour and 3e69003a3a the pouring rain made effc9bc049 it unlikely for anyone b4bcf310fc to wander into the c04dfd2bd9 garden. But Velita’s heart raced cabe797f00 with anxiety.2b107118e781ea18

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“Even so… 31118ed440 we can’t…!”dda77b15d0d404f8

She pushed 7435172b52 at him 112a7a5296 as his 40bf141fb0 lips trailed 9e6f17a5f5 along her 82f99f515f neck, gasping 8fe4aa1a45 for breath 57a4531aba as she e440af657a straightened her 4c7ec4f84f disheveled clothes.4a2948af0acd75d2

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And then, purely 5d4cc05fa4 by chance, her 5f48e0cd69 eyes caught something.9f05f92f3b299966

A faint 641fdc085a red lipstick cf0c052f82 mark peeked fd3fee6a71 out from b9746b2612 beneath Jeremy’s 0f483e5275 unbuttoned shirt.87f007cf60bc5185

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‘…Emma Collin?’03c883b3c25d2253

Velita’s thoughts immediately 0461340832 went to Emma, 072a59c5af but she had 603cc0ce10 been in the c03f50d33d estate all day.ef102872d634c310

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“Emma was fine 844f3c9f1f with it. Why aren’t you?”8dabf32fa8d7b96f

Jeremy’s casual remark sealed e6d3c034e5 her suspicions. The lipstick mark 3d73301775 had to belong 30b0bc330a to Emma. He had spent 061303b22a time with her fa3a911721 before coming here—time 4277f1835a he hadn’t bothered ffc1bb563f to mention. And now, cf53982b08 reeking of f6981db9b0 alcohol and 9c8c703fe1 smoke, he 3b286de2dc was here 0096bb3f5b with Velita.c0a9cdc0d03b76b3

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So much for c6c2b72b4a those sweet words dc0ac9d4bd of love.cb46538db4c456d0

“I thought you bc0b4edc35 liked me,” Jeremy d4a1fb8df3 said, his voice fc018a8cf6 softening into a 1108ed9064 pained whisper.d4436d17f9fb3be5

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“…”42b5478cfb2ad311

“But I guess c624d26479 your feelings for ca79777c9d me are even d85f0ea627 less than Emma’s.”3c7916541e8504c9

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His once warm and 851ca88fd5 tender gaze hardened, disappointment 9155af8515 flickering in his deep 703ac2e331 blue eyes. For a moment, it 20187a9784 seemed like he might c93243d6e6 turn and leave.1b61e5d40051cb67

‘No, I can’t let daaf0bd05e that happen.’dafd34beb6d8c933

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Velita’s heart sank. Just once, she 5db43ab0a6 wanted to feel 34a02c6cc9 special to someone—truly 400bdddeb2 special.0a910d8b3f17006f

“Do you 5a8f9593ff like me… cc2044f65c more than f346f7e78c Emma?” she 1315dff289 asked hesitantly, 779d1108cd clutching the 8960fd9e7c hem of 66f3796605 his sleeve a0744d71dd with trembling a009dfbc83 fingers.e7152d30d9c4adc0

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Jeremy’s expression shifted instantly. He leaned down, brushing 4c57a724c9 his lips against her 1bf51c5e7f cheek.228b68f7256c42f1

“I’ve already told you,” ffdf353ce5 he murmured, his voice 3b0fb0ab35 rich with affection.b3d0d60634c70cc0

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With a possessive grip, f04fbf8a77 he wrapped an arm 1373ea9881 around her waist and b02df77610 nuzzled his face against 22a8d1911a her neck.e58207f99c6917dd

“I love 0907ec7791 you, Velita.”eccfdc8f7ce7f36c

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His words carried b93e109cf9 the weight of 348b69ccb4 certainty, and she b1fc3563c3 felt herself succumbing 5a8d2a10f0 to them.4671788c9e0043cc

Jeremy didn’t need 1d8a837a9d to seduce someone 4a51a52787 who was already 3aee07c9d1 his. His lips claimed e58ef89b5e hers again, more 03644e680d fervent this time. Velita gasped softly as 4040522a95 her back hit the 8f01aa9631 rough surface of a 79913a4da3 tree trunk.06f076350f62b1e7

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The rain continued to f79a61eae3 fall around them, but d968058824 it couldn’t extinguish the c53f99cc14 heat between them. Jeremy pressed his cb37bbb3f2 lips against hers b46dc2ffee with an intensity eedde8bd40 that left her 38ef76f41a breathless, leaving no d0dbc52cbd space for doubt 0a55a33030 or resistance.d398860a286bedc1

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