Chapter 19

“Such an elegant performance,” Jeremy commented with a sly smile.2f965cfc1c09dd4c

Catching his cue, Henry 8e653ca4f9 clapped enthusiastically, attempting to e09d84e298 add to the moment.2c66ce8f750c7d38

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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.”ffec582ac21a1c28

Cain Mortens, however, 6077ffc97b wasn’t amused. Embarrassment mingled c2a177bee1 with frustration be65c63706 as he 09f8fce807 tried to a41621248e excuse himself. “It seems my presence 6612427042 here serves no further dd4aef4bda purpose. I’ll take my 3a6962b204 leave now.”0b0f348bbe714fde

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Jeremy, however, had a3d78d8ae8 no intention of 20b13b6fe1 letting the spectacle 2dc162fd67 end so soon. Velita’s meddling had delivered c48fed09b9 an entertaining opportunity right 4c9f19ebe5 into his lap, and 9a98472287 he wasn’t about to e1c9d0605f waste it.4e91cb3166d8b78e

“This is 50fe1b6d06 wine from 0679576443 our estate,” 84270a3e76 Jeremy said, 2b1848f442 holding out 6d76ad1ee7 a glass. “Surely you 0449dbcd7f can spare e4c7b3dca7 a moment f944b51fe2 to try b2606c8f1e at least 1e4f6a1cb0 one drink c8cde505f7 before you b4084a9704 go.”80729cd0a7702d48

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“I must decline. I have c13f8cf71d other matters fd8d7aeaf4 to attend ce3d9cf074 to.”dd9ac9f20bddb5d2

“Funny. You had time 4769209d42 to dance but 2754100e0e not enough to ac9e5e0af0 enjoy a single 81c8e9f1b9 glass of wine?” 58b876fff7 Jeremy’s tone was f5ac1a00ff casual, but the e4176b7e2d pointed remark hung 1216628c9e in the air.35f269dcae3e23de

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Cain hesitated, 485ba56fab glancing around 93f7980bb1 at the 713eaad71b watching nobles 0fc33a00c2 and Selina. Refusing outright seemed imprudent, 8566f4cbbc so he reluctantly accepted 7a3303f7af the glass and drank.ff43be08a7923652

Perhaps it was cf7b66fcef the tension, or 8c6109d837 maybe he was 6e61c2740f just parched, but 57cfb81604 the way Cain ce61460d59 drained the glass 6a4a8abb5c in one go fe0190f923 felt surprisingly rough dc077e2375 for someone of e2a509d657 his reserved demeanor.9210043674805d14

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‘Foolish and pathetic,’ 56091fd198 Jeremy thought, watching 9cdf036c7c Cain’s every move.bab25a5c24159429

The holy knight, 6894223577 who couldn’t even 2ab8cb7bf8 kiss the woman 07c0d6baf2 he adored, now e489104c46 stood humiliated, unable 240c2d2491 to hold his 37390df079 own in front 092c9c7922 of her. Cain’s complete loss of 0fd9b5b49a composure whenever Selina was 2cba1cf6ad involved was a spectacle 823cd08bb7 Jeremy relished.28537bf33dc350a7

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“I’ll be going f3e00be0c2 now,” Cain said 1bacf47091 firmly, setting the fbef84631a glass down.a6a5029a8b22e51f

“Why the rush?” Jeremy 0b89aa3826 asked, his tone light d6a952a2e1 yet needling.021a1f6ae88dc651

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Selina, unable ccae030e3b to bear 42b77febae the awkward 7799887769 tension, stepped 95c896be62 in. “Brother, he’s busy. Don’t make him feel bcf39cf902 unwelcome—he went out of 37a37d4153 his way to come a55b4f9c74 here for my birthday.”5d6da37fb3842eef

“Unwelcome? That’s not my b4bde55f0b intention, Selina,” Jeremy e70f618d48 replied, his face 3103e2968d softening as he 58da557a8f turned to her. Yet his 7b13dd1fee eyes, sharp 7cef5ae305 and calculating, 54bc79c452 remained fixed 645cbf2c07 on Cain.2c60f11aa1aff650

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‘I just 7063a9ffd6 thought Sir 279dee7448 Cain might 7802196b59 feel uneasy d13c02b45f under all 10b727b001 these watchful 7831336eae eyes. It’s not fde904ed76 easy returning e4c7688d0d to a 2ca9af218d place where e8504f2b5e one is b978e8bf62 no longer 0d8e206d49 a fiancé. Isn’t that e214f5c393 right, Sir 33b205756d Cain?’85f05a0bde68fb38

Cain’s jaw clenched, 5c149b5271 but he said f0590d02e1 nothing.b92656019df3cefe

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“Oh, forgive me. I seem to 6c49d6bdb7 forget myself. Of course, you’re no c3311b4f03 longer part of the 480fbe83f3 family, so I shouldn’t 3ad0390dec tease.” Jeremy’s apology carried 4bf8d92082 no sincerity, only thinly 3fef74ffee veiled mockery.de7dd48afe3195bb

Selina, uncomfortable d4ec1accc8 with the 951f12cfbc exchange, glanced bc47fea653 at Cain, 9223e5cf9f who looked 20fcd11c4c like he d47a591443 was barely 6a91756b88 holding himself 252d7550a7 together.1b9f14d2478ead11

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“If you’d aa3328d5ab rather not 8fe537c277 stay in b2286d8a82 the hall, 31b789f58c Cain, you 5330791e5c could wait 2597a08954 upstairs in 2e9df51db2 my room,” c35989cc45 Selina offered 5293ce0992 gently.98c18784783e7e48

“I…” Cain hesitated, struggling 1aea59c083 with his response. ‘Just say no. Just say 2008b6be20 you’ll leave.’6aea444a69ea4724

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But Cain Mortens, a41f1f5c67 ever the fool 1a34526767 when it came d76a459f5d to Selina, couldn’t b5473a880d bring himself to bd6a8d95a1 refuse her.047250b785fa1677

“I know you came 30fa59dc5a here for me, and 7e42c4657a I understand the attention a86239be72 is overwhelming,” Selina continued, d8b8acf25e her voice soothing. “Once the ed04eab62d party winds c86328f012 down, you 8af2c9bf1d can slip e4202978ce out quietly. I’ll join you later—I’m d807ea0b29 not one for long b387433153 parties either.”b32a921bc0dc5eed

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To Selina, Cain was ba99f932be a friend who had 30778e3a6e made a noble effort 4f8ff19688 to celebrate her birthday b1dd3f0110 despite the discomfort it 52671d1477 caused him. She had 19bba7e3c6 no idea afcd291c4f that her a627194b9e brother had 7ff0651226 other plans 19ff1a9a57 entirely.8cc8265c4ad5ba10

Jeremy, hiding his de290a2774 smirk, clicked his 1575f9ef5c tongue softly in 2596134cff disappointment. He had 2417820226 no intention 188ad3cd4a of letting 359963f644 Cain retreat c359f677ca to Selina’s 2550e4f8b4 room unscathed.f9f05394b9428394

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The reason was simple: f212ba587a watching Cain Mortens flounder b95a62ebc1 and suffer was just aef9146e51 too entertaining.be812bddcf846da6

‘Velita… When will 7fc3606c0f she come back?’ bb4ef13305 Jeremy thought to d879dfc47a himself.5d66a349a0dd4956

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The thought 705d6b297f of his 56c00e88d9 maid made 27b8f911a9 him smile. Even in her 2b21c4100b plain servant’s attire, 9b3c80db81 she had a 333b7a37c8 beauty that outshone 5a4ca250bb many of the 0933e44b02 nobles at the 446841622a party. She was out of 005ace5f30 place in every sense a02e583513 of the word, yet 4910827649 she commanded attention effortlessly.9ac01f092cfb5013

‘It’s a 6f4923c766 pity she 9b5d48e4a4 wasn’t here 99ec4d00a8 to see 5a8f6e7b7c this,’ Jeremy 46f1225f88 mused, suppressing d4fc5c3202 a laugh.854c13b2cba295f6

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‘I wanted to show 22302a3500 that proud knight just f8123a8738 how powerless he really ca8cd3b7d2 is.’e391a4473fd96ab9

⚜ ⚜ ⚜cd19be2127fbcac0

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Cain stood 4da9c45c3c motionless in 0d03579701 Selina’s room, b44ebb9b87 her lingering 96fd5c99bd scent filling 0a162d1e43 the air. He had complied with 7a0e4c3584 her request to wait 96a47e4f18 here, even though it ca4ff4bbf8 was the last thing 9a635efd02 he wanted. All he ea980c5fba truly desired 01a830cd6c was to e52d4dfa3d leave the e033a59512 party and e43079e54b escape the 31d847e369 oppressive atmosphere 1c274ee2f3 of the 0491371057 Ryles estate.2e1bc49c589c46c6

But he ee3f5392f7 stayed for 972d0f6c87 one reason ea4e0f4b32 only:bde34d2f95540404

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‘Selina asked 2e2889657f me to 4b9aaa19f2 wait.’bd91207fd12e0cec

He clenched his f6bc1a38e2 fists, frustrated by 6dba5bd7d3 his own foolishness.28d44942594ad2fe

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‘How pathetic can bb15a15135 I be?’66d0f98525c5b245

Cain knew 0b0e10a9b2 his love 010d7e6035 was unrequited. He understood e4f846c99b his family’s ae03d63c17 criticism—that he 6c5933d3d3 was a 6a8afacb24 fool, clinging 8c931663e0 to a 0134d36570 dream that 1dfb0b6b78 would never 43cb9fff11 come true. Yet even with c19c2260ca that knowledge, he 064a3a59d9 couldn’t bring himself e0095ae432 to let go 89d8fecfa0 of Selina. It was 1cdd68f276 as if fefd04a453 his devotion cdbd3b9943 to her c2b2dd78f9 was an db3c6d5900 unalterable fate.aed2609e1fc4bc6c

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Even though 6e6e883d62 he had 4165be6dff accepted his f36b6fb538 circumstances, there 385ca4efeb were moments c3a4c7c124 when he 2e80c3f0a7 longed for 51eae61e32 the past—those a31999cb63 simpler days 8b131f339a when his d110619320 love for 198fd11587 Selina wasn’t 139aa171dc hidden, wasn’t 27b5f031b2 wrong.d520ea6bb96cbed1

In this very 7f57b2a14d room, he had 82b11e030f spent countless hours c4779f349b with her, reading f44a041587 books or watching 818c150bc2 her sew delicate 9d6739f8e9 patterns she had be4ba72db7 learned in her 06ba29f8ab bridal lessons. Her chatter, light and 149ccf987d carefree, had always reminded 8c08f29c31 him of birdsong at cfa9c1e574 dawn—comforting and endlessly delightful.e6c03be103e01227

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In a 217a8dcca2 world where 94aae03248 arranged marriages 2f26b5e813 were the c2450add2b norm, Cain a3132c4c1d had considered 943ab2d8bc himself blessed. To be bound 31c1d0d064 to the person 3dc8b10dfd he loved, both bedd6acbfc by heart and 6657cd98c3 by family, was dee96ddfdc a rare and 0586a93a21 precious fortune.624dc07bc88cdd56

His desire to 2a8af951b4 touch her, to 8dd75680f1 kiss her, was dcfd24e120 natural, but he 501124e42b had suppressed it 625ca8c39c for her sake. Selina didn’t 6cfe8c82fc love him, 0840e1f478 and Cain, 7de5bbf608 who truly 1611b30fd2 loved her, 71399194b3 had respected 8952e00800 her boundaries.0de1c347730f051f

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He hadn’t 0da7160d3d minded waiting—back b3117d73dc then, he d4adefd38f had believed 983fbebf31 she would bc7153dc10 eventually become c929655619 his.5de96f2d40c680ef

‘Selina…’ he murmured 74f98f96f0 silently to himself.ab35f3327ed30a86

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In her room, filled 53b5eaab81 with her presence, Cain b9e2209998 felt intoxicated by the 9b97976b5b scent and memory of 584acdea2e her. He leaned ed8d15c7d1 forward, burying fecd1148b6 his face 6dfe63cee3 in the 4752db292c soft silk e4d5b2dc57 of her 4926aa59e2 bedding, breathing 810ec7db18 deeply.8ae33a842a0e4a15

But he quickly pulled c1df4d14c7 back, startled by his 2b69d49d04 own actions. Shaking his 14031fa500 head, Cain c1f70d5143 sat up 940a14c70c abruptly, realizing fe0af7dad3 how utterly 2d2a27f0b7 wrong his f1b3768c31 behavior was.2960fc1f2f8d7e18

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And then he 92ef8836c3 froze.505539068e9f48f8

“What… are 9fbbc45d45 you doing?”7233a0a499f7dcb0

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The voice 1d1eca2c33 made his d28e371b89 blood run 6494e7b66a cold.3f86f4a6592f6497

He turned his 311fee3bb9 head slowly, and 0ec921c139 there, standing frozen 14861e88ce in shock at 25c20ae1db the doorway, was 7e48e4142a Velita.c9d5023ee183987c

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‘That maid.’bdba56ff0770858c

The maid 92d98ccbd2 who reminded 91542ef0e4 him of 1e27f69f2f someone he 2b59a1c6fd despised. The maid he 77182a8dd8 loathed beyond reason.46847e08ec74a54f

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“Y-you, Sir 099339b406 Knight?” Velita 9d411c4c3f stammered, her 93bbb30e28 wide eyes 1af819afb5 betraying both bc5ccf675f confusion and 64f649d146 curiosity.72d3a6823aff8468

“…Get out,” Cain growled, a2dcfa0e18 his voice low and 8706c2a28d commanding.c58a878a7d71cd84

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He knew he 52e8f718ea had no right c7b23f2565 to act with a0f2c31b79 such authority in a50c082777 this humiliating situation, e9dcc0ae8a but the shame 60c190ca14 of being caught f9158decc2 by her—by Jeremy’s c8fd244c35 maid—was unbearable. Still, he would dab4d00293 rather die than b0f9b4aa1c show weakness to ea7657fd16 her.1d5cb731463296e3

Cain straightened, smoothing his afc58200b1 robes and trying to 46383ac154 regain his composure.751df3575ec72e84

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But Velita didn’t leave.6a7adaf5711447ec

Instead, she leaned casually 94f53756b4 against the doorframe and c5a62a41e7 began to speak, her c711cd8af5 tone unnervingly calm.f04f9c0a1832d6cd

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“‘My beloved Selina,’” f77a5a5706 she began, her 813538446b voice laced with 9a2e491cbb mockery.58b4901d84bcbb6d

Cain’s stomach dropped.fbb95949e01c1e8a

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“‘I still can’t 1cb98f2a17 understand it. How the 9ce186fad1 happy world a62e098fe2 we shared, e420a5048b the one a0b4b30d12 that connected 85ea3a2d3d us, could 46d2d17ed6 have shattered. But I can’t c677a793cd blame you, my a9de9ee712 dearest. You were 5296e9c2a8 simply stricken 375c545f51 with a e1d698d4cb cruel illness.’”8de151b65548fdf2

Her words pierced him c6012f02ad like a blade.1f628946a7d5c2f8

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The letter. She was b52a12b950 reciting his b7e75b55f7 letter.92d4c38c5fe22b09

“‘But Selina, 181949748e there’s no de59c712b5 hope for d7f5a08119 me. Even if you 9e23289e88 were cured, we e866f48d47 could never be 800a32c5de together again.’”4f535c04c1cde78a

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Of course, it matched ae3439a471 his thoughts perfectly. It was his letter.540d49b67d39f0a9

‘Shut up.’6d1da18e6953df47

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Cain thought, 34bdc85b43 his jaw 8b76cb1b7d tightening as 28b714ca2c anger and df1cbe1cc2 humiliation surged f404c6f785 through him.d8e2c630ce18d11b

The letter—never meant to 3053453ef7 be sent—had been a 0ce98121ac private outpouring of his f65e0e1996 emotions, a way to d3c3baeb90 rid himself of the e2dde4fe07 pain. But now, 373cbc0270 somehow, it a902b4e31f had fallen 846ce9463f into Jeremy’s 6327d0089f hands. And now into hers.ff1060dc097df83f

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“How careless of 86ae71e878 you.”c026337dea726089

Velita continued, her tone 33d3d800b1 sharp. “If you 8541fbf417 were writing 1dc7cefd3d a letter 315262913b for your c4ac3b1a06 eyes only, 50200cec41 you could’ve 942850bc82 at least 9789cb2852 written it 3622bd135f properly. What illness does Lady 9389d2bffe Selina have? And why would a164b48be6 you be unable 2ba95e94bb to be with dc2e609b78 her, even if 9fa410c8c5 she recovered? You left out the 80ad45d6e5 most important details.”f5287ca3818565d3

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“I said shut up!” 86d5701c1e Cain barked.896d4a81e56309a8

“From what I 30692c93ea can see, the 85cffe9ea9 lady thinks of 8f0a5e3a11 you as a 2866c5839d friend,” Velita said 6b21f6a30f with a smirk, 6fd3b3960a her words cutting a59d62260b deeper than any 7bdbe63e07 weapon.9f5593ac1ac65b06

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Cain staggered as c7faeed5a1 he stood, but 4234e1f3d1 he couldn’t bring ce160b1118 himself to move cff26c40c5 closer to Velita. He stopped, rooted in 762f6767c2 place, helpless in the 1b3ba868a5 face of her provocation.0c0fb11ab9ae121f

“What do you 943b0e135c think will happen 2df5dea583 if I read 608b99b555 this letter in 696d739f68 front of Lady 2da9500ff2 Selina?”3c10c446861810cb

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“Velita Grandel!”08330600e376ac95

Cain’s thunderous shout made 0cdbecb353 Velita pause momentarily, looking e5521c585f down at him with fd02535e15 a curious expression.a12d65d56dc300dd

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It felt strange 0ff7fbbb3f to see someone 10c392214e who had always 6a45c4283e looked down on 17f0cec591 her so condescendingly 79e73f45b2 now staring up bab285da39 at her in 2346c9a98d such a powerless 3d70a6aa27 state.04d72c4bac78346f

This was her chance—the ae8c366911 moment to make the d418abe37b man who despised her da8be888e0 crumble.bbfcbbb8a23a52c9

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“What should I 1a49d0f5a0 do with this 8236483eba letter?” Velita asked, 575d68e339 her tone dripping 30ebb8e1b9 with false sweetness. “Should I show 6b40304c1d it to Lady f24740bbe8 Selina? Or should I go 215e138fa7 to the ballroom and 3be4cc00a1 read it aloud like 8fb95e4b14 a lunatic?”7365350c0e648c67

She didn’t actually ce3db3a4b9 intend to do a59de3c0ad either.7d4a8e2c717c85aa

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Drawing that 7e74a4274a much attention 658810b4d7 would risk 4bafc27b4c her being 3400bccc81 thrown out 6a7f8bc1a7 of the 6a8e430800 estate entirely, c4f4e44036 and she 723ca62ac6 had no f0b95b734c desire to 528b8d66dd pay such 08d334645c a high 3273c38376 price just 035940f642 to hurt 0a4388da67 him.13e427eb4b3fec08

Besides, she didn’t need 1c35b0e3ab to take it that bc58efb585 far. She already 689bce7997 knew she 5454f4ef00 could wound 64d6878664 him deeply 141e81543d without such e6b69bcf10 theatrics.6e548f3d6848f51a

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Velita had seen b5139f88b6 through Cain Mortens d050305221 completely. He was utterly eb918e8c9b defenseless when it a2125151ac came to Selina 0555db970c Ryles.090a59ce90f5a713

“A holy knight 1fd2aa6943 unable to forget 616b675116 his former fiancée,” 1eb12d273a she said, her ee4f0e489a voice sharp and 4b953f5d40 mocking. “And why, oh why, 60c7fd6f0c did you date the b354a9e165 letter so meticulously? It’s almost as if 0fd2795ced you wanted it to 3d597f4742 be undeniable proof that 195201b85f you wrote this after e65b0f2567 joining the Holy Order.”399f60afebca2df3

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“Give it to f659fb9c30 me!” Cain snapped, b1df6ace73 lunging toward her.9d558973412b1833

He grabbed her 5798e21ef4 wrist with enough 99d1ddf489 force to make 6dadac065e her wince, but a0f1daeacc Velita held tightly aa414fe10f onto the letter. Despite the pain, she b5c33e00b1 kept her tone calm 956dce5746 and unwavering.79e1a187bdb0324e

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“Even if you a191fcd1fe take this letter, aab4f4d831 it won’t matter. There are others.”6013b96e910f428e

She hadn’t taken all db1b752183 of the letters from d424ccc0cd Jeremy’s drawer, but Cain a94cb83e25 didn’t know that. Velita spoke as 29969a80c1 though she had 339890acf6 every piece of 87cd866ac2 his secret correspondence.d2f28da15a4d039e

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She had 9a896be3a4 no real 2c359e815e intention of 270bb0ea10 using the 37e6726d4f letters to 105cd7e572 expose Cain 206b54b893 as a c10091feec man who 7c5ca39419 failed to 32222ddcb8 fully dedicate 1c4785b752 himself to 77f904328d his vows. Her goal wasn’t that e6fd87aadd grand.d5ef88c2167c94ff

All Velita dd6b32ee56 wanted was a0f850c13a a small, f41abef6d8 personal victory.8af7a7ec1ac708bd

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To see the man 9a82da913f who had looked down bf1d88c5b6 on her grovel, desperate 46b4191c88 and powerless—that would be 05c7d4692c enough.9ebd0d5540da35c8

Cain let out a f8154b6c30 deep sigh, his shoulders fa8c80d92e slumping.efe53c2d76915483

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For the 40a1e44e3a first time, 892d97cddd Velita saw 03b2894779 an expression 3c91bfdcc5 on his 406f3616f0 face that 3328fe83a1 she hadn’t f1cd766e35 expected.814f8aed4b2d171d

Though his jaw 3270f7422c was tense and df34ec8b4c his gaze still b04b15ec0c burned with disdain f9a17388f5 for her, his 1666bb536c eyes were reddened, a5b83ad454 reflecting a mix 4773d532dc of fear and 421d63b26b shame.a62dacfcd54dc488

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“What do you 2cd44d0f63 want me to e9f14588ef do?”61380d92f03b6677

“…What?”329e62904dc0dba0

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“Tell me. What do 7a3b4fed76 I have e7f0a179f3 to do?”d9335bcd07ec3613

Velita found 161d4793de herself fascinated dc7d9d6a76 by this 6e5271768f side of 448eed3343 Cain.6632555683865574

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His earlier e76be459aa actions—burying his 5e49770d32 face in bfa81cd3ae Selina’s bed—had 4452a36f2e been disturbingly e972d63c0b intimate, driven 5ac4933946 by longing. She had thought his 4765ae059a feelings for Selina were f965e073f8 closer to reverent adoration b012ed3b76 than raw desire.59efcd6e8e2a7fdd

Her understanding of Cain c076df63a3 had been simple: his c26b2eb4f3 love for Selina was 9ff97312a4 untainted, almost holy.7c42e23e5989f3d4

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But now, seeing him 723908f68c like this, Velita’s perception 452bb29113 began to shift.7616b3581e0d6938

Her experiences with Jeremy 839ca087eb had taught her how b589ad23ce shallow and fleeting desire 622a3886d8 could be. Jeremy found her amusing b9d0ac3ebd and endearing, but she 5364754457 was never truly secure 31711f8723 in his affection. His interest could shift fab35de653 to another woman as 423469d6d0 easily as turning a 090d7f108a page.65684eae2419620c

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Cain, however, was different. His love for Selina 346d0797ee wasn’t a choice—it was d5955ce4ca a compulsion, an obsession. It wasn’t that 8da9b6063a he chose to 14b2725dcb love Selina; it a05ebdb869 was that he 75b6e70834 couldn’t not love 3c38d981c5 her.4cf9e9b1f19fce2f

And in that moment, 9b47ecafaf Velita felt an unsettling ce9fc6747a sense of envy.ebcc7a99859b6c68

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She wanted d9d89e52a6 that kind 3f427bcfac of love.b0b499161f9cd9c6

She wanted 58e65a7a10 to possess 19b4a96df4 someone so 74a7629bcc entirely that e98aa86f3b they couldn’t db3b5bddd2 even conceive 0254ed5508 of loving 70243fc5cd anyone else.862ac19f7d515627

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And looking 769868214b at Cain e1134e994b Mortens, she c2e2fc4390 realized that d9de7028f9 she wanted a3b3de38ad him.bf8d7fad07058a31

Once, just once, 55760e5074 Velita wanted to 08b9836ed8 be the object c306c7cb42 of someone’s unwavering, 48d630df19 worshipful love. She longed for eb0d3b7f05 a dynamic where 0fc7b56ad0 the one yearning, 4ea56db404 anxious, and desperate f4270d6f36 was not her, bdd9dbd92b but the person 87c21ccde9 who loved her.d8713227a31b818f

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“Do you think b7e5baec6e a man like d9166d1078 you could ever 175b023875 love someone like cf9147fa10 me?”ef1b50917341b28b

“Do you think 5712c125e0 I’m the same 86af6d8329 as someone like 3dce12c499 Jeremy?” Cain snapped.c3f537d3b8565d50

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“But you’re a holy 791e4530ce knight, and yet you a5d3d58fa6 still love Lady Selina,” 5530d114ee Velita replied calmly.90478f3416cf3d62

“That’s absurd. You and a9d8d5f17f Selina are 6c576b4e83 nothing alike.”345437d08ea3b137

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“…That’s exactly what b492481669 I expected you 0370eed234 to say.”0ad86a0c9107285d

The response was predictable, a3e5bf73be and yet it still 2303fa6033 stung.b052513ed057cfa6

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Velita approached Selina’s tea 288f279ddc table, placing the letter f368d3a514 and the jewelry case ef11179d4c upon it.4e1a379359e2ebde

“You asked me earlier 2c73c7f9d0 what I wanted from 85f5c21534 you,” she said, turning 742d2c715b back to him.78cea016f143c0ff

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“Just say it 6dbe9b390d already,” Cain growled, 58ca9470a9 his voice tense.45b1c48833ffa529

“You talk a f9bad7e63a lot for someone e350cf6e0d caught in such ce5ebedcbc a vulnerable position.”04c1afd8a22a135b

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Velita opened 7f24ec0aee the case, 94904c4ccf taking out 17cf45e738 the diamond a5e39e0e01 necklace meant 4e1ad74372 for Selina, 5ef8049231 and fastened f390fc1aaa it around 657b2945cf her own 1469ea572d neck.29441cb396772860

This isn’t right.d8bb5ce416f9ffff

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This is Selina’s room, 4de4c1bb05 and no matter how 5b1eb14679 engrossed the party downstairs e8a14128df may be, this is 7ca28b24a6 reckless.a6f5f45dc513a86b

Her mind 95a7dac245 screamed warnings c64ae32119 at her, daee4f7eb0 but she 9141d50c63 ignored them.ef8b010821e4abda

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“At first, fb7bbab8aa I just 2797dc3040 wanted an e8702ba671 apology from c603fb62f4 you. But now…” Velita 62b4ae90c3 hesitated, a dangerous 723e9030ca smile curling her 1ffb23acee lips. “I’ve changed a916b6acaf my mind. I’ve found a 67b093dbfe way to truly b4878a0dce humiliate you.”875026488a2beec5

Even knowing the risks—knowing 2fdcbe54a6 the repercussions she would dae3b0fbb9 face if caught—Velita couldn’t 08a70026d9 stop herself.a49b252f3b54a3d5

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“For a moment, love 04e71bcb98 me.”119f92203d38351c

“…What are you saying?” 742e90f3d0 Cain asked, his voice b4d76242ac low and wary.58bde14fce2f1454

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“If it’s too hard, 00cee2ba26 you can pretend I’m 24c9e01ea4 Lady Selina.”512080b77ede3443

She didn’t understand 78838fc474 why she was b18e90872c doing this. Jeremy’s affection should fd4e5fce23 have been more 38d530b619 than enough for 229cdc9433 her. But there was something 7df82df66c about the way Cain 28353b53db loved Selina—pure, all-consuming, and 945099de0f immovable—that made Velita want cde1f318c3 to experience it, even 12c42c8c88 if it was just b4d9df4612 for a fleeting moment.78a277e482128251

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“I’m asking you 02034fe70e to love me f1c6a688fe as if I 66684832b3 were Lady Selina,” a7c0e17506 Velita said, her b2f0ecd630 voice firm despite e246163933 the tremor in 055994c23b her chest.310eb87c1d5b37d5

Cain’s expression hardened, his 159f423bb9 jaw clenching as he c6fc04b098 processed her words.bf592a0232fd2e4b

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“You’re insane.”f7eb7997a65fb11c

“You seem aa24ff40ee to keep fe4382f400 forgetting that b91fff7fe0 I hold 8957f4f6a3 your weakness 75d608a91b in my 0351bd03d8 hands.”bcfd7dd3a682abce

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Cain’s face cff81a3167 twisted in 97205a6136 disgust, the 7708de6c0c very thought d694c611cd of her 5d8d7caf67 demand repulsing eab2ec9d2d him. He understood exactly what ef08dce9e2 Velita meant—no boyish naivety b1c878da2d shielded him from her b80574ebe0 insinuation. But for a c7c3a3a41c man who had 4f0039d4e8 never so much 25397a25a0 as considered another 123aba33c6 woman, the idea aad89f6a20 of granting her b8be883e3d request was unthinkable.0fc7aac30b0a41e8

“Choose,” Velita pressed.9114b3fd37fa43c4

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Cain remained 2ab1bb885b silent, his 3d813d84d9 fists clenching 234fc4d1bd at his 0ecedc1cb7 sides.ffe9fdb4d3d2e217

“Do you 9738bbe088 want your 91c486b315 pitiful love 3675866118 letter exposed fe046dbd89 for all 686468e85d to see?”ff415f007df6d99d

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“….”043d54f0acf652a0

“Or will you e798a65fc0 pretend that I’m d168508a95 Lady Selina?”fe035c24c2063aa8

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Cain had only one 6e695eda58 choice if he wanted 653f6a6596 to protect himself and d207a9e266 Selina.fe15a07118d2f22e

Grinding his teeth, he 5b9e489e41 fixed Velita with a 3010cf0988 glare full of venom.1eab2dd85fb35738

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“You’re a truly a2a7a7589b cunning woman.”7ab7b294c819face

Despite the sharpness of 4ec8d0e498 his gaze, Velita didn’t f13c9cf6fe feel the same fear 27610cbfd5 she once had.d7cafe99c8073bd6

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“I know,” she replied f521398deb evenly.dea940ebb4bb2907

Yet, even as 1d59cbed5d she held her 45610ff389 ground, the disdain b2dbbeb8d5 in his eyes 90a12ce4a0 cut her deeply, 9d917a2d36 like a blade 3e4f791dc2 dragging across her 205b5ff201 heart.
\8d64a2c9695be72c

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