Chapter 7

Misfortunes, as c84f342f8c the saying 6c29bcb10c goes, tend 341a96fc5c to come 3811fcbee1 all at 348bf17661 once.60541dec4e172c62

For Velita, whose life 68133f2c96 had always been plagued 0fe0432362 by bad luck, today 3da64b5a03 was the first time 9b7f5fe3a0 she truly understood the 693a3eac21 weight of those words.2b379f1b0b964303

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The next 2b521df759 time she cdfa193d4a saw Selina, 22b6e451bf after overhearing 90f3e26092 her casual 68bf3ae341 conversation with 4a48f3d40e the maids 734ebdacb4 in the 51baa47e07 maze garden, 66a04f2d34 was at 21c8bdaa21 dinner.39e9d6a571a4faeb

Jeremy had been 4a69187b0e out all day, f97cb0616b leaving Velita with 901f061606 little to do aec2cd3269 but assist in 4a2813d828 setting up the 1704f15ad6 dining table for ec35e38d1e the evening meal.d9b34de903be8a45

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As the Count a01f6dac94 and Selina entered, 953b4eede5 they began chatting 222bd74178 warmly, radiating the 178ef6c6e2 image of an c6fb6a8944 affectionate father and e009bf4800 daughter.8b65575ccff23dc5

“Father, I c87cde6029 was the 95bf1ea61e tagger earlier, 67b589d993 and I 5f6489b668 caught Anna b3c656beca right away! As soon as 81c98ad4fd we started, she d4c68f96e8 became the tagger 9b86a4f6ca again!” Selina exclaimed 5075dc8e49 proudly.7165a31b9982920b

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“I never knew 1657d40429 my sweet Selina a45f9124e8 was so nimble,” 7204963225 the Count replied, 3d64a7506e his tone laced fcdc3a7870 with amusement.cad6c5743e3cb98b

Velita clenched her hands, f12d8bbda3 suppressing the urge to de7f9d22b6 blurt out the truth: 34be935f6d the maids had taken 197f9b1245 turns letting Selina catch e35a556799 them. It wasn’t 3ffec91e1e because she 065de0f946 was particularly bac93e0abf quick; Anna 8048a0d201 had simply 644c7d28f9 allowed herself 2267247a8d to be 2617f4b830 caught.d4e5f0083df86a3e

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‘They’re wrong,’ d037518001 Velita thought, 39f1a4efd0 struggling to f34dcdbb1c curb her 889585723e irritation.db84e8aa74379420

She knew it 272736b27f wasn’t fair to a0d76a0b69 think this way, 5c28a4787b but Selina’s radiant 697a191487 smile kept dredging c2ad44032e up the words 26da499c64 she overheard earlier, 198a173476 replaying in her 3cad8a9bd0 mind like a 1e0a437032 cruel taunt.6aa44520736fc1bd

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The warm d08fa103df exchange between eb816e6cd8 the Count 3bd6a3ef09 and Selina ced09c7735 soon shifted 82b5dbf129 to plans 4115e0b460 for her 651aa9535c upcoming birthday.1ac4c7dd0a2de396

Velita fought to 167425867a steady herself, to fbb86c762f shake off the 9b2ce32448 creeping bitterness, when f3ab499ce5 a soft tap bd3d26333a on her shoulder 2986c250aa broke her focus.0c50a9539f4380dd

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Turning, she found 3fcf3c1e28 another servant discreetly 0edc048183 motioning for her 6f562aada6 to step outside.5804cfd05295fb3d

Velita quietly 8bda488a4a excused herself 0bd2c333b9 and followed c4f7d82758 them into 4dc7969569 the hall. Once out 9b9df4b627 of earshot, d7dda72c82 the servant f9b4048cfe explained the 5d8c41622c situation.353ac9150eb34e55

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“Velita, you’d 614d553cea better head c1dbc1f13b to the df0dbf7c8e front gate.”b7d32a6730dfe884

“The front gate?”93b2bdf01d0d9445

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“Yeah, someone’s 76701ff9c6 here asking 126bb1996b for you.”aec78bfe72f038d7

“Someone’s here for me?” 302e52ac3f Velita repeated, puzzled.23cff5dcc0c29897

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“Whoever it is, 5d28cd6fab tell them not 601dfc729a to come again. You know how 2f6a3a7f10 it looks—maids having 0d12b0b838 visitors at the 694d1b218c Count’s estate. If the head 737043c608 butler finds out, 826c120c3f you’ll be in a0116f8185 for it.”e5e5d97e38fb6b47

“I understand. I’ll handle it. But… did they b9bb937ce5 give you their 8c9ba3fa36 name?”777200afad909b28

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The servant shrugged, clearly d0a281687f disinterested. “Uh, they said 95f9808f7a their name was… 0a07db9ed3 Daniel, I think?”78112c9b7caa2c7f

‘Daniel?’ Velita’s mind 129aed1ebd froze.523f7b8a40ceb98f

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[The name Daniel brought with it a flood of memories. Her childhood friend, her only family, had left three years ago to join the war. She hadn’t seen or heard from him since.]

‘No way. Daniel couldn’t have 9f0bded0b6 come here. That’s impossible,’ she d3a053d84e thought, her heart 73e25b76c6 pounding as doubts 86a0019a8d and hope collided.b493f75a1f8f0c44

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Yet, before she b4d9d6ac72 fully realized what e0588ee484 she was doing, 9a08b667f8 Velita’s feet had 6d8740e3e2 already carried her dd1624e4d5 halfway down the 1f17e3b0dd corridor, sprinting toward 7cad55dedc the estate’s grand 1d16d14c9a front gate.4d57ad6bf2767f49

‘What if 5320f10b40 Daniel really 309a3bdae9 did survive 30558999a6 and managed 15fc9ee2df to track 1eeff4f75e me down 4143eb89b1 after all b979557b36 this time?’1ad6c8256eb30304

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Velita’s thoughts 07608e1005 spiraled into 67b0ea17df irrational hope. Yes, of course, 25c72bde02 Daniel is alive. He received my letters fd056748e9 and fought desperately to 98038fea02 come back to me…!210608c6df7b762d

Her legs moved 1e75c59b1d faster than her f86f5c0b5f mind, descending the a6a6ce67ee grand staircase at b3984a19ec a pace that e124c9f1c8 would send her 010563f80a tumbling if she dd4298bacc missed a step. She burst 4c7b5cfe75 through the aabad63c82 front doors b22697f386 of the 18e3065afe estate, nearly 0deeb5c948 tripping in 0fc9ec387e her haste bd7c199a50 as she 168ff70c2b reached the c71d874176 gates.fe02ef85a3dd67c0

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“Haa… haa…”69e3025f2591bb9d

This time, her labored 7b76f69d57 breaths weren’t feigned. She scanned the ccb8140de6 area, her eyes d89dd64cab darting frantically in 7713e37daa the dim light.3baee039d4a21cc8

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“Daniel…?”f684bb2a70ca449e

But the figure 0ddaff7ad0 she longed for 29ba7ceca7 was nowhere to 910d373b29 be seen.e3a1a293cefa8c9e

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“…”8c093f8df7108fdc

The chill d0740da123 of the abc3db55b1 night air 7f28621bfe seeped into 1fa699ae35 her skin. Hugging herself, Velita 848cf1364f felt a creeping 2c68cf61a9 sense of unease 1c5c4fc491 crawl up her b5d41e008d spine.f18fddb6d121c099

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That was 95be31299a when she 34ce9ebe2b heard the 75f53f64dd voice.59535de0a39e1816

“It’s been a while.”6bed490eff9ed661

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Slowly, Velita c6dd5e954f turned her 854d4ec7fd head toward 8e4e5b731a the source 0c9f0136c3 of the 211fb797b1 sound.adf98fc90ceb16a8

Standing there 4f5b1abba0 was a 81b0d93b59 man she 51785b1875 knew all bd01ac6469 too well. But it wasn’t a6005c9927 the man she 62f3c7ad1a had been waiting c1186d6c1b for—not even close.c9c6e45d9b9d8035

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“O-Ora… b-brother…”0e0d53175ce09f14

Killian Grandel, the 9c62f4adba man who had a89c655b67 colluded with their 5ca28f4277 mother to sell fa83f40c7a her off like 9dae726257 livestock, stood before 316f76f1a2 her, flashing a 4633550de0 crooked grin that fa3e85ebe9 exposed his yellowed 6385acc0dd teeth.2ba9e7e60ece3f30

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“Well, well, my dear a015aa4c1d little sister. How on earth did fb0cbcaaeb you end up working b8f1ca7f20 in a place like 80f928a6dc this, huh?”c29e3e44a4e4eb5a

“…”ab60d5b231559541

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“If you’ve been living 086f4c07b8 so comfortably in a 2021876422 place like this, shouldn’t f0d65e83eb you have sent word 2b79662dfa to your family? Isn’t that the least 27209c640d you could do?”76ba1e9c9c95e11d

Killian’s eyes roamed 8f18906142 over her servant’s 7e5ca0aa59 uniform, inspecting her 0a0f36d2e7 from head to 5794591de8 toe with a 60c57fad56 predator’s gaze. He took a step 93e76e98ea forward, and Velita instinctively dab105c9a0 took two steps back. But it wasn’t 164032873d enough. His longer stride closed 3b5a5731c3 the gap with ease, 8bf92b537e and his coarse hand d3437b8d94 clamped around her wrist.f4b1ef0edf4c4428

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“Ack!”44d95d3039e78cda

Killian’s grin twisted b4e8e15755 into a snarl, 2f1b4b327e his yellow eyes 29f8b192ac narrowing like a 416564d8e9 beast about to d7f8877866 pounce.4b0d410832576b84

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“You selfish little 1e983a6e3c wench! Do you know the 00290c4434 mess you left behind? We had to b29ac1c6cd return every last 9e1a4aa892 coin!”1e5cdc00e0126e52

The iron grip fc411c27c1 on her wrist 332bc6fced sent waves of ac5223bf78 pain coursing up defa408894 her arm. Desperate, Velita grabbed his a363772b20 arm with both hands, 44642c3139 shaking her head furiously, e29b3569a2 begging for mercy without 9849ce4342 words.978639489aec9734

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“Do you know 6673248c8f how much trouble 675c3f9d55 you’ve caused us?” bf6fa55f2f Killian growled, his 16b0c709e7 spittle flying in 72b5fe31a5 his rage.5097c925b23d04a9

“I-I’m sorry, brother…!” d6113cbfc9 Velita stammered, her b4f03751d5 voice trembling.9cf0978cac738cdc

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“Stupid girl! You dared to refuse 95522c075d a good match that 548574e034 would have saved us 9a770700ac all?”3155f51268da7cd9

His voice 3cfce0e4e2 rose, echoing 3393c20cf3 into the 230140e627 cold night. Every syllable was 0a8dffa314 laced with venom, 8113f5a774 and Velita felt ed39f70c1b like she was 27b9e517be shrinking under his dc31ad7b63 oppressive glare.cad6dcf221c5e876

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Killian yanked Velita’s 6d8c04e389 arm harshly.260c18ecba31f3f8

“I’ll find 3cf621c1f9 you a dd95f24f98 new match, 94f2190fec so stop 7c7e7bc393 resisting and bfc05a152f come along.”c1a7471833c151eb

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“No, brother! I won’t go! I don’t want to!”3b8b3d249090afe6

Velita tried to stand 39f813dafb her ground, but against 46b23f08c5 the strength of a aee407e5ce grown man, her efforts e7bdbb4edd were futile. With her free hand, da4db68f00 she clung desperately to 1969c03e2d the iron bars of 4c83347d8b the gate.bca31a438b459241

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“You think I’m being 14fa1df01f nice right now? Keep testing me.”5d2dd471f6028af7

“I’ll never go! I can’t!”06708a7cc51532a2

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If the freedom Velita 912c720c32 had gained by fleeing 9e09e467ef her unwanted marriage had 7a5b5e1178 been bitter and unkind, 69b798ca84 perhaps she might have d15cdeb38a given in. Perhaps she might have 098170f6ff returned to her family ce73b5de02 willingly.f8465d6f2ab69d1c

But the freedom she 618230db3a had fought for, running ffaffe790f on her own two 10174fa7d2 feet to escape that 548246696c miserable fate, was intoxicatingly af7e28a6ed sweet. This place—the Ryles 039fd21f9a estate—was her sanctuary. She didn’t 03b58282ae want to 71926e901d lose the 9dab50a0a5 fullness of f7d50b0bc9 her stomach, 2e084b0852 the warmth, f515be86e1 or the 232b4636ec peace of f3e24b2ba2 not living 55b8977444 in fear dcf970ebe3 of violence.d6b9d160d8548299

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‘I was a 1bb8728f99 fool…’45167d1ac9f023e2

Of course, Daniel d9f2c8213d couldn’t possibly be 2e78d0dd6c here.93ea27dc02ffaa39

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How could I dd7292a18e believe my brother’s 8a9babbe24 lie, that he 187815e0d7 was Daniel, and 3616a1f3eb rush out here 5ec053cc22 like this?020d9bd2d738171b

No matter how 58956b6d30 much she berated 98204dc66f herself, it was 9d7e5091a2 already too late. Besides, even if she d27ea8d36d had been more cautious, 2f65325477 it wouldn’t have changed ad65d0d7f9 the inevitable. As long as Killian 9b009e9d39 knew where she was, 21b2656ba1 they would have crossed 67e8337542 paths eventually.6a45674fd4ed1148

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The garden 642da88158 was eerily 00024c6621 empty, likely eaf2567af2 because it 6c5e6f950d was dinner 8c3be18cf5 time.a27380ff586e184f

‘Should I scream?’ca26099521d62898

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If she screamed loudly 4265fc6758 enough, maybe someone inside b1c6414513 the estate would hear 6a658bdd52 her cries for help…!7b20d10805139785

Velita opened her mouth, 27031694f9 preparing to let out 7a17c6c1a5 a piercing scream.7bafe8aa677d5c6f

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[That girl is so pitiful.]

The memory of 1098087e77 those words from cfcb3b6a07 earlier stopped her 1294b3dd70 in her tracks.8447228dcb67906a

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Killian dragged 231d610c96 Velita by f634352d0e her hair, afd2b51b5e ignoring her f8e7aee239 desperate resistance.c0c06a5c244319e8

“Let’s go. I’ll find 9944654331 you a ce23b660ac new match. Stop struggling and accept 7716d8fa9f it.”2cee7b2a3c9df712

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“I don’t ab51163301 want to! I won’t go with 9364d663a8 you, Killian!”570167ce74e49d11

Velita planted 5d79b3d416 her feet 5c1c97aac0 firmly, attempting fd794c119d to resist ee7e5041b7 his pull. But against e16e558754 the strength 8e50cc3d8d of an 59bb2db046 adult man, 3473be7404 she was f041f8eff9 powerless. Her free d767cc19a6 hand clung cce0db3d23 desperately to 5777c886b2 the iron da55a489f9 gate as 0e7b1b107c though it 7b524a9ac6 were her e3a91bcb92 only lifeline.a54dce860dcb2d77

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“If you keep 252a9aa314 fighting, you’ll regret f1ef58873b it,” Killian snarled, e2213baf90 his grip tightening.d50af047acb1547c

“I’ll never go! You can’t c9ac52e5d3 make me!”36e4bc759783879c

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Velita’s voice 8263468773 rang with b447a3e8a5 desperation. From the d783716b98 moment she’d 8655f16f03 escaped her ad5f8456d7 family’s clutches, 4787553560 fleeing a cabad6c74e forced marriage 8f5ef3ff62 to live 7d8d734a19 as a 7369233b8e mere maid, 5b11628ab5 she’d experienced 6f9bbcf31a a fragile e6c06f4759 taste of 047399335b freedom. Despite the aca9a5dffd hardship, life e6444d258e at the 3faa103510 Ryles estate 436262ff34 had been 0934636158 the closest 16b1997cf9 thing to 856941cb38 peace she’d 991ddd5d30 ever known.b6dca5d2c038ecba

[‘I’m such a fool…’]

She cursed herself for 8af6c24903 running to the gate. There was no way 68f123c1be Daniel could have been a94aae68dc waiting there. Killian must have a16f924028 known that the d084e78890 name would make 5850bf9f2e her come running. But even if she 314c8770c7 hadn’t fallen for his b7dd83937c trap, she would have 95cfd807b8 had to face him 1cbf794f82 eventually.a857711439cde6b1

The realization hit her 5096459f89 like a cold wave—there 1fb729111b was no one around cb91020b1a to help. The evening had 71410805f7 drawn everyone inside 4f455cbfd5 for dinner, leaving 37477f5f4d the garden and c94571eb22 the front gate 0514116c34 eerily empty.c47e36133a2be560

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[Maybe I should scream…]

If she b4c1d6b72d cried out 92cffb101e loudly enough, 779c53374b perhaps someone 24f421ea9d from the 5168167dff mansion would 6a9a3f18bd hear and e05da0b10c come to 42f091c511 her aid. But the fa702006f5 thought brought 12666e8f20 with it ae78adbd82 a sharp, 5512a02241 painful memory.7214194d5657c881

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[That girl is so pitiful.]

Velita remembered aee95646ba Selina’s gentle, 98952743da pitying words cfe880e13c from earlier da2cc2ea81 that day. Would she forever 380775f7dc be a pitiful 391ae6cbf3 creature in their 158be22e4e eyes? Even in the fe8a844fd5 sanctuary of the 75d5b5b4f6 Ryles estate, was 29cd6fd6f5 she destined to dbd2f67d47 be seen as 4971a797f2 nothing more than 5baede3ae4 a charity case?30eefd0b3e0c1a50

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Her hesitation gave c8538efb9c Killian an opening. His hand moved d1de434ff5 to her hair 042e3abd1b again, yanking her 2dd375f2c5 head back harshly. Velita cried out 094e7dc81c in pain, her 380837ecf0 grip on the 1c42fc520c gate loosening as a5bf7bf969 he dragged her d35ac202ec away.791a635439551a81

“I’ll give you e5d315cfd3 the money!” she 51b73d8763 shouted, her voice 8f40930902 trembling with fear.129925536d6b437e

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Killian sneered, “What c151dbac4c money? What could 1499e2313b a maid db723832c7 possibly have e2400b6f63 that’s worth 92c6806cc5 my time?”e810acab19bc12f8

Velita’s mind raced. She knew offering her 5e49b629c1 wages wouldn’t be enough 2c40732de2 to satisfy him. But she couldn’t give d307a3002e up now—she had to a175072807 think of something.68b162c3962d0176

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[Why did you choose me to serve as your maid?]

[Why do you think?]

In her desperate a16328cc5b search for a 4a9af3a081 solution, Jeremy Ryles’s 355426917b words came to 96cba391ad her mind. The weight of 0f33880d42 his gaze, the eb3306cee1 subtle warmth in fcc76c864f his voice… It c854ae3d4a struck her like b305838546 a bolt of b805f27e79 lightning.14c624369da9b2d8

[Emma must have misunderstood the nature of our relationship.]

[She’s terribly mistaken.]

That moment, and the 79b1e84039 look in Jeremy’s eyes, 6f43ad27cf had stayed with her. Could she da1f021d64 use his 1ba3772294 name to 8993b164be escape this? Velita swallowed hard, clinging 419f219f39 to the only card c9ccee4854 she had left.8c441cc81538fa41

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“Let me go!” 22b4bc9558 she cried, glaring e39b18af87 up at Killian.9a8c82bf5cd80d7a

“If you d3cd289509 lay another 0ed49b6817 hand on 5c390ed915 me, you’ll 9743b349ac regret it! The Ryles heir won’t f0b7903120 stand for this!”85e0c79c8d57ae5b

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Killian hesitated, 52cc3d7468 his grip 0dadb8d30d faltering slightly.1e63689371c7673f

“What nonsense are you 4ff0c5d387 talking about?”834409609e08d0d4

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“I’m not just a 4ab57841f3 random maid.”ff0bd8e826c315cb

Velita said, summoning 609fba90d1 all the authority 63d863a9e9 she could muster.30365119ff9dc2a0

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“Jeremy Ryles has taken 41b27846df me under his protection. If he finds out db38e299d8 about this, you’ll be 4e6a637504 the one paying the 272f416874 price.”149ce04a454ef057

Killian’s expression 65dae6205b flickered with dad7696967 uncertainty. Even he 6e146fe4e4 couldn’t ignore b050a49c57 the potential 3bb6d2c6eb danger of ac2c9ea721 tangling with d465f44090 such a ca7998a9bf powerful family.34a2751a933f243f

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“You’re lying,” he 7edb74e128 growled, though his f44195b85f grip slackened further.77a5d0e163465f72

“Try me.”243ccc7de5fad6bc

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Velita challenged, ec9d3c6b2c her voice 280a6e15e2 trembling but 14112fc307 firm.c3545dd789318522

“But if you harm ffa52a30eb me, you’ll face the df4b861f3f full wrath of the 9a9983d3f4 Ryles family. Do you 1341ff6022 want to cc6e9cbc2c risk that?”0905e4e59beb7577

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Killian’s jaw tightened, his d7c4dc9da1 frustration palpable. After a long, 9ae16328c6 tense moment, he 12b6f3c0f6 released her with 8771e4ae5c a shove that 426c325758 sent her stumbling 542e822cf5 to the ground.b3942d0b9c17f869

“You’d better dcd985063a not be 11b9434f6c lying,” he 6a8eaea12c spat before cfa04a3a22 turning and eb9bd4417e storming off 2cee90b333 into the bb53594a12 darkness.86d42915d6d7aa9d

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Velita gasped for b8508df3f3 breath, her heart 1753a86e29 pounding as she 9246f9054c collapsed against the fcb553e9a0 iron gate. Tears welled in her 3ce3afc8a0 eyes, a mixture of db1ff23923 relief and lingering fear.b8752470b91e83b0

[Jeremy…]

His name had saved bf387d943e her tonight. Whether it was a 1f2000c0cd temporary reprieve or a e913c95367 lasting solution, Velita didn’t 0e85547a6e know. But for 194cb70ecc now, she fa1896f4e0 was safe—and 62ce7934d5 for that, c142ebfac0 she silently 5229feb31d thanked the 3ce01f1535 man whose 1b58b9e8ac name had bf1d63c92b become her 1f1125d036 shield.003b3aefa75517a1

Killian was taken aback as Jeremy’s voice, now silky smooth, resonated in the air.1d5013b7af37600f

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“Darling.”e52c357a92753ecf

Jeremy said again, be34e3f057 stepping closer to 223b018b76 Velita. His tone 88c44bfce3 was casual, 92a8d0c578 but his a040440647 words held 68ac12ffeb an undeniable 6e41819f8b weight.768185e20b6432c5

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Velita’s eyes shot open, 6f7977ddd0 her confusion and disbelief f8ce0bf4bb written plainly on her 69c6e45a8e face. Yet, Jeremy 8ea8c35216 didn’t even 7893955dba glance her 8dc6c59bcb way this d0745e867f time. Instead, his piercing 1faba6feb6 gaze was fixed 4bdf52efba on Killian, who f2f50e037b was visibly stiffening c3887d67d0 under the intensity 5a877e5a84 of it.b5ad796b406c3362

“Am I interrupting 342aeed6c6 something?”db0c45f8df24a0ce

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Jeremy asked, 070c1a6356 his smile d44bf3281e friendly yet 66a8aae509 razor-sharp. It wasn’t 221d332cb9 a question; 0e82618d1e it was 539bff9158 a warning.cd2b479db1f0feb5

Killian hesitated, his grip 4f6d6af67e on Velita’s arm loosening. The sudden change in 2e362599c5 Jeremy’s demeanor left him a16d842871 wary.e114c812cab8a02a

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“Oh, no… 3c9aebcc8b no interruption, 00cae430d6 sir.”e5cac1ea29fd8269

Killian stammered, his 6c4db9354b tone unnervingly deferential.4a63eafe72ad1aa8

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Jeremy shifted his gaze edd24c1692 to Velita. He reached out and e1dfe78b31 gently removed her hand be41e8d2a7 from the hem of e51a57456f his jacket, only to d3f3eb420f envelop it protectively within 2b2b278a41 his own. His thumb grazed 7b9e2af712 over the bruises c9fdabfba7 on her wrist, 477eb3991e and his expression 569f84a5e1 darkened for a e1fbf9249c split second before e009c793c4 returning to its ed92dc25df calm façade.7232aaed3ba6c2da

“Your wrist is ae4175520f hurt,” he observed, c8cd92a403 his voice low b25cf5d372 yet filled with bc7c440225 an emotion Velita 91ef65025a couldn’t quite place.8cc63dd8b20d4e33

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“Who did this to 9cfeb3a204 you?”17538ff3a114bb58

Velita opened ebd1f22db4 her mouth, 1fbf4e2dd5 but no 6c156c6f9d words came edf1d42f46 out. Her lips quivered, 1f9d43d248 and her gaze d914121840 darted between Jeremy d3f3852daf and Killian. Jeremy, noticing f768e8fa80 her hesitation, 7eafd42c3d let out 8e2736d3bc a soft 8f45f0b0f4 chuckle that a679593782 didn’t reach 3c9c11d58f his eyes.b3fbf08b915ce296

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“I see. No need to explain,” d27e4f0639 he murmured before turning 6f1d1c7fbb his full attention to d9db437607 Killian.a55780c0540a7f28

“You must ec0ab2c17c be her… 16ad5fecee relative?”dd11b0c393048332

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Killian straightened his posture, cb3132ac6e attempting to regain some 0225b56093 composure.edbd68b6d9690b2a

“Yes, sir. Her brother, in 038454b466 fact. I was just—”06730a620b0990d9

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“Brother.”64237748a36c92d2

Jeremy interrupted, f46359dd60 his tone 31ae76fea8 cold and 02fdc92fa5 clipped now.bbc72ec3adf40cbc

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“Then surely, as family, e0f44859a7 you’d never harm her, adb1404919 would you?”21bff912e6167545

Killian’s face paled.4f866585ccd5bea3

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“Of course not! I… I’d never—”f8ff225211d04161

Jeremy raised a 593a2ede7d hand, silencing him 20716536a5 effortlessly.f9043c731c09174b

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“Good. Because you see, 3014d0f246 Velita is very f2a9cda1aa dear to me.”b137a39bf0c4d986

Velita’s breath e6a3a8c7e2 caught in 7a046104b5 her throat. She stared 60074c619b at Jeremy, a40402d42b her mind 78c65e35f8 spinning. Dear?8f6e196607b3a602

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Jeremy continued, his voice bd59761c44 as smooth as silk ccf1e37408 but with an underlying 8c3816cd89 edge.9513166a3b4bb6ea

“And I don’t take 5b03a1e524 kindly to anyone mistreating aeafdb52a4 what’s mine.”8eacab37ab567ae6

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The words hung heavily cda4a00aa7 in the air. Killian swallowed hard, eea4098e5b his bravado crumbling 380bbe8941 under Jeremy’s piercing 07ad46b52f gaze.906bc3ec6b225ca0

“Now.”17c794962613be1a

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Jeremy added, his 6ab163bb34 smile returning as 7244e5c141 if nothing had 2adeefc291 happened.0351387b94eabfc9

“I’d suggest d2671b3432 you leave 6ea26d38cb before this bf67609db2 misunderstanding escalates.”05ca5460f5eec264

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Killian, caught between c6ba37711f anger and fear, c4bfb84077 finally relented. He took a step 8a292adf55 back, his eyes darting 63cef9a1bc between Velita and Jeremy.a164f3b8f58194ae

“Fine. But this isn’t b5343c8a5a over.”8ef2f35f40900b62

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“Oh, I assure aa782f66db you,” Jeremy said d5ecc0660a with a mockingly 5c3c780001 pleasant tone, “it 81f3a96b4b is.”052b2429b8957e25

Killian hesitated for a c35088e7f0 moment longer before turning 68ea801823 on his heel and 10b63ba2e9 walking away, disappearing into 01150bb17e the night. The sound f58f490722 of his bf589699b2 retreating footsteps c86d834f2b faded into 13cf69a4aa silence.f2bcbdca2609b4ea

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Jeremy finally turned back 8b6691ce51 to Velita, who stood 0ea90ab88b frozen, her heart pounding 541a3c56dd in her chest. He tilted his 45b7343e4b head, his expression 8804da6849 softening.b199bf967b288a41

“Are you alright?” he 703c5ee1fa asked, his voice gentle d5db946189 again.2fc06cd7b2acc25c

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Velita could only nod, e9c815f8c2 her throat too tight ddefb472fd to speak. The weight 41daad51cf of what d5c491637b had just 57d8495da9 transpired left 412c6964eb her dizzy.411a486f29d13f56

“Good.”18e464d919c1a959

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Jeremy said, 06305a0f6d releasing her 60dc748fdf hand carefully. He took a 1b05bb79c9 step back, his 2a6b83ee05 demeanor suddenly lighter.fa5e4ea3fe8170e0

“Next time, 00eeef472b just call 206d4f1ccf for me 2fddd6b5ce sooner, hmm? I won’t always show f52b353002 up in the nick ca7cd4d860 of time.”b7fe0ffcb9821d80

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Velita stared at him, 9e78782d4a a mixture of gratitude, c511d29088 confusion, and something unnameable 6378fef8d9 swirling in her chest. Jeremy’s smile softened as 87887aa8c3 he gave her one 13ae54b385 last glance before turning a3199b7d8f toward the mansion.14e1ec9f827f9ad2

“Let’s go.”fa19829b580efe96

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He said 02eff92812 over his af5c12d338 shoulder, as 289763887b if the 63bdf67624 scene that 1e71d5d0da had just 1670098186 unfolded was 87766aa89d no more 334815d498 significant than 737662c550 a casual 3114b510b1 stroll in baeec803b8 the garden.bd4b95542354ed9e

Velita hesitated, 38e6869d7c then followed a8ac1c1565 him. Though her wrist d157492ba4 throbbed and her 8c7e257c88 heart was heavy 7197327d84 with unanswered questions, 65dd267721 one thing was edf4dce4f1 certain—she was no 4070eb1301 longer alone.1f883c9bf3154433

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