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"You’re unusually quiet tonight," the Duke said, his voice brushing against the silence like velvet against skin.Victoria stood by the tall window, arms folded, eyes lost in the smoky distance beyond the estate walls. The candlelight behind her flickered and danced on her ivory skin."Am I?" she replied flatly. "I suppose silence is safer now."The Duke took a step closer, his boots echoing on the marble floor. "Safer from me?"She turned around slowly, lips curled faintly. "Safer from everyone."Their gazes locked. There was heat there, thick enough to smother."Don’t pretend this hasn’t changed you," he said. "I’ve seen the way your hands tremble when no one’s watching. I’ve seen you drift away. You’re losing yourself to this war."Victoria exhaled, her voice bitter. "I already lost myself the moment James was thrown onto that porch like refuse. And you—” she paused, looking away, “You’re just another blade in the back I never saw coming."He flinched. "You still think I was involv

The rain pattered gently on the manor roof, casting a somber rhythm across the candlelit drawing room where Victoria sat curled on a velvet chaise, her fingers trembling around a porcelain cup. The fire crackled, offering no comfort."He's late," she whispered."He's careful," came a new voice.Startled, Victoria turned. A stranger stood in the doorway, soaked from the storm, a scar etched across his jaw, and eyes like cold slate. He pulled off his gloves slowly, not breaking eye contact."Who are you?" Victoria asked, standing abruptly."Name's Lucien St. James. The Duke’s new business partner. Or at least, I was invited under that pretense.""The Duke mentioned no such thing.""He wouldn’t. But here I am."Before she could press further, the door behind Lucien opened again. The Duke entered, pausing at the sight of them."I see you've met," he said, closing the door behind him.Victoria narrowed her eyes. "What's going on?"Lucien smiled dryly. "Ask your Duke."The Duke strode in, r

The soft murmurs of conversation drifted through the heavy curtains as the morning sun peeked through the narrow cracks in the window. Victoria had barely slept, her mind racing with the aftermath of the choice she had made. The echoes of Elena’s words still reverberated in her mind, but it was something else that tugged at her—a feeling, a presence, lurking just beyond her reach.She sat by the window, the cool morning breeze brushing against her skin, but her mind was elsewhere. The Duke’s stern expression haunted her. He had been right to question her decision, but now it was too late. She had made her choice.The door to the room creaked open, and Victoria’s thoughts were broken by the sound. She turned slowly, her eyes meeting those of a new face—an unfamiliar man dressed in dark clothing, his posture rigid, his expression calculating."Lady Victoria," he said, bowing slightly. His voice was deep, but there was an unsettling sharpness to it, like he was assessing every inch of he

The door creaked open, and the tension in the room thickened. Victoria’s eyes darted to Elena, who wore a slight smile, as if the arrival of whoever was outside was no surprise.Victoria’s pulse quickened. The footsteps were heavy, deliberate—someone important, someone dangerous. And the way Elena stood there, completely at ease, told Victoria that whatever was coming wasn’t something she could stop.The door swung fully open, revealing a man Victoria had never seen before. His broad shoulders and cold, calculating eyes told her everything she needed to know: he wasn’t here to make friends."Ah, there you are," Elena said smoothly, her voice calm, almost playful. "You’ve made it just in time."The man stepped into the room, his gaze immediately locking with Victoria’s. She could feel the weight of his stare, cold, assessing, like he was mentally stripping her bare."This is Viktor," Elena said, her tone casual. "He’s my... associate. He’s here to help us take care of things."Victoria

The door slammed shut with a resounding thud, startling Victoria and the Duke. They both turned, their bodies tense, as a woman entered the room, her presence undeniable. There, standing in the threshold, was Isabella’s sister, Elena Deveaurux.Victoria’s breath hitched as she took in the sight of her. Elena was everything Isabella wasn’t: composed, calm, with a quiet power that emanated from her like a shroud. Her dark eyes flickered over the room, assessing the situation with a sharpness that made Victoria uneasy. She was dressed in a simple black dress, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders in soft waves. But the coldness in her gaze was unmistakable."Elena," Isabella said, her voice laced with surprise but also something more—something that could almost be described as reluctance. "What are you doing here?"Elena didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she let her gaze linger on Victoria, studying her with a careful look. Then, she spoke, her voice low and measured. "I came to

Victoria stood by the window, her hands gripping the cold ledge as she gazed out at the sprawling estate. The wind outside had begun to pick up, rustling the trees in the distance, as though echoing the storm inside her mind. Every passing day seemed to pull her further into a web of deceit, betrayal, and calculated moves. Every move, every decision felt like it could lead her closer to her end or to the redemption she longed for.She turned as she heard footsteps behind her. The Duke entered the room, his face grim, the tension in his posture palpable. She could tell something was wrong. The faint echo of the door closing behind him seemed to seal them in, alone with whatever new chaos was about to unfold."Victoria," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight she hadn’t expected. "We have a problem."Her stomach twisted with anticipation. A problem. She was used to that word by now, but she didn’t expect him to say it with such concern. "What is it?" she asked, trying to keep her v