Reborn In Fury

was filled with the harmonious strains of the orchestra, the laughter of nobles, and the soft clinking of glasses. This evening was more than a celebration-it was a declaration of t

ttered like stars, but even they paled in comparison to the radiance of her smile. She moved through the crowd with effortless grace, her every gesture exuding

nawed at her nonetheless. Perhaps it was the way Edmond's smile never quite reached his eyes, or the hushed conversations that seemed to stop abruptly when she approa

ctly, and his golden hair caught the light in a way that made him look every bit the prince her guests claimed him to

crossed her mind. "And yet, it is you they admir

onsense. This is your night, Elaine.

estra began a waltz, and Edmond ex

hand, she allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. As they moved in perfect harmony, the world seemed to fade away. Th

balcony, she welcomed the cool breeze against her flushed skin. The estate's gardens stretched out before her, their

her pair of guests seeking privacy, but something about the tone-low and conspiratorial-caught her attention. M

he recognized all too well. Edmond.

pressed herself against the wall, her he

r childhood friend, her confidante. "She treats us like family, yet she doesn't see the knive

esperately searching for an explanation. They couldn't b

d, his tone cold and calculating. "And with her out

ring with tears. The man she loved, the friend she trusted above all others-they were consp

ulating her emotions, of gaining control over her assets. Lúcia laughed about ho

them see her like this. She needed time to think, to plan. Quietly retreating fr

ght replayed in her mind, each detail more horrifying than the last. She wanted to belie

er so thoroughly, there was no telling how far they'd go to protect their plans.

the way he smiled at her with practiced ease. His charm, once so endearing, now fe

sor, Lord Hawthorne, was particularly evasive, his words carefully measured. She began to see the patterns she had o

At first glance, everything appeared in order, but her sharp mind caught discrepancies-transactions

using them to pay off gambling debts and finance lavish gifts for Lúcia. Her trusted advisors, including Lord Hawthorne, were complicit

at Edmond, laughed with Lúcia, and attended meetings with her advi

private meeting in her study. When she entered, Edmond, Lúcia, and several of her

ussing the future of the D'Armont empire. It's clear you're overwhe

quickened. "Del

To those who have your best interests at heart

wine and handed it to her. She hesitated, her instincts screaming a war

his voice deceptively cal

t to her lips, pretending to sip while covertly examining the

the glass down. "I have had a lo

darkened. "You're

king her path. Panic surged through her as Edmond approa

he sneered. "But don't worry. We'll m

as outnumbered, but she refused to go down without a fight. Summoning