bChapter /b669

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Hector gave no answer. He rolled on the floor, his wrinkled features twisted in agony.

“You won’t speak? Then I’ll take your silence as admission! Was it really you?”

Caitlin kicked him, fury boiling inside her. If she didn’t have unfinished business, she would have ended him right there.

“No… don’t hit me… please, let me go… I was wrong… I’m sorry…”

“Let you go? Do you know how many lives my grandfather’s family lost? The blood–soaked horror–you never saw it, did you? If I ughtered the Jonathan family and said ‘sorry‘ would that be enough?”

Hector was nearly broken by the parasite gnawing through his body. He writhed on the floor, as if something inside him were tearing at his bones.

Caitlin crouched down, yanking his cor, her voice like ice. “Besides Carlos, who else was involved?”

“The Yuncey family… Timothy…”

So it was a joint act between the Yuncey family and the Jonathans. At least Timothy was already taken care of.

Her brows knit tightly. “So you worked with the Yunceys tomit that atrocity, then divided my grandfather’s estate between you. Is that it?”

The old man only convulsed harder, wing at her trousers. “Save me… I beg you…”

“I can spare your miserable life–but only if you agree to one thing.”

Shaking, Hector lifted his eyes to her. “Name it…”

“You will formally wee me as kin and open the gates of the Jonathan family to me. And you will hand over the second half of the Codex. If you refuse, then you’ll die here tonight, and I won’t save you. Do you agree?”

Hector was cornered. Trembling, he nodded. “I… I agree… save me…”

Caitlin pulled a pill from her pocket and shoved it between his lips. After he swallowed, the bone–deep agony began to ease.

He copsed back, gasping, groaning through clenched teeth as relief washed over him.

“That antidote willst only until tomorrow morning. By then I’ll be at your gates. If you try to y tricks and break your promise, don’t me me when the pain returns to tear you apart.”

With that, Caitlin turned and left his quarters.

Just outside the door, she ran into the butler, Devin. He froze, surprised to see her. His hand lifted as though to ask why she was there.

b18:23 /bbMon/bb, /bbSep /bb29 /b

73

Caitlin cut him off smoothly. “Excuse me, I went to find a restroom and got lost on my way back. Could byou /btell me how to get to the main hall?”

Devin blinked, then nodded in understanding. So the prince’s attendant had simply lost her way.

“Miss, just follow this corridor straight ahead, then turn left. You’ll be there.”

“Thank you.”

She left without hesitation. Devin didn’t think twice and stepped into Hector’s quarters.

“Good heavens, sir, what happened?” He rushed to help the old man, who was lying on the floor. He got him to the bed.

Hector only sighed heavily, saying nothing.

“Shall I fetch Madam?” Devin asked.

“No… don’t.”

Taking it as nothing more than a fall, Devin let it go once he saw Hector breathing steadily.

Meanwhile, Caitlin walked on, deliberately avoiding the left turn. She remembered another path that led to the gardens and headed that way.

The Jonathan family’s garden was vast and beautiful. Amid the blossoms, Liliana strolled beside Magnus. Together, they looked every bit the perfect pair.

Liliana carried the conversation, while Magnus responded politely, making her believe they shared an easy rapport.

Half an hour passed, and Magnus began to feel strange. The weather was mild, yet heat crawled under his skin. He tugged at his cor, trying to ease the difort.

Liliana noticed and hid a smile. He was taking the bait.

Earlier, when preparing the tea, she had secretly smeared something on the rim of his porcin cup. Now, its effects were showing–his forehead already beaded with sweat.

“Magnus, are you all right? You look hot. Let me wipe your brow.”

She drew out a handkerchief, her perfume drifting as she lifted her arm.

But Magnus waved her off. “No, thank you, Miss Jonathan. I’ll manage.”

He dabbed his forehead with his own handkerchief and tilted his gaze to the sky. The sun was hidden by clouds; the day wasn’t hot at all. So why was his body burning?

In truth, his thoughts drifted to Caitlin. Was she all right? Had she managed what she came here to do?

“The gardens are lovely, as expected,” Magnus said atst. “I’ve seen enough. Shall we return?”

18:23 Monb, /bSep 29

“There’s another view ahead, would you not like to see it?”

“Thank you, but another time perhaps. Today will do.”

Hearing him say he would return someday made Liliana’s heart leap.

“Very well, I’ll walk you back.”

They turned. Suddenly Liliana slipped, letting out a delicate cry.

“Ah-”

She clutched his coat. Magnus instinctively caught her by the waist.

“Are you hurt?”

Her arm lingered on his shoulder as she turned, her beautiful face painted with rm. “You saved me–I almost fell.”

Just then, Caitlin arrived at the garden and saw everything.

From an outside eye, Liliana’s stumble was deliberate, staged only to fall into Magnus’s arms. The way her arm clung to him, the way her gaze smoldered–it was obvious she was trying to close the distance.

“I’m fine now.”

Magnus looked down at the beauty in his arms, a daze clouding his mind.

“Your Highness…” Liliana’s lips parted softly, her voice tinged with seduction.

Seeing him falter, she leaned closer, emboldened, aiming her lips toward his. fn985b Readplete version only at find(?)ovel/fn985b

bAD /b

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