"Father, Dn''s back, Anthony reported quietly.


    Gabriel didn''t even look up from the letter in his hand as he asked, "Did hee back on his own, or did you drag him?"


    "I brought him," Anthony replied, eyes downcast


    Gabriel snorted, unimpressed. "Fine. Let''s see him then


    This wasn''t Gabriel''s first time entering Anthony''s secret chamber-but for Matthew and Dn, it was.


    After the servants had discovered this hidden space behind Anthony''s study, Gabriel had indeed been furious. But instead of sealing it off, he privately gave Anthony permission to continue his poison research-on the condition that it was never used on family.


    Clearly, that line had now been crossed.


    Gabriel stepped in, his tone sharp and direct. "Dn, I''m sure Matthew and Anthony have exined everything. So I''ll just ask once-will you go speak to Eliza, or not?"


    Unlike his twin Matthew, whose limbs had already been rendered useless with softening poison, Dn was still weak but conscious, lying limp on the stone b, unable to move.


    He stared back at Gabriel and, to everyone''s surprise, opened his mouth and said tly, "Of course I will. Whatever you want me to do, I''ll do it. Will that satisfy you?"


    Gabriel narrowed his eyes, studying him, but said nothing.


    Dn forced a bitter smile. "What''s wrong, Father? Not the answer you were hoping for?"


    Gabriel''s voice dropped cold. Is this some kind of game to you?"


    "Game Dnughed faintly. "I''m your son. I simply do as you taught me-treat others the way they treat me. If anyone''s been ying games, it''s you, not me." Gabriel''s gaze darkened. "All I asked was that you help save Sophie. Is that so difficult?"


    10


    "It is," Dn snapped, eyes zing. "Yes, it is! Matthew and Anthony may be idiots, but I''m not anymore. You all want me to pretend Eliza lied about Sophie stealing our mother''s corpse-but I was there. I saw it. I heard it. I saw exactly what your beloved daughter did-how vile she really-"


    Gabriel struck him across the face.


    "You''re clearly in league with Eliza now," he said coldly. "To nder Sophie like this-are you so far gone you''ll even lie her?"


    "nder? You mean the truth you refuse to see?" Dn barked. "You just can''t admit it-your precious little bastard daughter is more important to you than anyone!"


    Gabriel snapped, "Enough! You''re impossible!"


    He reached forward, grabbed Dn''s jaw in a tight grip, and ordered, "Anthony, give him the medicine. Two extra pills."


    Anthony hesitated. "Father, this dosage is too much. It''ll hurt him-be won''t recover easily."


    Gabriel was unmoved. "He brought it on himself. Besides, now that he''s aligned with Eliza, we can''t afford to have him slip up. Overdose him if you must. There won''t be a second chance."


    10:43 Sat, 19 Apri


    That was enough for Anthony


    96%1


    He silently pulled out three dark brown pills and, one by one, forced them down Dn''s throat. Dn''s eyes reddened, his body twitching as he tried to resist— but his limbs were limp. He could only stare helplessly as the world around him began


    to fade


    His eyes grew dull. His body ckened.


    Gabriel finally let go.


    "That''s it?" Matthew asked quietly,


    Gabriel nodded. The medicine''s kicking in. It''ll take about half an hour before we can wake him up."


    "Then I''ll stay and watch him. Matthew offered. "Father, Anthony-you both should rest."


    Gabriel considered it, then nodded. "Fine. We''ll leave him with you."


    Once the two left, only Matthew and Dn remained in the cold stone room.


    Matthew looked at his twin, so alike in appearance yet now lying so still and powerless.


    He sighed. "Dn... why did it have toe to this?"


    He''d given Dn so many chances, but his brother had refused every single one. And now? Now he could only hope the side effects wouldn''t be too severe.


    Matthew noticed Dn''s eyes were still open. With another sigh, he reached out to close them-only to pause.


    His fingertips brushed against something wet.


    He pulled his hand back.


    He''s crying?


    Stunned, Matthew leaned closer and then, barely audible, he heard it


    "Eliza..." Dn had whispered her name.


    Half an hourter, Matthew called Gabriel and Anthony back in.


    Anthony pricked Dn''s forehead, drew a drop of blood, then pped him lightly across the cheek. "Dn. Time to wake up."


    Dn stirred, blinked, and yawned. He looked around blearily, as if he''d merely taken a nap.


    "Huh? Father? Matthew? Anthony? Why are you all here? What''s going on?"


    Matthew stiffened.


    Anthony''s face was calm. "Dn, do you remember what day it is? What you''re supposed to do today?"


    "Of course I do," Dn replied confidently. “It''s Sophie''sing-of-age ceremony. Wait-what time is it? Did I oversleep? Is that why you''re all here to wake me up!"


    He tried to sit up-only to find his limbs unresponsive.


    "What the why can''t I move? What''s going on?" His brows furrowed. "This isn''t my room... What did you


    did you do to me?"


    Authony muned to Gabriel and gave a small nock-It worked


    Gabriel stepped forward and said calmly, "Don''t panic, Some things happened


    while you were asleep. I need to exin everything to you"


    Still confused, Dn blinked, then nodded slowly. "Okay. Whatever you need, Father


    One hourter, Dn stormed out of the Stonor estate, face dark with fury.


    As luck would have it, Benedict was just returning home and spotted him.


    "Dn? When did you get back? Are you, moving back in?" Benedict called out, hopeful.


    But Dn didn''t hear him. Or didn''t care.


    He mounted his horse and galloped straight out of Hasen City-heading toward Mount Westin


    ?