"It''s no one''s fault but mine." Eliza und coldly. Twas the afine who thought
hopelessly based as you"
The memory of herself, begging them with tear-streaked cheeks, nowughably parbete.
just
"So now," she continued, her voice steady as steel. That want to take bark what''s mine there a problem with th
He genuinely thought they could negotiate.
"Yes." Anthony cut in before Gabriel could speak Scecrest Manor and the Orphons Building belong to Sophie now I you want them, you''ll have to trade something else."
Eliza didn''t even hesitate. "Fine. Trade it for your life, then Tina-do"
Before the words had even fully left her mouth. Tina''s sword shed
Anthony was prepared this time-but that didn''t matter. Tina wasn''t holding back
He narrowly dodged the fatal blow, but the second strike pierced clean through his arm and his scream echoed dough the courtyard
"Eliza! Call her off!" Gabriel barked, trying to get in between them. But Eliza didn''t move, didit ees Soch
When Tina drew her sword back and lunged again, Gabriel finally lost it and roared. Fine Fine Take them-both Scecrest Manor and the Oriphoenix Building, they''re yours
Even then, Eliza waited until Tina stabbed Anthony once more before shezily waved a hand and said. That''s enough Tina. You can stop now."
Gabriel rushed forward to support Anthony, whose arm was soaked in blood, gaping wounds still dripping. His face turned nearly white from pain-or fear-and Gabriel''s own hands were shaking with fury
"Eliza," Gabriel seethed, ''you really treat your own brother like this? Aren''t you afraid word will spread, and in ruin your holy reputation?"
Neither he nor Anthony had expected Eliza to be this merciless. She hadn''t even given them a chance to talk. If he hadn caved in time, she might''ve actually killed Anthony on the spot.
Eliza only smiled. "Word will spread? And who exactly is going to testify for you?"
It was then that Gabriel realized the nunnery waspletely silent. Empty Not a single nun in sight. Not even ap guest.
In the past, they could twist the narrative however they liked. Say whatever they pleased.
But now? The Stonor family''s reputation was already in ruins. And if it came down to a dispute between them and Holy Lady Eliza, who did they think people would believe?
Gabriel suddenly felt a chill creep down his spine.
She hadn''t just been bluffing to get her way. She''d really meant to kill Anthony
He clenched his fists instinctively, a cold sweat rising on the back of his neck
For the first time, Gabriel looked at Eliza not with disain, but with fear. 10:45 Sat, 19 Apr.
This wain''t the foolish girl he once thought he i
cantpte
longer had anything left to lose
man whoid been forged in fire-
96%
Was it Mary who taught her this? Or Nn'' Gabriel didn''t care. One thing was certain Eliza had be a threat A real threat. And she had to be dealt with.
"The property deeds for Scerest Manor and Orphoenix Building are still in the family archives he said stiffly. "We''ll
deliver them tommorrow.
This time, Gabriel didn''t argue. He gave her onest long look, then turned and left with the injured Anthony
Finally, the let out a slow exhale. "Whew Thats done"
Negotiating with a fox like Gabriel required ruthless precision-every second bought another trap he could set unately, he''d brought along a liability. Anthony had actually helped seal the deal
Now, all that was left was to get her hands on the deeds.
She''d made up her mind from the beginning everything that once belonged to her mother-and to the Padi family-she would take back, piece by piece.
Turning, she saw Tina approaching. Eliza opened her arms and gave her a brief, grateful hug, smiling brightly.
"You were amazing just now. Thank you, Tina"
Tina stiffened for a moment-then rxed. She patted Eliza''s back with her free
hand. "No need to thank me. As long as helped"
"Oh, it did,” Eliza beamed. "Once I have my estate and restaurant back. I can finally begin my real ns."
Mount Westin was already full of her medicinal herbs-but that wasn''t enough. She needed morend. Solicecrest Manor had fields and even a hot spring. Perhaps it would help Nn''s condition
The more she thought about it, the lighter her heart became. Especially when, just before nightfall Cabriel had the deeds sent over as promised.
Eliza took them with care, her fingertips trembling slightly. She looked down at the papers-at the things that were stolen from her-and for a moment, her eyes turned red.
"Why are your eyes
red? Don''t tell me that bastard Gabriel sent you fake documents?" Nn, who hadn''t yet left, frowned the moment he saw her.
Eliza shook her head. "No, they''re real."
It had only been half a year since she lost these things-but if she counted from her previous life, she had been them for years.
Now, they were hers again.
She wiped her eyes and smiled. "It''s finally done. The deeds are in hand. I can settle everything with the King now, too
That debt she owed to both Nn and the King... she''d pay it back. She just needed to find the right moment
What she didn''t expect was that the opportunity woulde so soon.
Because the King had summoned her again.
The first summons had been during the Plutonville drought.
10:45 Sat, 19 Apr A.
This wasn''t the foolish girl he once thought he could manipte. This was a woman who''d been forged in fire-and the no longer had anything left to lose.
Was Mary who taught her this? Or Nnt Gabriel didn''t care. One thing was certain Eliza had be a threat. A real threat. And she had to be dealt with
"The property deeds for Scecrest Manor and Oriphoenix Building are still in the family archives, he said stiffly. deliver them tomorrow."
This time, Gabriel didn''t argue. He gave her onest long look, then turned and left with the injured Anthony in tow.
Finally, she let out a slow exhale. "Whew. That''s done."
Negotiating with a fox like Gabriel required ruthless precision-every second bought was another trap he could set. Forumately, he''d brought along a liability. Anthony had actually helped seal the deal.
Now, all that was left was to get her hands on the deeds.
She''d made up her mind from the beginning: everything that once belonged to her mother-and to the Padi family-she would take back, piece by piece.
Turning, she saw Tina approaching. Eliza opened her arms and gave her a brief, grateful hug, smiling brightly.
"You were amazing just now. Thank you, Tina."
Tina stiffened for a moment-then rxed. She patted Eliza''s back with her free
hand. "No need to thank me. As long as it helped."
e my estate and restaurant back, I can finally begin my real ns
Eliza beamed. "Once I have my
"Oh, it did," El
Mount Westin was already full of her medicinal herbs-but that wasn''t enough. She needed morend. Scecrest Manor had fields and even a hot spring. Perhaps it would help Nn''s condition.
The more she thought about it, the lighter her heart became. Especially when, just before nightfall. Gabriel had the deeds sent over as promised.
Eliza took them with care, her fingertips trembling slightly. She looked down at the papers-at the things that were stolen from her-and for a moment, her eyes turned
red.
"Why are your eyes red? Don''t tell me that bastard Gabriel sent you fake documents?" Nn, who hadn''t yet left, frowned the moment he saw her.
Eliza shook her head. "No, they''re real."
It had only been half a year since she lost these things-but if she counted from
her previous life, she had L them for years.
without
Now, they were hers again
She wiped her eyes and smiled. "It''s finally done. The deeds are in hand. I can
settle everything with the King now, That debt she owed to both Nn and the
King... she''d pay it back. She just needed to find the right moment
boo."
What she didn''t expect was that the opportunity woulde so soon
Because the King had summoned her again.
The first summons had been during the Plutonville drought
10:45 381, 19 Apr
This second time... she couldn''t exin it. But she had a feeling. Something was
about to happen.