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Seven years ago
"How dare you lay a hand on my woman!" Lucian roared, his voice echoing through the hall like thunder. His eyes blazed with fury. "Lock them up!"
"Lucian, no—no!" Angelica cried, but his guards seized her and her companions, dragging them toward the dungeon.
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Four days later
"Sir… what about Miss Angelica?" Marcello asked, his jaw tight. He despised her; just the sight of her face behind bars made his blood boil. This was his chance to be rid of her for good.
Lucian's expression darkened. "Her? Make sure she never sets foot in this mansion again. Not her, not her minions."
"Yes, sir."
Marcello wasted no time. He stormed into the cell, his glare cutting like a blade. "You're in luck. The boss said we can't kill you. If it were up to me, I'd gladly crush you with my bare hands."
Angelica lifted her chin defiantly. "Then you'd face the consequences."
He smirked coldly. "Sharp tongue, as always. You're lucky I don't hit women." He turned to the guards. "Throw them out. And make sure they never step inside this house again."
The guards dragged them forward. "No! You can't do this! Leave me!" Angelica screamed, her nails scraping against the stone walls as she struggled.
Outside, the maids had already gathered, whispering among themselves as they watched the scene unfold.
🗣 "Yes, she's finally going."
🗣 "Is that Bella and Rose? They actually threw them out."
🗣 "Those bullies got what they deserve."
🗣 "Even Angelica, pretending to be the madam of this house—gone!"
🗣 "At last, justice."
🗣 "I hope Daisy and Mina are next."
Inside one of the upper rooms, Daisy and Mina peeked from the window at the commotion.
"Finally," Daisy muttered, lips curling. "I told her she was nothing but a loyal dog. And when the master gets tired of his dog…" she smirked, "…they throw it away like trash."
"Really?" Mina's eyes narrowed.
"Yeah."
"Hmm. I'll be right back." Mina left the room just as the guards shoved Angelica and the others out of the gate.
"No! You can't send us away!" Angelica shrieked.
"If you don't start walking," Marcello's voice cut through the air like ice, "I'll put a bullet in your head."
Fear finally broke them. They staggered away, humiliated, their footsteps heavy with rage.
A few minutes later, a figure stepped out from the shadows of the trees, hood pulled low over their face.
"Do you hate Mirabel?" the stranger asked, voice low and deliberate.
Angelica froze, eyes narrowing. "Yeah… why?"
"I can give you a way to take revenge on her."
"Why should we trust you?" she snapped.
The hooded figure slowly lowered their hood, revealing their face.
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