A commotion erupted outside the carpentry shop.
Workers and passersby gathered around as Mr. Andrew forcefully threw Ambrose out of the shop. Ambrose stumbled onto the street, his face burning with anger.
"I'll be back!" he shouted, pointing towards the shop. "You haven't heard the last of me!"
He stormed away, leaving everyone staring after him in confusion.
"What happened?" several people asked at once.
Inside the carpentry shop, Mr. Andrew was still breathing heavily. Nathan and a few of the workers gathered around him.
"Take a deep breath, Mr. Andrew," Nathan said calmly. "Tell us what happened."
Andrew wiped his forehead and shook his head.
"That boy has been stealing from me."
The room fell silent.
"Stealing?" Nathan asked, surprised.
"Yes!" Andrew slammed his palm against the table. "After everything I've done for him, he repays me by stealing from my shop and threatening me when I confronted him. Ungrateful human!"
One of the workers frowned.
"But I thought Ambrose had been working here for years."
"He has," Andrew replied bitterly. "His brother abandoned him here, and I took him in. I gave him work, food and a place to stay. I treated him like one of my own."
He lowered his head and sighed, "I was a fool."
Nathan placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Don't blame yourself. He's gone now. You can finally have some peace."
Alora stood quietly nearby, watching everything unfold. After everything that had happened between Ambrose and the girls, she couldn't say she was surprised.
She felt sorry for Mr. Andrew.
As Andrew angrily pulled open one of his drawers, several documents spilled onto the floor.
"Leave them!" someone warned. "You're too angry right now."
But Andrew barely listened.
One of the papers fluttered across the room and landed near Alora's feet.
She bent down and picked it up.
Her eyes immediately fell on the name written across the top.
AMBROSE WILSON
Something about the name made her pause.
Wilson?
She stared at it for a moment longer before folding the paper and returning it to the pile.
She didn't want to involve herself in another problem. Not now, she quietly returned to the grocery shop.
It wasn't long before another commotion began, this time, the voice came from outside.
"Alora!"
She froze.
"Alora! I love you!"
Everyone in the shop turned towards the entrance, her face immediately flushed with embarrassment.
Her day had barely recovered from the first drama, and now Herbert had arrived to create another one.
Nathan and Liam stepped outside.
"Herbert, leave," Nathan ordered.
"I'm not leaving!" Herbert shouted. "I came here to see Alora!"
Alora's patience finally snapped, she pushed past Roxana and marched outside.
"Would you shut up, old man?"
Herbert's eyes narrowed before a disturbing grin spread across his face.
"Ohhh... you're angry."
He looked her up and down, "I like you when you're angry."
Alora folded her arms, "Get out."
"No."
"Herbert."
"I won't leave until you accept me."
"Accept you?" Alora laughed bitterly. "Don't you have daughters my age? And you're standing here asking me to accept you?"
A few people around them chuckled.
Herbert's face hardened, then his gaze shifted. He noticed Roxana standing behind Alora.
"A little girl told me you wanted me."
Alora's expression changed, "What?"
Herbert grinned. "She said you were interested in me."
Roxana's heart dropped, "Oh God"
She had told him to wait for her signal, why hadn't he listened? If this went any further, Alora would discover everything.
Herbert opened his mouth, "R-"
Before he could finish, Roxana stepped forward and slapped him across the face.
The entire crowd gasped.
"How dare you come here and cause a scene!" Roxana snapped. "Who do you think you are?"
Herbert slowly turned his face back towards her, his eyes were filled with fury. Without warning, he slapped Roxana.
She stumbled backwards.
"Roxana!"
Alora rushed to her side while Nathan and the other workers quickly surrounded them.
Herbert straightened his clothes, looking almost pleased with himself, "You two little fools haven't heard the last of me."
He pointed at them, "There's more to come."
Then he turned and walked away.
Roxana remained frozen, her heart hammered against her chest. The secret she had tried to control had just become something much bigger.
***
Thornfield Mansion
By the time Zayn's birthday arrived, Valtheris had forgotten its usual routine.
The Thornfield mansion had been transformed for the occasion. Warm lanterns lined the pathways leading to the entrance, while flowers decorated the balconies and grand staircase. Tables filled with food and refreshments stretched across the gardens, and musicians played softly beneath an elaborate pavilion.
Servants moved constantly through the crowd, carrying trays of wine, fruit and delicate pastries.
Guests arrived one after another, dressed in their finest clothes.
Duncan arrived with Ruby, followed by Skender and Althaia. Marion and Clara soon joined them.
Then the royal carriage arrived.
The moment King Alexander stepped inside, conversation ceased.
Everyone bowed.
"Your Majesty."
Alexander acknowledged them with a small smile before taking his seat.
The atmosphere gradually returned to normal. Then Nathaniel arrived, heads turned.
He wore a simple golden noble attire, elegant without being excessive. The fabric caught the light whenever he moved, and the subtle embroidery around his collar gave the outfit a refined appearance.
Duncan glanced down at himself, his own attire was similar, though darker, with deep burgundy accents, his expression tightened.
"Of course."
Nathaniel passed him with a faint smile, but Duncan said nothing.
A few moments later, the Ashbourne family arrived. Damon, Evelyn, Maya and Henry approached the king and bowed before joining the other guests.
Nathaniel immediately noticed Maya, his expression softened. He walked towards her and gently took her hand.
Maya smiled.
She seemed far more comfortable around him now than she had been before.
Duncan noticed.
Something unpleasant tightened in his chest, but he quickly looked away.
Soon, Zayn finally appeared. He wore a rich oxblood-red outfit embroidered with the Thornfield crest. A Valtheris crest brooch rested proudly against his chest, while his wife walked beside him with an equally elegant smile.
The musicians changed their tune, everyone gathered around as the birthday song began. Zayn laughed as the crowd sang for him.
"Happy birthday!"
The cake was brought forward, and after he blew out the candles, everyone cheered.
Wine flowed.
Music filled the gardens, Conversations blended together as nobles moved from one group to another.
Yet Duncan felt strangely detached from it all, he looked around. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Everyone except him.He quietly slipped away from the crowd and headed towards the quieter side of the garden.
He needed air.
He needed silence.
He needed to stop thinking.
"Hello, sir." A woman's voice stopped him.
Duncan turned.
For a moment, he forgot what he had been thinking about. The woman standing before him was striking.
She was tall and graceful, with an elegant posture that immediately suggested she belonged among the nobles. Her skin was a rich olive-brown, glowing beneath the warm evening lanterns. Long, dark hair fell down her back, reaching almost to her waist, with a few loose strands framing her face.
Her cheekbones were sharply defined, while her full lips curved naturally into a soft smile, but her eyes were what caught Duncan's attention.
Electric green.
Bright.
Unusual.
Almost fiery.
They seemed strangely familiar, She wore an army-green gown embroidered with delicate brown patterns. The dress fitted her upper body gracefully before falling into a flowing skirt, while subtle gold jewellery adorned her neck and ears.
She looked elegant without appearing as though she had tried too hard.
Duncan stared.
The woman smiled knowingly. "Sir?"
Duncan blinked, suddenly realizing how long he had been looking at her.
"Forgive me." He gave her a charming smile. "How may I help you, pretty lady?"
She smiled.
"I seem to have lost my way. I'm looking for the entrance, but this mansion is much larger than I expected."
Duncan chuckled, "That it is." He offered his arm. "Allow me to show you."
She hesitated for only a moment before accepting, "Thank you."
As they walked through the garden, several guests glanced in their direction, not because of Duncan because of the woman beside him.
Duncan noticed the attention but ignored it, when they reached the entrance, the woman took a seat at a nearby table.
Duncan remained standing. "Is something wrong?"
She looked around, "No. I'm just looking for someone."
"Someone important?"
She smiled faintly, "Very."
Duncan raised a brow, "And who might that be?"
She looked back at him, "You ask many questions."
"Only when I'm interested."
She laughed softly, "Fair enough."
Duncan smiled, "Then at least tell me your name."
She held his gaze for a moment before answering. "Jasmine." A pause, "My name is Jasmine Clifford."
Duncan's smile slowly disappeared.
Clifford.
His eyes moved back to hers, those eyes, that calm smile, that name. His heart gave a sudden, uneasy beat.
No.
He stared at her again, he couldn't be... His thoughts raced.
"Nathaniel's sister?"