Father hurled the papers to the ground, his eyes bloodshot with grief.
His heart brimmed with rage and despair.
Ophelia had taken advantage of Eleonora’s youthful empathy and unformed values. Gradually stripping her of everything.
And he he had fallen for it.
He had let this disgraceful woman stay under their roof.
He had driven out his own daughter.
And in the end, hadn’t even seen her one last time before she died.
Shameful. Pathetic.
Father broke down and screamed, collapsing to the floor, clutching his head like a weeping child.
Sebastian sat numbly, still holding Eleonora’s will.
There was no mention of him. No mention of Alexa.
Eleonora had given everything to the princess and left the remaining funds to the national t
She had never forgiven him.
What kind of despair must she have felt at the end, to leave out even her husband and son…
Ophelia stood frozen, cold sweat soaking her back, her heart pounding wildly.
She’d been found out.
All the secrets she had tried to bury were now exposed.
What should she do?
What could she do?
Suddenly, she grabbed her adoptive parents‘ legs and dropped to her knees.
“Father, Mother, none of this is true! Eleonora framed me!”
“Framed you?” Sebastian’s voice rang out coldly behind her.
Ophelia’s body trembled. She turned slowly and found Sebastian looking at her with terrifying
Chapter 10
success story de Vincent – fluid and captivating
- ry.
781
calm.
But behind that calm was an icy fury.
“She framed you? Framed you so thoroughly that you took all her property with signed deeds?”
“Framed you to the point you stole her only hope of survival–her Comfrey–and left her to die in pain?”
“Ophelia,” he gritted through clenched teeth, “you killed Eleonora.”
Mother shrieked and lunged, wrapping her hands around Ophelia’s neck.
“Give me back my daughter! Give her back!”
The scene devolved into chaos as the crowd on the street tried to restrain them.
But what good were tears and screams now?
Eleonora was dead. And she had died with regrets.
It took Mother a long time to calm down. She wiped her tears and stood, looking down at Ophelia.
“From today on, our Nocturne family will no longer recognize you, you venomous,
“And we’ll be suing you for every coin we spent on you all these years. You’ll pay bac
bit.”
‘ess girl.”
Very last
“It was my mistake to bring in a snake and let it take my daughter’s life. I swear I’ll see you
ruined.”
Ophelia panicked. “No! Don’t do this to me! Mother–Mrs. Nocturne!”
“You raised me all these years! Even if we didn’t share blood, surely there was some affection?”
“I didn’t mean to take Ellie’s things. She had so much! Even the crumbs from her fingers would’ve
fed me for life!”
“Please don’t abandon me. I’ll die I’ll be driven to death by that monster of a father!”
Mother shook off her hand with a frosty glare.
“Our family was deceived. Our daughter is gone, but you won’t remain with us.”
“Your biological father is here. Go back to him. It’s better for both sides.”
With that, she took Father and walked away. Sebastian followed silently behind.
Chapter 10
Ophelia threw herself at him, clinging to his leg.
“Your Grace! Don’t go!”
“You said you’d marry me. Let’s get married now! I’m ready!”
“Alexa likes me–she definitely does, even if Eleonora is gone. I like you too!”
“I liked you from the moment I first saw you! Now that the Nocturne family has abandoned me, you
can’t abandon me too!”
Sebastian turned and looked at her tear–streaked face.
“I only noticed you in the first place because of Ellie. But I’ve never had feelings for you.”
“And you—what right do you have to compare yourself to Alexa’s mother?”
He shook off her hand and left, leaving Ophelia standing alone.
“But didn’t all of you kill Eleonora too? It wasn’t just me!”
The only answer she received was the sound of the wind.
Ophelia slumped to the ground, her body cold.
Princess Emily watched it all unfold, her expression icy–but her eyes quietly turned red.
She looked down at the documents in her hands, a wave of pain washing over her.
Eleonora, your “gift” to Ophelia worked.
Did you see it from haven?
