From Shadows, A Queen Reclaims Her Reign

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t moments before. It hung heavy in the air, thick with unspoken shock and fear. Every gaze, from the startled socia

ny of bruises and strained muscles, but I walked with a purpose that belied the pain. My eyes, still stinging from Kesha's sl

ment, as if her touch had suddenly become contaminated. His jaw worked, trying to form words, but none came out. The man who had ju

, yes, but it was almost immediately replaced by a surge of defiant anger. She was a survivor, a manipulator. She wouldn't fold so easily. Sh

Her voice was shrill, desperate, but I caught the subtle, calculating glint in her

my voice flat, directed at Kesha but primarily intended for

are you doing here? Th-this is my home. You shouldn't be here." He tr

And yet, I seem to recall a certain 'lunatic' being dragged out of her own gallery less than an hour

face a mottled red. "You've caused a scene. You've upset

ures, smoothed over his indiscretions. I looked at him, truly looked at him, and saw not a father, but a fragile, self-serving man clinging

tly, Edward? For having the audacity to exist? For daring to claim what

ng to manipulate you! She's lying!" She shot me a triumphant, venomous look, her eyes dari

And I knew, with a chilling certainty, that he would fail. My heart, which had been a raw, bleeding

ss. She then called her guards, your guards, to physically assault me and lock me in a storage room. And when I called you, you ignored me. You let it

m even tighter, her face a mixture of fear and defiance. "Evelina, you're exaggerating! Kesha wa

d a punch to my gut, a kick to my shin, and a face covered in blood? A misunderstanding

!" Kesha cried, her voice cracking with feigned v

ce. His resolve, if it ever existed, wavered. He chose her. He a

. It's... it's a shock. She was just protecting our home. If you just leave now, quietly, we can talk later. I'll make sure Kesha apologizes, perhaps. But this... thi

I had sacrificed, the sleepless nights, the relentless work, all to build an empire that allowed him to live this lavish, consequence-free life. I

the air like ice. "We won't talk later. And K

ce, their faces reflecting a mixture of confusion and morbid fascination. My personal security detai

or creeping into them. He seemed to s

dialed a number, then placed the phone on speaker, holding it up fo

ing with an authority that left no room for doubt. "I need

isp voice on the other end. "Ms. King, th

ault, Battery, and attempted extortion committed by Kesha Poole, who is currently present here. I have suffered significant physical injury, and I

out a short, sharp cry. They looked at me, the

gaze sweeping over Edward, then back to Kesha, whose false tear

crumbling before her eyes. Edward, next to her, looked as if he had just seen a ghost, his face drained of all color. His caref