From Shadows, A Queen Reclaims Her Reign

ina

ashen grey. Her mouth gaped open, but no sound came out for a moment, only

clawed at his arm, her manicured nails digging into his expensive suit jacket. Her

ut for himself. He was already calculating the potential damage to his carefully cultiv

er and terror. He tried to sound indignant, but the tremor in his voice betrayed him. "

dward. Not me. When you chose to abandon me, to deny me, to allow your fian

ts, a desperate appeal in his eyes. "Please, everyone, this is just a misunderstanding. A family matter

ice officers, their faces stern and unyielding, stepped inside, followe

k to her. I'll make sure she apologizes. Just tell the officers it was a mistake. Please." He even tried to step in front of Kesha, a pat

y, and attempted extortion. My lawyer, Marcus Thorne, has all the details and evidence. The suspect, Kesha Poole

his gaze-respect, perhaps recognition of the power I wielded. Then, he turned to Edward, his expression hardening into

" Sergeant Miller commanded,

ée and his fear of defying authority. He looked at Kesha, then at

ine terror. She tried to cling to him, but Edward, paralyzed by fear and

imply walked around him. One officer took Kesha's a

sha screamed, lashing out, but t

ttempted extortion. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court

betraying me!" Kesha wailed, her eyes wid

fiancée was handcuffed, his face a mask of shame and utter impotence. The clinking

ed away. "You'll regret everything!" She was dragged past Edward, past the sh

n eerie silence. The air thrummed with unspoken tension. From the street below, t

ng eye contact. The illusion of his popularity, his influence, shattered as swiftly

im from head to toe. He turned to me, his face contorted w

is! You ruined everything! My party, my reputation, my engag

hat 'destroying a life' truly means. Kesha acted on your behalf. She believed your lies. And you

e of me! You were always so controlling, Evelina! Always trying to dictate my life, m

ntment and something else-a pathetic, self-pitying rage. "You ruin

urious gaze, my own eyes devoid of all warmth, all feeling. This was the man I had sacrificed

s, Edward? This fragile facade, built on lies and my money? You think being with a

f martial arts training, of rigorous self-defense, kicked in. My body moved fluidly, instinctively. I sidestepped his clumsy attack, my hand

red at me, his eyes wide with shock, not just from the physical impact, but from the raw, unleashed