He Chose Power, She Found Love

ora'

ught five years had dulled. The locket, once a symbol of hope, now felt like a

years

stumbled through my door, soaked to the bone, his face bruised and bleedin

held up the paper, his hand trembling. It was a rejection letter from a prestigious business program, the final blow to a string of failures. "This... this locket," he murmured, pulling out a cheap, tarnishe

t mirrored his despair. "I'm nothing, Elenora. A failure.

that, Clay," I'd murmured, stroking his wet hair. "You are not useless. You are

nora? Even if it takes everything? Even if I have to claw

promised, my voice firm. "I will be

' d kept the locket in his pocket, but I knew my words, my presenc

d called it a symbol of his "foolishness," a "weakness"

f the ballroom. "Are you going to stand there all day with that cheap trinket, or are you going to ha

gone. "On what grounds do you demand i

e kind of bespoke jewelry sometimes made for high-profile clients. Given your... appearance, and the circumstances,

es flashing with a cold fire. "This locket bel

your child? These are rare, custom-made pieces, often containing rare stones or intricate family crests. They don't just 'roll under d

to be seen as thorough. "The penalties for grand larceny, especially from an

ng around the locket. My chest felt tight,

partner'? You have no one, Elenora. No one to vouch for you. No one to save you. You're alone. And I, for one, am done entertaining your delusion

mall hand tugg

nd with a shock of dark, curly hair, stood

piercing through the tense

ed. Justus. My

found it, see?" I pulled the locket from my dress, showing him the gleami

lective ripple of shock

chi

child i

whispers, tinged wit

eel a powerful a

. royalty. U

der my arrest, stammered, his eyes glued to Ju

uickly morphed into a furious calculation, lunged forward. She

amily! He must be of noble blood! And she-" she pointed a trembling finger at me, "-is clearly not his

all hands reaching for me. "

screamed, addressing the shocked crowd. "This is a seriou

age. Accusations. A mob me

napp

! Stealing a

e probably snatched

rrest the filt

s face grim, nodded to h

. I struggled, my heart tearing at Justus's screams. "

do you really think anyone will believe that? Look at him. Look at

hing away from Destany, his cries echoing in

ragged wound. They were taking my son. My precious boy

spassing, grand larceny, and now, kidnapping. You have disgraced yourself. You have disgraced this event. You have disgraced me." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the

ntify that child. He certainly carries a powerful aura. A child of that caliber cannot be lef

my throat. My son. T

d broken. "He is mine! You can't

, though all the doors and windows were closed. A

ions of the building tremble. It was a silent roar, a palpable pressure that forced every single p

bly so, his presence radiating an authority that eclipsed every other person in the room. His eyes, th

mi

nt symbols, began to glow with an ethereal, silver light. The light spread, enveloping me, pushing back against the rough hands that held me, shat