Chapter 132
132
+8 Pearls
Third Person’s POV
Ford’s expression darkened instantly , his brows furrowing in displeasure. “What nonsense are you spewing now?”
Lady Seraphina Duskgrave snapped like a beast cornered, screaming in his face, “Nonsense? I saw the pictures your mother sent you! It was that bitch Riley! You even said that as long as she was satisfied, you had no objections!”
“You think I don’t know? Your family just wants to replace me because I can’t give you an heir! You’re all so desperate to find someone young and fertile–like I’m the one to blame!”
“Is it my fault I can’t-
BANGI
A thunderous slap of a cane on wood silenced her. The sound echoed through the ballroom like a whip crack. Matriarch Duskgrave stood at the head of the long table, her face pale with fury, her aged hand trembling around her cane.
“That’s enough!” she thundered. “I sent those pictures to Ford so he’d recognize his future daughter–in–law!
The words crashed into the ballroom like a bolt of lightning.
Lady Seraphina’s smug expression froze mid–sentence.
Gasps erupted across the room.
The socialites who had helped Seraphina strip Riley and beat her now stood petrified, color draining from their faces. The realization hit like a guillotine: they hadn’t assaulted some lowborn rogue… they had laid their hands on the mate of the Stormridge Alpha Prince.
Dead silence fell.
Because everyone in Northhaven knew what Lucien Duskgrave was capable of.
And they especially knew what happened to anyone who dared hurt what was his.
The phrase Lucien had uttered earlier-“Think carefully about whether your body parts are worth more than the pain she endured“ -now became crystal clear.
Those women, who had moments ago gleefully laughed and clawed at Riley, now trembled like autumn leaves in a blizzard
Some fell to their knees in panic, crawling toward Matriarch Duskgrave in a desperate bid for mercy.
“Matriarch, we didn’t know please, it was all a misunderstanding.
“Forgive us, please!”
Matriarch Duskgrave didn’t even glance their way.
“You dared lay a hand on the girl I’ve already acknowledged ? Hurt her until her bones were nearly broken–and now want to leave?” she sneered Do you think this is a tavern brawl you can slink away from?”
Their husbands–powerful Beta heirs, merchants, councilmen–lud already rushed forward upon hearing the full truth Kage twisted their faces as they stared at their wives in dishclief and fury
“You laid hands on her?” one of the men growled, slapping his mate across the face. “You stupid fool, do you know w you se douet
In an instant chas exploded The men lashed out at the women who had shamed their names and dragged their families anto doo Screams echoed through the ballroom–not of Kiley this time but of the very women who had Laughed while kicking her
But
Ban the real terror still lingered in the air–thick and suffocating–as they all waited for Lucien Duskgrave to return.
PMP P.
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He hadn’t spoken of punishment yet.
But that silence was worse.
+8 Pearls
Lady Seraphina sat frozen on the floor, her nails digging into her arms, eyes wild with fear. Images of Lucien’s ruthlessness over the years played through her mind like a nightmare reel.
She remembered the stories.
Of how he’d handled rogues who chim of how, at only five years old , he’d pushed her down the marble staircase after
she’d caused his mother’s death. How he’d ordered doctors to take her womb–how he’d ensured she’d never bear a child again
He was no longer the boy she could lie to.
He had become a monster draped in civility, and that monster was coming back.
Ford watched Seraphina trembling, her body like a wind–struck leaf. A sliver of pity stirred in him. No matter how wrong she’d been, she was still his wife. And Riley was just a girl. A younger generation. Surely this didn’t need to become a blood feud
He sighed heavily, stepped up to Matriarch Duskgrave’s side, and attempted a softer tone.
“Mother, today’s your eightieth birthday. Let’s not escalate this. Lucien has always been impulsive. Maybe we should all just… calm down.”
But Matriarch Duskgrave’s response was anything but calm.
She turned with fire in her ancient eyes and slammed her cane hard against Ford’s thigh.
THUD
He staggered slightly, stunned.
“You still have the gall to speak up for her?” she hissed. “If it weren’t for you bringing that trash into this family, do you think Riley would have suffered like this?”
“My granddaughter –in–law–whom I handpicked–was humiliated, stripped, nearly killed at my own birthday banquet, and you ask me to stay calm ?! ”
Ford clenched his jaw, the sting of humiliation sharper than her cane. He glanced around at the crowd and then, in an effort to preserve some dignity, marched to the grand doors of the ballroom and tried to force them open.
They didn’t budge.
“Duke,” he called out sternly, voice laced with authority. “Open this door. Now.”
Lucien’s assistant remained calmly near the control panel , still smiling
“If the Chairman doesn’t want Alpha Lucien furious. I suggest he remains right where he is.”
Ford’s tone sharpened “I can have you dismissed in five seconds
Duke nodded. “I believe you . But for now I serve someone else.”
Ford’s fare turned an angry shade of red, fists clenched, but there was nothing more he could do
The others watched in hormar as even the Chairman was being openly denied.
Fear spread like wildfire
Lady Seraphina crumpled to the floor, her designer dress ruined her mind broken .
The other sociales, now black and blue from their husbands fury whimpered and prayed Lucien might take pity
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But none dared speak again.
+8 Pearls
The air inside the grand ballroom had turned to ice, thick with dread. And everyone understood the same terrifying truth:
Lucien Duskgrave wasn’t done yet.
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