The Road Not Taken ARS

MovieNightsHub

7 hours ago

Transcript

00:00:00a billionaire from the west coast. The other was Victor. Inside a gothic cathedral stood two men

00:00:05looking for wives. One was Jace, a billionaire from the west coast. The other was Victor,

00:00:10a small-time thug from the east coast. For the sake of a massive bride price,

00:00:14our powerful stepmother made us choose which one we would marry. In my last life,

00:00:18my younger sister Lily rushed to choose Jace, the billionaire, and she pushed Victor,

00:00:23that low-life thug, onto me. But no one expected that five years later,

00:00:29Jace would go completely bankrupt, and Lily would have no choice but to move with him into a leaking

00:00:33slum. As for that thug Victor, he carved a bloody path across the east coast and became a mafia

00:00:39godfather who struck fear into everyone who heard his name. I became the mafia matriarch countless

00:00:44people tried to curry favor with. Luxury cars and yachts, whenever I went out, money spent like water.

00:00:50When I saw Lily starving in the slums, picking up discarded vegetable leaves,

00:00:53I kindly handed her a check for one million dollars to help improve her life,

00:00:57but she tore the check to pieces, clamped both hands around my throat, and dragged me towards a

00:01:01speeding truck. Give me back the life that should have been mine! The truck roared past and Lily and

00:01:06I died together. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to five years ago, to the day Jace

00:01:13and

00:01:13Victor came to choose their wives.

00:01:17I like wild men! I'm going with you!

00:01:22As if she had already decided that in this life, she would become the mafia matriarch and crush me completely

00:01:29under her feet.

00:01:30I knew then that Lily had been reborn too. She thought she had stolen my life. But I only found

00:01:37it funny.

00:01:38Victor was no devoted underworld boss from some mafia movie. He was a demon who took pleasure in tormenting people.

00:01:45The only reason Victor became a mafia godfather in my last life was because of the leadership I gave him

00:01:50from behind the scenes.

00:01:51Even so, Victor still broke one hundred ninety-nine of my bones. I looked at Lily's relieved expression and curved

00:01:58my lips.

00:01:59You think you're about to live a glorious life above everyone else? But you have no idea. This road will

00:02:05only drag you into hell.

00:02:07Lily thought that throwing herself into Victor's arms would guarantee he would take her in. But Victor shoved her away

00:02:13and fixed his gaze on me.

00:02:15Come here. I want you.

00:02:18My heart trembled. Fear flooded over me like a tide. Memories from my last life poured into my mind in

00:02:23an instant.

00:02:23Being chained in his basement and beaten. Being handed to other gangs as a hostage and violated. Having my bones

00:02:29shattered for human experiments.

00:02:31I froze where I stood, unable to move even half a step. Lily panicked at the sight.

00:02:35Don't choose my sister Chloe. She's vain and greedy, always thinking about diamonds and sports cars.

00:02:41How could she possibly endure your dangerous bloodstake life?

00:02:45She looks down on you, but I'm willing to suffer with you.

00:02:51Fine. Then you'll be my woman. As long as you behave and do what I say, I'll make sure you

00:02:58can walk all over this street.

00:03:00I believe you. I'll do whatever you say.

00:03:04At that moment, Jace, who stood beside us, held out an expensive wedding gown to me.

00:03:09Will you be my wife and leave with me?

00:03:12I'm currently facing a financial crisis.

00:03:16But I promise you, even if I lose everything, I'll never let you go hungry.

00:03:21Without hesitation, I placed my hand in his palm.

00:03:25I will. I knew very well that Jace was an exceptional man.

00:03:28In my last life, after Jace went bankrupt, even when he had to work three jobs a day, he still

00:03:33saved the last piece of bread for Lily.

00:03:35But Lily cursed him all day long, calling him useless.

00:03:37Since you're too blessed to appreciate him, then he'll be mine.

00:03:41When Lily climbed onto Victor's battered motorcycle, she turned back and whispered to me.

00:03:45Jace is about to go bankrupt and end up on the street.

00:03:48Victor will fight his way back into high society sooner or later.

00:03:51Chloe, in this life, you can wait in the gutter and look up at me.

00:03:56So she knew I had been reborn too, and she thought she had stolen my life.

00:04:00I watched the motorcycle roar away and sneered in the loop.

00:04:03Only I knew Victor would treat the woman beside him like a machine until he had squeezed out every last

00:04:08drop of value.

00:04:09In my last life, when I first followed Victor back to the East Coast, I had naively believed he was

00:04:14a good man too.

00:04:14He bought me the most expensive dresses and took me in and out of the top underground casinos.

00:04:19Even though back then, I was so afraid I could barely walk, he brainwashed me, telling me this was the

00:04:25unique love a man who lived on the edge had for me.

00:04:28Until one day, his gang hit a dead end.

00:04:31Without hesitation, he chained me up and handed me over to a rival gang.

00:04:36I was abused by those vile men for two full years.

00:04:40Only then did understand that Victor had only ever seen me as a scapegoat he could discard at any time.

00:04:48Chloe, welcome home.

00:04:51Jace's gentle voice sounded beside me.

00:04:53I followed Jace into the villa.

00:04:55The moment he opened the door, I froze.

00:04:58It was a luxurious dressing room filled with limited edition gowns from the current season.

00:05:03Brilliant jewels flashed almost blindingly under the lights.

00:05:06My eyes warmed.

00:05:08Jace, thank you.

00:05:09I've never seen such a beautiful place.

00:05:12Since you've come home with me, you're the mistress of this house.

00:05:16Swipe the card for anything you want.

00:05:22I'll never let my woman suffer the slightest grievous.

00:05:26Warmth rushed through my chest.

00:05:29Even though his company was currently being jointly stingled by Wall Street, he still gave me the very best.

00:05:36I'll behave.

00:05:38Facts proved that Jace was the perfect gentleman.

00:05:41He cherished me like a priceless treasure.

00:05:44My food, clothes, and daily necessities were all top tier.

00:05:47But he didn't know that I was no longer the fallen heiress who only knew how to enjoy herself.

00:05:54In my last life, I hid behind the scenes and helped Victor build a massive mafia empire.

00:06:00In this life, I could help Jace protect everything too.

00:06:05I walked straight into his study and picked up the financial reports on his desk.

00:06:12Since you're protecting me, I'll protect your business empire for you.

00:06:18Only three days later, Wall Street's hunt began.

00:06:21Jace's enemies had brabbed an executive in his company.

00:06:23They planned to present a fake report at the board meeting and force Jace out.

00:06:26In my last life, Jace fell at this very step.

00:06:29Not only did he go bankrupt, he was also saddled with massive debt.

00:06:32But in this life, I was here.

00:06:34My experience laundering money for Victor in my past life made me intimately familiar with these kinds of business tactics.

00:06:40I hacked directly into that traitorous executive's email, obtained ironclade proof that they had falsified the data, and sent it

00:06:45straight to the FBI.

00:06:46Not only that, I also used a black card Jace had given me to set a financial trap in the

00:06:50futures market.

00:06:51Jace, this time you won't lose.

00:06:54That night, a top charity gala was held in Manhattan.

00:06:57I held Jace's arm and stepped out of a Rolls Royce.

00:07:00But unexpectedly, I ran into Lily there.

00:07:03Victor was nothing but an up-and-coming street thug.

00:07:05He had no qualifications to attend such an event.

00:07:07Clearly, Lily had forced Victor to fortune-buying invitations so she could show off her mafia wife persona.

00:07:11Lily arrogantly blocked my path.

00:07:13Chloe, what a surprise!

00:07:15Jace, that loser who's going bankrupt tonight, actually managed to borrow money to rent you a gown?

00:07:20You have no idea how amazing Victor is!

00:07:23He took over three blocks of territory.

00:07:24The cash he brings home could fill a bathtub!

00:07:28See that?

00:07:28He assigned me fully armed bodyguards to protect me, and every day he has people stew the finest supplements for

00:07:33me!

00:07:34You'll never experience this kind of love in your life!

00:07:37I looked at her nouveau riche posturing and smeared again and again in my heart.

00:07:41Bodyguards? Supplements?

00:07:43Lily had no idea that Victor's frantic territorial expansion had already angered several old mafia families.

00:07:49He gave Lily bodyguards to disguise her as a top priority target and draw assassin fire.

00:07:54He fed her expensive supplements so he could draw her healthy blood

00:07:58and trade it to high-level figures on the underground black market in exchange for resources and life extension.

00:08:03I looked at Lily with pity.

00:08:05She wasn't far from death.

00:08:07Seeing me silent, Lily thought she had hit a sore point and laughed even more wildly.

00:08:13I just heard several Wall Street big shots say that after tonight, Jace will have nothing!

00:08:18She leaned closer and lowered her voice.

00:08:21When that happens, you'll have to sell yourself in the slums to pay off his debts.

00:08:25The throne above everyone else is mine in the end.

00:08:33I smiled.

00:08:34Then let's wait and see.

00:08:36When Lily saw that I wasn't intimidated at all, she stomped her foot hard.

00:08:41Chloe!

00:08:42Just you wait!

00:08:43Sooner or later, you'll be kneeling and begging me!

00:08:47She turned and walked toward Eric, the crown prince of Wall Street, picked up a glass of champagne and tried

00:08:53to build a connection.

00:08:55Mr. Eric, Victor asked me to send you his regards.

00:08:58From now on, he'll have your East Coast business covered.

00:09:02Eric didn't even look at her, before knocking over his glass with the back of his hand.

00:09:09What gutter rat thinks she's worthy of cozying up to me?

00:09:13But on TV, you clearly said you respected people who would do whatever it took to climb up.

00:09:17That's me!

00:09:18How can you look down on me?!

00:09:20Watching this, I couldn't help finding it funny.

00:09:22In my last life, after Victor became a mafia godfass, Eric did indeed fawn over me like a dog.

00:09:28But Lily didn't know that the current Victor was nowhere near qualified.

00:09:32Capitalists like Eric only respected absolute power.

00:09:34They would never spare a second glance for a street thug's woman.

00:09:38A cheap whore who eats off gangsters has no right to dirty my suit.

00:09:46Mrs. Jace, congratulations to Mr. Jace on his perfect towner attack in the futures market tonight, earning a net profit

00:09:53of one billion!

00:09:54Wall Street will be relying on you from now on!

00:09:57Lily froze where she stood, shaking her head in disbelief.

00:10:00What nonsense are you talking about?! Jace is supposed to go bankrupt tonight! Victor is the future godfather!

00:10:04She suddenly lunged at Eric.

00:10:05Eric, open your eyes!

00:10:06You should be working with me!

00:10:07Eric shoved her to the floor, his face full of disgust.

00:10:09Who collects protection money?

00:10:10Tonight, some other family will throw him into the sea to feed the sharks.

00:10:13What mafia matriarch fantasy are you having?

00:10:15The surrounding elite covered their ears and laughed, their gazes as sharp as knives.

00:10:19So she's a lunatook trying to use a thug to climb into power!

00:10:22Hurry up and call security to throw this bitch out! She's dirtying our eyes!

00:10:25Humiliated to the bone, Lily climbed up from the floor and glared at everyone with hatred.

00:10:28Victor, pull out your gun! Show them who the king of the East Coast really is!

00:10:31The doors to the banquet hall were kicked open. Victor stormed in arrogantly, with a dozen tattooed men, all carrying

00:10:36machetes.

00:10:37Who the fuck dares touch my woman?!

00:10:39Eric sneered. In an instant, dozens of armed Blackwater bodyguards surged out from every direction.

00:10:43Red laser sights locked onto Victor's forehead and chest in munisys.

00:10:46Victor's legs went weak. With a thud, he dropped to his knees.

00:10:49Mr. Eric, misunderstanding! This crazy bitch lost her mind! It has nothing to do with me!

00:10:53Victor, what are you saying?!

00:10:54Shut up! Who gave you the right to speak here?!

00:10:57To distance himself from her, he crawled over, grabbed Lily by the hair, and slapped her across the face again

00:11:02and again, more than a dozen times.

00:11:05Blood filled the corners of Lily's mouth. Her soul seemed to leave her body as he slapped her over and

00:11:10over.

00:11:10No! It shouldn't be like this!

00:11:13The entire hall fell into dead silence. Jace calmly set down his wine glass and shielded me behind him.

00:11:18He leisurely wiped a drop of wine from the hem of his jacket. Every movement refined and elegant.

00:11:23He was worlds apart from Victor, who had just been wagging his tail and begging.

00:11:27If you're not gone in one minute, all of you are going into the sea.

00:11:32After dropping that threat, Eric strode away with his bodyguards. Lily seized the chance to break free from Victor and

00:11:38stumbled toward the door.

00:11:38You all look down on me today, but sooner or later you'll regret it! I will become a mafia godmother!

00:11:44Because her pride had been completely trampled, Lily never again had the face to appear in public after that day.

00:11:52Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

00:11:54In my last life, these three months were exactly the death trap.

00:12:00When Victor's territory was jointly purged by the major mafia families.

00:12:04To borrow money from a Mexican drug lord for weapons, he personally pushed me onto an underground gambling table.

00:12:11Those desperados shoved a loaded Resolvor into my mouth and forced me to play Russian Silet.

00:12:20Each time the trigger was pulled, Victor showed no heartache at all.

00:12:25Instead, he held other women and laughed loudly as he placed his bets.

00:12:30The despair of that cold gun barrel pressed against my throat utterly shredded my dignity as a human being.

00:12:38In his eyes, I had never been a mafia matriarch.

00:12:42I was only a chip he could trade for money at any time.

00:12:47I didn't know whether Lily would experience all of that.

00:12:52But based on my observation of Victor in this life, he would only torment Lily even more viciously.

00:12:58Facts proved my guess was right.

00:13:01The next morning, I had just walked out of an upscale clubhouse,

00:13:04when a battered pickup car riddled with bullet holes came barreling towards me like mad.

00:13:09A bodyguard threw me to the ground, and the pickup slammed into a stone pillar beside us with a crash.

00:13:19Lily's shrill voice came from inside.

00:13:22Chloe, get out here!

00:13:25My heart jolted. Lily had come.

00:13:34Although I had prepared myself, when I saw what she looked like now, I nearly vomited.

00:13:40I never imagined Victor would torture Lily into such a state.

00:13:44Lily tumbled out of the bullet-rivet old pickup.

00:13:47Her once delicate face was sun and deathly pale.

00:13:50Beneath her expensive silk-slip dress, her body was covered in bruises and needle marks.

00:13:54She crawled toward me and clung tightly to my leg.

00:13:57Chloe! Let's switch back!

00:13:59Snot and tears mixed together on her face, making her look both pitiful and disgusting.

00:14:04That lunatic Victor has been losing territory lately, and he's taking all his anger out on me!

00:14:09He draws my blood every day to sell it, and he forces me to accompany those perverts so he can

00:14:15win resources!

00:14:16She suddenly lifted her head and shouted with righteous confidence.

00:14:19You clearly knew this life would be so miserable! Why didn't you warn me?

00:14:24This was supposed to be your suffering! Let's switch back now!

00:14:28You go be Victor's dog, and I'll be your rich wife!

00:14:31Hearing such shameless words, I sneered and kicked her away.

00:14:37Switch back? Lily? Did they beat your brain broken?

00:14:41I looked down at her from above.

00:14:43Who was the one who rushed to climb onto Victor's motorcycle?

00:14:51Who was the one who gloated and mocked me, saying I could only look up at you from the slums?

00:14:58She lay on the ground, pounding the pavement in a frenzy as she screamed.

00:15:02That's because you tricked me!

00:15:05You hid from me what would happen if I chose Victor!

00:15:10But don't get too pleased with yourself!

00:15:12A flash of vicious, sick pleasure crossed Lily's eyes.

00:15:15According to how things went in the last life,

00:15:18that useless Jace is going completely bankrupt today!

00:15:22When that happens, you won't even be able to afford the slums!

00:15:25You'll have to beg on the street!

00:15:27The words had barely left her mouth.

00:15:3112 Rolls Royce phantoms roared to a stop in front of us,

00:15:35sealing off the entire street.

00:15:37The car doors opened.

00:15:40Dressed in a custom suit,

00:15:41strode toward us surrounded by dozens of Blackwater bodyguards.

00:15:44Seeing such an astonishing scene's throat tightened,

00:15:46a sharp swallow betraying her shock.

00:15:48Impossible! You're supposed to go bankrupt today!

00:15:51How could you still have money?

00:15:52But she instantly reacted.

00:15:54Now was the time to cling to power.

00:15:55She shoved me aside and rushed toward two,

00:15:57deliberately exposing her collarbones and leaning close as she pleaded sweetly.

00:16:01Mr. Monsieur, don't be deceived by my sister!

00:16:03She's a demon to the bone!

00:16:05Sooner or later, she'll destroy your business empire!

00:16:07Lifted her head pitifully.

00:16:09Only a clean woman like me is worthy of your wealth.

00:16:11As long as you want me-

00:16:12Get away!

00:16:13Didn't even spare her a sidelong glance.

00:16:15He walked straight past her and came to me.

00:16:18He took out an expensive handkerchief and,

00:16:20with aching tenderness,

00:16:22wiped the dust grabbed onto the hem of my clothes.

00:16:24Then he turned and looked down at her.

00:16:27If she really is a demon, then I'd willingly offer her my soul.

00:16:31Besides, she's the one who helped me dominate Wall Street.

00:16:34Chloe is my only woman.

00:16:36As for you, you're not even worthy of carrying her shoes.

00:16:38Picture One looked as if she had been struck by lightning.

00:16:41Jealousy twisted her features.

00:16:43She screamed and tried to lunge forward again.

00:16:45No! This life should be mine!

00:16:49Just then, an old unlicensed van screeched to a stop by the roadside.

00:16:54Two tattooed thugs jumped out,

00:16:57grabbed her by the hair, and dragged her viciously toward the van.

00:17:01Filthy bitch! How dare you run out and play victim!

00:17:04Boss Victor is waiting for you to come back!

00:17:06We haven't drawn enough blood today!

00:17:08Watching the van speed away, I frowned.

00:17:11Special supplements?

00:17:13Had Victor come up with some new trick again?

00:17:15The instincts I had developed in my last life while managing Victor's underground industries told me this was absolutely not

00:17:20simple.

00:17:21After returning to the Manishin, I immediately locked the study-a-door and turned off the computer.

00:17:25Relying my understanding of Victor's cratic network from my Yen-P, the Uthry,

00:17:29bypassed the firewall with ease,

00:17:31and hacked directly into the underground medical system he had recently connected.

00:17:35In an encrypted purchase list, I found the true ingredients of those special supplements.

00:17:40The moment I clicked it open, a chill crawled up my spine.

00:17:43They weren't supplements at all.

00:17:44They were living organ rejection suppressors, a substance explicitly banned on the dark web.

00:17:49So that was it.

00:17:50Victor's frantic expansion had angered the old mafia, and his cash flow had completely collapsed.

00:17:56To repay his debts, he had accepted a live organ order from a sick drug lord.

00:18:02Victor fed her that drug every day and kept her well-fed.

00:18:05Not because he cherished her, because he was treating her like a mobable organ incubator.

00:18:09Ensuring that her heart and corneals would perfectly match the buyer's body when they were dug out.

00:18:15Ridiculous, Lily.

00:18:15She thought she had stolen my script as mafia matriarch, and ran around showing off that exclusive love,

00:18:22never knowing she was walking step by step towards the slaughterhouse.

00:18:25I scrolled to the last line of the order.

00:18:28The system showed that the harvest delivery date was three days later, at an East Coast elite charity gala.

00:18:34I curved my lips coldly.

00:18:36The show was about to begin.

00:18:38On the night of the delivery, the East Coast's most prestigious charity gala was held at a Manhattan hotel.

00:18:44And at that moment, she knew nothing about death's arrival.

00:18:47Because she had been taking that illegal rejection-suppressing drug for so long,

00:18:50her body was already on the verge of collapse.

00:18:52She could barely take two steps without losing her breath.

00:18:55But she still believed it was only weakness caused by Victor's abuse.

00:18:58She stole an invitation from Victor's drawer, covered her corpse pale face with thick foundation, and snuck into the gala.

00:19:04Amid the glittering crowd, she immediately set her sights on a gray-haired Wall Street magnetet.

00:19:08She used the same old trick, forcing tears into her eyes as she pressed herself delicately against the magnet's arm.

00:19:13Sir, please save me. Victor, that thug keeps torturing me.

00:19:16As long as you're willing to pay to take me away, I'll do anything for you.

00:19:19She looked at the magnet with expectation, thinking that with her looks, finding a new patron would be easy.

00:19:24The magnet held his glass of red wine and looked her up and down.

00:19:27But there was no desire in his eyes.

00:19:30Take you away.

00:19:34Poor little thing, don't you know?

00:19:37Victor already pre-sold your heart and cornelized to me yesterday.

00:19:42I'm your buyer.

00:19:45The moment you heard that, the fanging expression on her face froze.

00:19:50All the blood in her body seemed to turn to ice.

00:19:53What did you say?

00:19:57What did you say?

00:19:58My heart, my corneals?

00:20:00Her mind exploded with a buzz.

00:20:02She finally understood what those expensive supplements really were.

00:20:05The mafia love she had been so proud of had been nothing more than fattening her like a pig for

00:20:09slaughter from beginning to end.

00:20:11No, no, no!

00:20:13She shoved the magnet away and fled through the banquet hall like a mad woman, not even noticing when one

00:20:18of her high heels fell off.

00:20:19She crashed head first into me, as I stood arm in arm with the man, chatting and laughing with the

00:20:24mayor.

00:20:25Bang!

00:20:26When she saw it was me, she seemed to seize the last straw of hope.

00:20:29With a thud, she dropped to her knees at my feet and slammed her head against the floor again and

00:20:34again.

00:20:34Sister, I was wrong! I really was wrong!

00:20:37She cock-o-ed until blood streamed down her forehead, wailing missibly.

00:20:41Victor wants to cut out my heart!

00:20:46I'll never fight you for anything again, please!

00:20:49I looked down at her from above, my eyes utterly unmoved.

00:20:52You chose your own road.

00:20:55I coldly pulled back the hem of my dress.

00:20:57If you walk into hell yourself, don't blame others for not reaching out.

00:21:01Lily collapsed to the floor in despair.

00:21:03Just then, the doors to the banquet hall were kicked open.

00:21:06First third one swaggered in with several armed, tattooed men.

00:21:09In his hand was a huge, thick four.

00:21:12A sinister smile hung on his lips as he walked step-by-step towards Sir Larm on the floor.

00:21:18Found you, nutty.

00:21:20Seeing the man approach with the sedative, the girl scrambled backward in terror, screaming like a pig being slaughtered.

00:21:26The distinguished guests at the gala were terrified.

00:21:29The man shouted...

00:21:30I'm only here to take my goods today!

00:21:32Anyone who dares call the cops, I'll kill their whole family!

00:21:35Standing beside one, I watched the farce coldly.

00:21:39Not only did I not hide, I took my phone out of my clutch.

00:21:43Save Lily? Impossible.

00:21:45But I would never pass up the chance to crush Victor completely.

00:21:48My slender fingers tapped rapidly across the screen, activating the trojan I had set up in advance.

00:21:53In less than three seconds, Victor's thirteen money laundering accounts on the global dark internet were wiped clean and frozen.

00:21:59At the same time, he elegantly pressed the send button on his log, packaging and sending the complete surveillance footage

00:22:03and evidence chain of Victor's live organ transaction tonight to the FBI in one minute.

00:22:07The next second, police sirens and red-dew flashing lights pierced through the banquet hall.

00:22:11Dozens of SWAT-armored vehicles blocked the entrance so tightly that not even water could pass.

00:22:14Boss! All our accounts have been frozen! The place is crawling with cops!

00:22:17One's men stared at their phones in terror.

00:22:18One's face went deathly pale, as if he had fallen into an ice pit.

00:22:21What? What's going on?

00:22:23He could no longer care about anything else.

00:22:24He lunged at her and stabbed the thick syringe viciously into her neck.

00:22:27Everybody stay the fuck back!

00:22:31Anyone moves, and I'll blow this bitch's head off!

00:22:37The entire tube of illegal green liquid was pushed into Lily's veins.

00:22:40It wasn't an ordinary sedative, but a high concentration, manor-inducing blood.

00:22:43In less than two seconds, Lily's eyes flooded blood-red, and the veins on her neck bulged like earthworms.

00:22:48Her entire body lost all sense of pain and reason.

00:22:50She stared fixedly at me, dazzling and glamorous, protected in Jace's arms.

00:22:54The extreme resentment of being chandled underfoot erupted completely under the drug's effects.

00:22:58I was reborn too, so why do you get to live so well?!

00:23:01Lily let out a beast-like howl that barely sounded human.

00:23:03She actually bit into Victor's arm and tore off a large chunk of flesh.

00:23:06Victor screamed and let go.

00:23:07Like a vengeful ghost, Lily grabbed a sharp, broken wine bottle from the table and charged wildly at my face.

00:23:12I'll ruin you! Go to hell with me!

00:23:15She was extremely fat, but didn't even blink.

00:23:17Before she could get within half a meter of me,

00:23:19Jace lifted his long leg and delivered a ruthlessly clean sidekick straight to Lily's chest.

00:23:23Lily flew out like a torn sack.

00:23:25With a crash, she smashed heavily into the five-tier champagne tower.

00:23:27Glass shards pierced her entire body, and blood gushed out.

00:23:30Lying in a pool of blood, she vomited blood while pointing at me and laughing madly.

00:23:34Jace! Don't be fooled by her!

00:23:36Lily shrieked hysterically, trying to use her final TROPSOD to destroy me.

00:23:40She's a reborn woman! In her last life, she was a demon with blood all over her hands!

00:23:45She only chose you because she knew you would become rich in this life!

00:23:49She doesn't love you at all!

00:23:55The entire room fell silent. Blood filled Lily's mouth as she looked at Jace smugly,

00:24:00thinking that exposing the secret of rebirth at me with disgust, she screamed.

00:24:05In her last life, you were picking through trash in the slums while she was all-powerful mafia matriarch!

00:24:11You're just a tool she's using!

00:24:12Everyone waited for Jace's reaction.

00:24:14I stood where I was and looked at him calmly.

00:24:16Jace looked down at Lily on the floor, his lips curling in a cold smile.

00:24:20If that's true, then I really should thank you for your stupidity in this life.

00:24:24Jace's voice was low and dominating.

00:24:26Thank you for personally pushing such a perfect wife into my arms.

00:24:30Just then, SWAT officers broke through the doors.

00:24:32Don't move! Drop your weapons!

00:24:36The scene descended instantly into chaos.

00:24:39Seeing that the tide had turned, Victor grabbed a chair and smashed the floor to Sleeling window.

00:24:43In the final second before he leapt into the cold seawater, Victor stared hard at me,

00:24:47shielded in Jace's arms my eyes cold.

00:24:49In her last life, she was the all-powerful mafia matriarch.

00:24:52In his mind, the sentence Lily had shouted,

00:24:56It was her?

00:24:58Cold seawater choked his windpipe.

00:25:00Victor swam desperately through the sewer like a stray dog that had lost its home.

00:25:04But Lily's words from the gala kept replaying in his mind.

00:25:06In her last life, she was the all-powerful mafia matriarch.

00:25:10Victor fled back to the moldy-smelling basement and looked at the territory he had now lost completely.

00:25:14His heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer.

00:25:16He suddenly remembered many details from his last life.

00:25:19In his last life, every time his gang hit a dead end,

00:25:21he would somehow receive intelligence to solve it the next day.

00:25:24He had thought Lily was born blessed with good fortune,

00:25:26so each time he had placed Lily high on a pedestal.

00:25:28But in this life, Lily, who carried memories too,

00:25:31was a fool who didn't even understand mafia slang,

00:25:33and only knew how to cry for designer brands.

00:25:35And just now at the gala, the way Chloe froze his overseas dark web accounts

00:25:39was exactly like the mysterious strategist behind the scenes from his last life.

00:25:43Victor understood in an instant.

00:25:45It was Chloe.

00:25:46The one who helped me conquer everything in my last life!

00:25:49The one who shielded me from danger was Chloe all along!

00:25:52Victor's knees went weak, and he dropped onto the damp floor.

00:25:56He finally realized that with his own hands,

00:25:59he had thrown away a queen who could have helped him dominate the world,

00:26:02only to pick up a useless blood bag that had drained him dry.

00:26:07Victor's bloodshot eyes locked onto a financial magazine photo of Jace and Chloe on the wall.

00:26:13He punched the frame to pieces.

00:26:15Chloe is mine!

00:26:16She belongs to me!

00:26:19Three days later, in the underground parking garage of the J group,

00:26:23I had just stepped out of my private elevator,

00:26:25when a foul-smelling, unshaven man suddenly lunged out from behind a load-carrying pollen.

00:26:32Chloe! I finally found you!

00:26:34It was Victor!

00:26:35With a heavy thud, he dropped to his knees in front of me.

00:26:38Ignoring the muddy water on the ground,

00:26:40he sobbed and slapped himself across the face again and again.

00:26:43I was wrong, Chloe! I was blinded by that idiot Lily!

00:26:46I was blind as a dog!

00:26:47He shuffled forward on his knees,

00:26:49trying to hug my leg,

00:26:50crying until his face was covered in snot and tears.

00:26:53You're my woman!

00:26:54As long as you come back,

00:26:55we can join hands like in our last life and take Jace money!

00:26:59We're the destined king and queen of the underworld!

00:27:02Looking at him so utterly pathetic,

00:27:03I felt only nausea.

00:27:05I pressed the red emergency alarm on my car key.

00:27:09The piercing alarm instantly echoed through the garage.

00:27:12Victor panicked and still tried to forcibly drag me.

00:27:15A dark figure flashed past.

00:27:17Jace, like a leopard, kicked Victor three meters away.

00:27:20Jace unbuttoned his suit jacket unhastingly and handed it to the bodyguard behind him.

00:27:24His eyes held a terrifying violence.

00:27:26Victor, you're not only blind, you're hopelessly stupid.

00:27:31Jace!

00:27:32You're nothing but a pretty boy living off a woman!

00:27:36Driven into a corner,

00:27:37Victor erupted with a desperado's ferocity.

00:27:40He pulled out a switchblade and roared as he lunged at Jace.

00:27:43But he had no idea what kind of monster he was facing.

00:27:46Jace didn't even dodge.

00:27:48He shifted slightly to avoid the blade,

00:27:49then caught Victor's wrist in a backhand grip and snapped it hard.

00:27:52The crisp sound of breaking bone rang out.

00:27:54Victor let out a pig-like scream and the knife fell to the floor.

00:27:57Then Jace drove his knee upward,

00:27:59slamming it heavily into Victor's chest.

00:28:01Two ribs snapped instantly.

00:28:03The entire sequence flowed smoothly,

00:28:05carrying a brutal beauty of absolute domination.

00:28:08Victor collapsed to the floor like mud,

00:28:10coughing out mouthfuls of blood.

00:28:12Jace stepped forward and mercilessly planted his leather shoe

00:28:15on Victor's broken fingers, grinding down hard.

00:28:19You think you deserved her in your last life?

00:28:21Jace looked down at Victor as he corrals it in pain.

00:28:25You couldn't protect her.

00:28:27All you could do was rely on the pitiful power she handed you.

00:28:31And in this life,

00:28:34you don't even have the right to say her name.

00:28:38Jake's gestured.

00:28:39Blackwater bodyguards stepped forward

00:28:41and dragged Victor like a dead dog,

00:28:43throwing him into the garbage heap in the back alley.

00:28:45And at that moment,

00:28:46the gears of fate turned.

00:28:47An ambulance from the hospital

00:28:48happened to stop at the ante entrance.

00:28:50The one who secretly slipped down from it

00:28:52was Lily, dragging her broken body.

00:28:54To avoid the expensive medical bills,

00:28:57Lily had escaped from the public hospital.

00:28:59She limped into the back alley,

00:29:01about to look for something to eat,

00:29:03when she suddenly saw Victor rivaling in the garbage heap.

00:29:07Victor?

00:29:07The moment she made out that face,

00:29:09Lily showed not the slightest sympathy.

00:29:11Instead, she burst into wild laughter.

00:29:13You liar!

00:29:14Weren't you a mafia boss?

00:29:15Why are you lying here like a stray dog?

00:29:17Victor struggled to open his eyes.

00:29:18Seeing the woman who had ruined him so badly,

00:29:20old hatred and new rage erupted like a volcano.

00:29:23If not for Lily,

00:29:24how would he have lost Chloe?

00:29:29Filthy bitch!

00:29:30This is all your fault!

00:29:32Victor lunged at her,

00:29:33clapped his hands around Lily's throat,

00:29:35and pressed her into the filthy,

00:29:36water-water-filled garbage heap.

00:29:38You useless thing!

00:29:39Give me back Chloe!

00:29:40Give me back my mafia empire!

00:29:42Lily's eyes rolled back from the choking,

00:29:44and her hands clawed wildly.

00:29:45The true love they had once believed

00:29:46would bring mutual benefit

00:29:47now tore at each other like two mad dogs,

00:29:49blaming each other and ripping each other apart.

00:29:51In the final second before suffocation,

00:29:53Lily's hand found a sharp shard of glass.

00:29:56Go to hell!

00:29:58Using all her strength,

00:30:00she stabbed the shard fiercely into Victor's female artery.

00:30:04Blood instantly sprayed out like a fountain,

00:30:06splattering across Lily's face.

00:30:09Victor screamed.

00:30:12The two of them collapsed together into the reeking pool of blood and trash,

00:30:16convulsing in despair.

00:30:18A passerby discovered them and called the police,

00:30:20and the two were taken back to the public hospital.

00:30:22Due to severe blood loss, Victor's thigh was already paralyzed.

00:30:26As for Lily,

00:30:26when she woke up in the hospital bed,

00:30:28a doctor walked over to her coldly with her test results.

00:30:30Because you have been taking illegal living organ suppresses

00:30:33from your dark web for a long time,

00:30:35your kidneys and liver have completely failed.

00:30:37You have two months at most.

00:30:39There's no treatment value.

00:30:41Wait to die.

00:30:42The doctor's words were like a final verdict.

00:30:45Lily finally realized it.

00:30:47The rebirth script,

00:30:49she had thought herself so clever for stealing,

00:30:51had not helped her rise above everyone else.

00:30:54Instead,

00:30:55she had personally pushed open the gates to hell.

00:30:58The television on the hospital wall lit up.

00:31:01On the screen,

00:31:01the grand celebration of the Jace Group successful listing on Wall Street

00:31:05was being broadcast live.

00:31:07I wore a gown and rang the opening bell under the eyes of the world,

00:31:11dazzling like a queen.

00:31:12If I can't live,

00:31:13you won't have peace either!

00:31:16She violently ripped the IV needle from the back of her hand.

00:31:20Blood dripped onto the white sheets.

00:31:21She stole a nurse's uniform and made an insane decision.

00:31:25Lily wrapped all the wounds on her body in bandages,

00:31:28pulled the loose cleaner's robe over herself,

00:31:30and slipped in the outdoor celebration banquet for the Jace Group's listing in her arms.

00:31:33She carried a large barrel of gasoline,

00:31:36had bought on the black market.

00:31:37As long as she could burn me and Jace to ashes in front of everyone,

00:31:40she would be willing to die in the flames immediately.

00:31:43At the center of the reception,

00:31:45Jace and I were being interviewed by global media.

00:31:47I wore a custom gown in and looked invincible beneath the flashes.

00:31:50Lily hid behind a pillar in the shadows,

00:31:52staring at that blinding glory.

00:31:55The flames of jealousy in her heart burned all the way up her throat.

00:31:58Die! All of you die!

00:32:00She pushed the cart carrying the gasoline using the darkness

00:32:03to inch closer to the ventilation system.

00:32:05As long as she pressed the igniter,

00:32:07this place would become a living hell.

00:32:09Just as her hand reached for the lighter,

00:32:11a pair of rough hands suddenly stretched out from the darkness,

00:32:14clamped over her mouth,

00:32:15and dragged her forcibly into the dim fire stair hell.

00:32:19It was Victor.

00:32:23Who told you to make a move?

00:32:24He still hadn't given up.

00:32:26He wanted to use Lily for one last struggle.

00:32:28What we need is money.

00:32:30We need the lifeline in Chloe's hands.

00:32:32You are not allowed to act.

00:32:34Chloe!

00:32:35Want your sister alive?

00:32:36Bring 10 million in cash to basement level 2.

00:32:39Remember, no bodyguards.

00:32:41He thought I would go soft.

00:32:43He thought that as long as I appeared,

00:32:44he could use me as a bargaining chain to turn the tables,

00:32:47just like in the last life.

00:32:50Watching the video.

00:32:52Madam,

00:32:53shall I mobilize mercenaries and flatten the place?

00:32:56No need.

00:32:57I want them to see with their own eyes,

00:32:59that before this position,

00:33:01they don't even qualify to be ants.

00:33:03Instead, I had Jace robalize the city's armed forces

00:33:06and surround the entire building like an iron barrel.

00:33:09Basement level 2.

00:33:11Victor stared at the elevator with high expectations.

00:33:16How is this possible?

00:33:18How dare you come without the money?

00:33:20I slowly stepped out from behind the bodyguards,

00:33:22every step calm and elegant.

00:33:24I didn't even glance at Lily, who was tied to the fire hydrant.

00:33:27Victor, you used me in my last life and tortured me in this one.

00:33:31Did you think you could still threaten me like some ridiculous clown?

00:33:35Didn't you want to light the fire?

00:33:37Go on.

00:33:38Don't be a coward.

00:33:39When Lily heard this, the last spark of hope in her eyes went out completely.

00:33:44She looked at my lofty posture,

00:33:46at how I didn't even deign to give her a single glance.

00:33:49I'm done playing!

00:33:51I'm really done playing!

00:33:53I'll make all of you die with me!

00:33:58Before Victor could react, Lily suddenly broke free from the cut ropes

00:34:01and, like a mad woman, wrapped her arms tightly around Victor's neck.

00:34:05Don't ruin me!

00:34:07You made me into this monster!

00:34:09She bit down hard on Victor's ear,

00:34:11bloody tears streaming from her eyes.

00:34:14Victor, didn't you want money?

00:34:17Didn't you want to be the emperor of the underworld?

00:34:21Then let's go be that in hell!

00:34:23You crazy bitch!

00:34:25Let go of me!

00:34:27He struggled desperately,

00:34:28but Lily no longer wanted to live.

00:34:30She slammed violently into the still-burning lighter in Victor's ear.

00:34:33A whole barrel of gasoline instantly poured over him both.

00:34:36Flames shot into the air,

00:34:37lighting up the entire underground village.

00:34:39Fire swallowed the two evil ghosts who had once schemed against each other

00:34:43and now died together like conjoined twins.

00:34:45Amid piercing screams, they twisted and rolled in the flames.

00:34:48Under Jace's protection, I turned and left.

00:34:51Behind me was the past reduced to scorched earth.

00:34:55And I strode toward the future that belonged to me.

00:34:59The fire was quickly extinguished.

00:35:02Victor and Lily were completely reduced to two charred corpses,

00:35:04so burned that even DNA was difficult to extract.

00:35:08The news spread everywhere.

00:35:09The media frantically dug into the so-called family feud within the conglomerate.

00:35:12I did not have the PR department covered up.

00:35:15Instead, I took the initiative to release to the media

00:35:17Victor's illegal live organ trading network

00:35:20and the evidence that he and Lily had planned the assassination.

00:35:23The media outlets that had originally been waiting to laugh at us

00:35:26quickly turned their guns around in the face of iron-flabbed criminal evidence

00:35:31and praised us as heroes who had eliminated a cancer from society.

00:35:37The group's stock not only did not fall,

00:35:40it surged for three straight days in the market

00:35:43because of our positive image of punishing evil and protecting the innocent.

00:35:48I stood before the floor declasing windows,

00:35:50looking down at the ant-like crowds below.

00:35:53Just then, Jace walked over with a glass of expensive red wine

00:35:57and gently pulled me into his arms.

00:36:00Madam, those troublesome mafia families have all signed the asset transfer agreements

00:36:05according to your requirements.

00:36:07He kissed my cheek tenderly.

00:36:08After tonight, there will be no so-called underground rules on the East Coast.

00:36:12You are the only rule.

00:36:13I looked out at the glittering knee beyond the window,

00:36:16lightly swirling the blood red wine in my glass.

00:36:18A smile of certain sectority curved my lip.

00:36:21Although Victor was dead,

00:36:22the territory he left behind had become a piece of fat meat.

00:36:25The 12 remaining old mafia families on the East Coast were eager to move.

00:36:30In their eyes,

00:36:32Jace was nothing more than a legitimate businessman taking advantage of an opening.

00:36:36That night,

00:36:37a threatening letter containing a bullet was delivered to the group headquarters,

00:36:40demanding that Jace hand over 70% of the shipping routes

00:36:43or he would not live to see tomorrow's sun.

00:36:45Looking at the bullet on the desk,

00:36:47killing intake surged in Jace's eyes

00:36:49and he was about to order a direct assault.

00:36:51I pressed down on his hand,

00:36:52took a black encrypted USB drive from the safe

00:36:55and tossed it lightly onto the desk.

00:36:57A direct attack would be too merciful.

00:36:59This is the underground intelligence network.

00:37:01I spent five years building in my last life.

00:37:04I looked at Jace,

00:37:05my gaze confident and cold.

00:37:07It contains every financial weakness of those 12 families,

00:37:10the locations of their illegitimate children overseas,

00:37:13and conclusive evidence of their dark web smuggling.

00:37:15One fatal strike.

00:37:18That's our story.

00:37:19Jace picked up the USB drive.

00:37:20The viciousness in his eyes instantly transformed into the utmost admiration and indulgent affection.

00:37:26He lowered his head and kissed me deeply.

00:37:28As you command my queen.

00:37:30Tonight,

00:37:31I'll tear down their thrones and turn them into stepping stones for you.

00:37:34Outside the window,

00:37:35thunder rolled and rain lashed down.

00:37:37Alone,

00:37:38Jace pushed open the doors to the East Coast underground round table chamber.

00:37:42Inside the round table chamber,

00:37:44twelve mafia elders were smoking cigars and laughing arrogantly.

00:37:47Seeing that Jace had truly dared to come alone,

00:37:50several hot-tempered old men pulled out gold-plated pistols and slammed them heavily onto the table.

00:37:54Pretty boy,

00:37:54if you know what's good for you,

00:37:55you'll sign the asset transfer agreement.

00:37:58Then we might still leave you and that beautiful wife of yours whole corpses.

00:38:01Jace didn't even look at the guns.

00:38:04He leisurely pulled out the chair at the head of the table and sat down,

00:38:08then threw twelve printed sets of confidential financial datements and photos into their faces like trash.

00:38:14Look at your own cards before you decide whether to raise your voice at me.

00:38:18The elders picked up the documents,

00:38:20and their faces turned instantly pale.

00:38:22The hands holding their cigars trembled like sieves.

00:38:25Those were their most lethal weak points.

00:38:28As long as Jace sent them with one click,

00:38:30they would immediately lose everything,

00:38:32perhaps even their families.

00:38:34You?

00:38:35What do you want?

00:38:37Jace smeared and snapped his fingers lightly.

00:38:39The hidden walls around the chamber instantly descended,

00:38:41revealing hundreds of heavily armed mercenaries,

00:38:44whose infrared sights were all locked onto the centers of their foreheads.

00:38:47Jace rose and looked down at the once invincible underworld overlords from above.

00:38:51Sign the submission agreement.

00:38:52From today on,

00:38:53the rules of the East Coast underworld are decided by my wife.

00:38:56When Jace returned to the manor with the tokens of submission from the twelve families,

00:39:01it was already late at night.

00:39:03After my shower,

00:39:04I stood before the Florida clearing windows,

00:39:06watching the wind and rain finally stop outside.

00:39:08Jace embraced me from behind and flipped the black gold serpent ring,

00:39:12a symbol of the highest power on the dark wet,

00:39:15onto my ring finger.

00:39:16His fingers were faintly callid.

00:39:18When they touched my back,

00:39:20my body stiffened controllably because of the bone deep memories of beatings from my last life.

00:39:24Jace noticed.

00:39:25He did not rush to take anything from me.

00:39:27Instead,

00:39:28he turned me around and looked at me with aching tenderness.

00:39:31He lowered his head and reverently kissed the invisible scars on my body,

00:39:34kissing away the last trace of guardedness towards intimacy in my heart.

00:39:39Chloe,

00:39:39in this life,

00:39:41you're no one's strategist behind the scenes anymore,

00:39:43and you don't have to take a blade for anyone.

00:39:45Jace's held my face,

00:39:47his voice low and tempting.

00:39:49You are the only one in power,

00:39:50and I am your most loyal believer.

00:39:53Looking at the deep love burning in his eyes for me alone,

00:39:56I finally let go completely of the shadows from my past life.

00:39:59I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back with equal heat.

00:40:03Moonlight streamed through the windows and spilled across the luxurious bed,

00:40:06where two figures merged completely.

00:40:08Five years later,

00:40:09it was the very day when,

00:40:10in my last life,

00:40:11Jace went bankrupt and Lily rolled beneath the truck to her death.

00:40:13But now we were at the top floor of the highest tower on Wall Street.

00:40:16Wearing a custom gown,

00:40:17I rang the NASDAQ opening bell,

00:40:18the richest person in the world,

00:40:20and the supreme matriarch of the dark web.

00:40:21Thunderous applause filled the room,

00:40:23and camera flashes blazed like daylight.

00:40:24Holding a glass of champagne,

00:40:26I walked to the floor to clear window

00:40:27and looked down over the city I had thoroughly conquered.

00:40:29At the end of my line of sight lay that filthy slum.

00:40:31In my last life,

00:40:32Lily had gnawed on rotten vegetable leaves there,

00:40:34then dragged me to my death out of jealousy.

00:40:36In this life,

00:40:37she thought she had stolen the Trump part,

00:40:39but she turned to ashes in the very first year.

00:40:41Jace walked to my side holding our three-year-old heir.

00:40:43What are you thinking about?

00:40:44His eyes full of doting affection

00:40:45as he wrapped an arm around my waist.

00:40:48As if performing magic,

00:40:49he took a document from the pocket of his suit

00:40:51and handed it to me.

00:40:53Darling,

00:40:53you said before that looking at that slum bothered you.

00:40:55I've had people approve the demolition plan to buy it.

00:40:57I looked at the document and couldn't help laughing softly.

00:41:00The place that had buried our fates in my last life

00:41:02could now be erased completely from the map

00:41:04with nothing more than my signature.

00:41:06Three days later,

00:41:07more than a dozen heavy bulldozers drove into the slums.

00:41:10Amid the enormous roar,

00:41:11the dilapidated Chantels,

00:41:12the place that had buried Lily's greed and despair,

00:41:14collapsed with a crash and became ruins.

00:41:16On the original site,

00:41:17the world's largest commercial landmark,

00:41:19named after me, would rise.

00:41:21At the groundbreaking ceremony,

00:41:23global media swarmed in.

00:41:26Countless microphones were thrust in front of me.

00:41:28This is Jace, man!

00:41:29How did you go from an ordinary girl

00:41:30to the overlord who dominates both the legitimate

00:41:32and underground worlds today?

00:41:33What was the core secret?

00:41:35Was it because you were lucky and chose the right person?

00:41:38Hearing the question,

00:41:39I raised my brows slightly.

00:41:41I turned and glanced down from the stage.

00:41:43Jace was holding our son.

00:41:45Watching me with a smile like the most loyal knight,

00:41:47my eyes filled the pride of someone thinking,

00:41:49my wife shines brightest.

00:41:50I withdrew my eyes and looked to the camera,

00:41:52the corner of my throat curving into a calm,

00:41:54aggressively confident smile.

00:41:56Fate has never been about what cards you managed to steal.

00:42:00It's about whether you have the brains to play them well.

00:42:04Unfortunately,

00:42:04some people think they've stolen the winning hand,

00:42:07but they don't even qualify to sit at the table.

00:42:09I raised the champagne in my hand.

00:42:11Sunlight struck the black gold serpent ring,

00:42:13refracting a dazzling gleam.

00:42:15Cheers.

00:42:16To my empire.

00:42:19Daughter of the Lord,

00:42:21bloodline awakens,

00:42:22heir to the throne.

00:42:23Glory to the souling clan,

00:42:26the gift from Hector.

00:42:30Give me a red wine.

00:42:39The wine you asked for.

00:42:47You walk in here while he is clearly occupied?

00:42:50Are you blind?

00:42:52Or just stupid?

00:42:59Then Lord Rowan can pour his own wine.

00:43:01What did you just...

00:43:03Did you call him by his name?

00:43:05You address him as my lord,

00:43:07you disrespectful little twat?

00:43:12That is enough, Isolette.

00:43:16Know your place, Zahra.

00:43:18You have no house.

00:43:19No bloodline.

00:43:21Nowhere you're in this realm that would take you in.

00:43:23I will leave then.

00:43:24I will go rogue before I die.

00:43:26You have no soul power yet.

00:43:29Until you do,

00:43:31you belong to this house.

00:43:32You belong to me.

00:43:37Come to my study once you have cleaned this up.

00:43:49Fifteen years with not a single confirmed trace of my daughter.

00:43:52What more do you need, Lord Blackwell?

00:43:55I hear you, Lord Cassian.

00:43:57But murder and abduction require proof.

00:44:00The other houses will not move against Greth without it.

00:44:03House Greth attacked House Solani fifteen years ago.

00:44:06My daughter vanished the same night.

00:44:09I know what happened to her.

00:44:11Her body was never found, Lord Blackwell.

00:44:13In fifteen years, no body.

00:44:16What does that tell you?

00:44:18Or do you just not want to hear it?

00:44:22You are the only one with the power and the standing to help us.

00:44:27You have to help me avenge my daughter.

00:44:34Clotha.

00:44:35Laxius.

00:44:36Hekma.

00:44:37If any of you are listening,

00:44:39please, tomorrow,

00:44:40give me my soul power when I turn eighteen.

00:44:43Set me free.

00:44:45We will live simply.

00:44:46In the woods if we have to.

00:44:48We will hunt for what we need.

00:44:50We will need nothing from anyone in this house ever again.

00:44:54I will attend Rowan Greth's feast tomorrow.

00:44:58Whatever is inside that castle,

00:45:00I will find it.

00:45:01You have my word.

00:45:05I will pull everything we have on the Greth Earth,

00:45:08attack on House Selenen.

00:45:10Every record.

00:45:13Every body.

00:45:15Body that was not found.

00:45:17Do it.

00:45:20Zara Salone's body was never found.

00:45:23I suspect she is not dead.

00:45:45You are a fast learner, my lady.

00:45:47You are a fast learner, my lady.

00:45:50You are a fast learner, my lady.

00:45:54I will have to go.

00:45:54Aaaaaaaah.

00:45:55Aaaaaah.

00:45:56Aaaaaaaah.

00:46:00Is that the second place broke?

00:46:06Aaaaaah.

00:46:08Rowan, you asked to see me.

00:46:10What is she doing here?

00:46:12Was she watching us?

00:46:14You will address me as my lord.

00:46:23If you walk in here without knocking again, I will make sure you cannot walk at all.

00:46:30Isolid, leave us.

00:46:33Excuse me?

00:46:34I said, leave us.

00:46:46How long have you lived here at House Greth?

00:46:48Almost 15 years.

00:46:51Have we ever let you go hungry?

00:46:54Cold?

00:46:56Without shelter?

00:46:57No.

00:46:59What are you trying to say?

00:47:03Are you jealous?

00:47:05Is that what this is?

00:47:07You wish you were the one I was fucking?

00:47:09You disgust me.

00:47:10What?

00:47:12I am not jealous.

00:47:14I am disgusted, and you are not my lord.

00:47:17The only L word that fits you is low life.

00:47:22My lord.

00:47:23Lord Theron Blackwell of House Blackwell has confirmed his attendance at tomorrow's feast.

00:47:31Theron Blackwell is coming here?

00:47:32I only sent that invitation out of courtesy.

00:47:34Why now?

00:47:35What does he want?

00:47:35My lord, I believe it signals respect.

00:47:38If Theron attends, the other houses will follow.

00:47:40It confirms our standing.

00:47:41You think so?

00:47:42He must know House Greth is the second house in the realm.

00:47:44He is acknowledging the threat.

00:47:49Since you find this so amusing, you will prepare and serve the entire feast, beginning to end.

00:47:56Tomorrow is my 18th birthday.

00:47:58You promised me a day's rest.

00:48:00I changed my mind.

00:48:11Does Zahra know the cloth I wove her to you?

00:48:25Does Zahra know the cloth I wove her to you?

00:48:31we are nothing she is a servant an orphan i do not know why the moray goddesses chose her for

00:48:38me and i do not care i will not accept it what do you plan to do with her once

00:48:46she turns 18

00:48:47tomorrow her soul power will awaken she will feel the faded between us the moment it does

00:48:51i will sever it publicly in front of the entire feast severing a thread decreed by the moray ass

00:48:57is not a simple act my lord clothra herself spun again i do not care you are dismissed

00:49:08damn it zara

00:49:14soren i need you to source a worthy gift for lord rowan greth before tomorrow's feast

00:49:18a gift for rowan greth why would you we keep our friends close and our enemies closer yes my lord

00:49:25daughters of allied houses each one a strong political match if you arrive at the feast with

00:49:31one of them on your arm it sends a message house blackhead is building alliances not just

00:49:36i will not be bringing a companion my lord if house greth discovers you are still unwavered

00:49:42at your age they will question your standard they will use it against you at the feast let them

00:49:46i am there on black weight

00:49:51let's hope she is there whoever she is

00:50:01my lord those burns are those jade hog yes inside the estate how did it get past the it was

00:50:08tracking

00:50:09something a soul whose suppression is breaking something it could smell from a long distance

00:50:19the trail leads toward house greth territory lord cassian's daughter have the carriage ready at dawn

00:50:26soren tell no one about the burns

00:50:45happy birthday to me happy birthday zara

00:50:50who is there it is me lara i am your divine gift zara hecate's gift the one they sealed away

00:50:58when

00:50:58you were a child i have been here the entire time they simply would not let me speak hecate's gift

00:51:05you are hecate's gift it is very good to finally meet you and there is something i need to tell

00:51:10you

00:51:10about the one the moiri decried for us the one clothra wove into your thread at at birth

00:51:14clothra wove a thread for me yes the one she decreed for us he is here he has always been

00:51:20here in this castle

00:51:22who roan greth lord of this house clothra wove you for him at birth he has known since before you

00:51:30did

00:51:52he is coming i can feel him approaching

00:51:56zara when you see the thread do not let it show on your face

00:52:14so hector finally broke the seal

00:52:17you knew this whole time you knew what clothra decreed and you said nothing so what

00:52:23you are a servant a castless orphan you have no house no bloodline nothing

00:52:29what clothra decreed does not change what you are

00:52:33i defy the decree zara

00:52:46if you beg perhaps i will reconsider

00:52:51i accept your defiance roan

00:52:56what

00:53:00the thread is gone so are we

00:53:03clothra does not weave a second thread for the same person you will live and die castless

00:53:08so be it

00:53:09pack what you have tonight after today i do not want to see you in this castle again

00:53:13i have been waiting years for you to say that roan

00:53:20you are allowed to feel it zara what he did this morning

00:53:25i just need to get through this feast

00:53:30there is someone coming tonight i can feel a presence in the road something old something

00:53:35that knows hector's gift from a distance everything can wait until after the feast

00:53:46the carers were in this tree line last night

00:53:49how close close enough to leave tribute at the window

00:53:53someone inside that castle has been paying them to stay back

00:53:56paying the carers to stay back from whom

00:54:06hector's bloodline

00:54:08in inside house greth

00:54:33lord blackwit what a pleasure i hope the road treated you well our castle sits deep in the forest

00:54:38not the easiest journey lord rowan built house greth castle from the foundations up

00:54:43it is everything a great house should be

00:54:45hmm a gift from house blackwit lord greth

00:54:48in honor of tomorrow's betrothal

00:54:52lord blackwit this is far too generous

00:54:55we we could not possibly pocket change shall we

00:55:02what do you think you are doing

00:55:03do not embarrass me

00:55:08i saw a servant girl

00:55:10at the rest juice pile

00:55:12find out who she is

00:55:14how she came from

00:55:15how long she has been here

00:55:17everything

00:55:18and the carers were paying her the kind of attention they paid

00:55:20i know soren

00:55:20find out who she is

00:55:22tonight

00:55:23before the feast ends

00:55:31lord blackwit

00:55:32i have always admired what house blackwit has built in the northern territory

00:55:36the estate the trade routes

00:55:38i feel we share very similar tastes in what a great house should be

00:55:41isoleth

00:55:42zara

00:55:43wine

00:55:45we have an important guest lord blackwell of house blackwell show some respect

00:55:53what are you waiting for we have an important guest this is lord theron blackwell of house blackwell show some

00:55:58respect

00:56:01i need to step out a moment my lord

00:56:08excuse me

00:56:10where are you going with that

00:56:12i am trying to wash

00:56:15wash

00:56:15you call that washing

00:56:17can you just leave me alone

00:56:19please

00:56:20i am not even supposed to be talking to you

00:56:22i just want to know your name

00:56:25please

00:56:26it's my 18th birthday today

00:56:27just do not make this worse

00:56:33it is her birthday

00:56:35lord blackliffe is going to want to know that

00:56:39i noticed you came alone lord blackwell

00:56:41no companion for the feast

00:56:44is there no one who has caught your interest

00:56:45i hear house blackwell has no shortage of fine houses seeking alliance

00:56:50there is someone

00:56:52is that so

00:56:56well

00:56:56we have some of the finest bloodlines in the realm here tonight

00:57:00lady marion of house veil

00:57:02strong covenant line

00:57:04excellent standing

00:57:05lady marion

00:57:06lord blackwet

00:57:07of house blackwet

00:57:09she has good bloodline

00:57:10and

00:57:11well

00:57:12if lady marion is not to your pace

00:57:15take your pick of any house here tonight

00:57:17this is the finest gathering in the realm this season

00:57:19there is someone

00:57:20actually

00:57:21oh

00:57:22who is the lucky lady

00:57:23that servant girl

00:57:25from earlier

00:57:26the one who poured the wine

00:57:31you cannot be serious lord blackwell

00:57:34she is a costless servant with no house name

00:57:38whatever interest you have

00:57:41surely one of the noble daughters here tonight would serve you far better

00:57:44i am not interested in the noble daughters

00:57:46she does not even bathe properly

00:57:48she has no access to moods

00:57:50a lot

00:57:50is that something she chooses

00:57:52or something she is not permitted

00:57:58send her to my guest room

00:57:59i would like to speak with her

00:58:02that is not going to

00:58:06of course

00:58:08we will send her up

00:58:22well

00:58:23it seems you have admirers

00:58:25lord blackwell has requested your company in his guest room this evening

00:58:32for some reason lord blackwell wants you for the evening

00:58:35no idea why

00:58:38what are you talking about

00:58:42please do not wear that

00:58:45consider it a parting gift

00:58:47i heard rowan sent you away

00:58:49finally

00:58:52lord blackmoth's guest room

00:58:53to the right at the end of the upper corridor

00:58:55do not disappoint him

00:58:56i am not going

00:58:57why not

00:58:58does he not interest you

00:58:59i do not know him

00:59:00and clothie does not weave second threads

00:59:02you said so yourself

00:59:03clothie does not weave the same thread twice

00:59:06but she weaves more than one kind

00:59:09go and see for yourself

00:59:11and zara

00:59:12please

00:59:14change your dress

00:59:15talk

00:59:20don't have to do so

00:59:37you

00:59:44realize

00:59:50Thiel, Lord Blackwet.

00:59:53What did you just call me?

00:59:56Rowan!

00:59:57Isoleth sent me to the wrong room.

00:59:59She did this deliberately.

01:00:11Zara!

01:00:14What in the name of the gods?

01:00:16What do you think you are doing with my betrothed?

01:00:19You castless little witch!

01:00:25She came to seduce my betrothed.

01:00:27In his own room.

01:00:29Look at what she is wearing.

01:00:31You put me in this dress.

01:00:33You sent me to this room.

01:00:34You told me it was Lord Blackwell's...

01:00:37You lying.

01:00:38Do not touch her.

01:00:44If you lay another hand on her,

01:00:46I will make certain you regret it

01:00:47for the rest of your days.

01:00:58Blackwell,

01:00:59this is my castle.

01:01:01My house!

01:01:02You do not...

01:01:04She is with me now.

01:01:05Come.

01:01:15How is your face?

01:01:17It is fine.

01:01:18I am used to it.

01:01:20Why do you let them do that?

01:01:22In case you have not noticed,

01:01:24I am not exactly in a position of power here.

01:01:27So,

01:01:28this is the castless servant of House Greth

01:01:31with an attitude.

01:01:33Thank you for what you did back there.

01:01:34You do not have to.

01:01:36I am leaving this house tonight.

01:01:37Release me.

01:01:39You are aware I am Lord of Shouse Blackwell,

01:01:41the more powerful house in Orvran.

01:01:44I am.

01:01:45Which is exactly why

01:01:47you would not want someone like me.

01:01:49No house,

01:01:50no bloodline.

01:01:51What is your name?

01:01:53Zara.

01:01:54Just

01:01:55Zara.

01:01:56I do not remember my house name.

01:01:58My parents died when I was small.

01:02:01House Greth took me in.

01:02:02You are with me now,

01:02:03Zara.

01:02:04You do not have to go anywhere tonight.

01:02:06Or at all.

01:02:18Happy birthday.

01:02:22This is my castle.

01:02:25My territory.

01:02:26Step aside.

01:02:27Lord Blackwell has requested privacy.

01:02:29I cannot allow entry.

01:02:30You cannot allow.

01:02:31I am Lord of this house.

01:02:32I could have you removed from this castle entirely.

01:02:35The accord between houses expires soon, my lord.

01:02:38You would not want to offend Lord Blackwell over a servant.

01:02:41There is no way a lord like Theron Blackwell accepts someone like her.

01:02:46She has nothing.

01:02:47She is nothing.

01:02:49Zara is not nothing, my lord.

01:02:50She is Lord Blackwell's guest.

01:02:57Why do you care so much about her?

01:03:00She is irrelevant.

01:03:01She is nothing.

01:03:02I do not want to talk about it.

01:03:03I imagine she is doing everything she can to please Lord Blackwell right now.

01:03:07That shameless, castless wench.

01:03:09I said I do not want to talk about it.

01:03:16Zara.

01:03:17Did you just call me Zara?

01:03:21What?

01:03:22You are being paranoid.

01:03:23Paranoid.

01:03:24I am paranoid.

01:03:26I knew it.

01:03:27I have always known it.

01:03:29It was always about her.

01:03:31Always Zara.

01:03:32Did you ever even care about me?

01:03:35What am I to you?

01:03:36What have I ever been?

01:03:37You are right.

01:03:39He cannot have her.

01:03:41What?

01:03:42Are you serious right now?

01:03:43I am talking to you!

01:03:46Rowan!

01:03:47Do not you dare leave me here!

01:03:55Lord Rowan insists on seeing Zara.

01:03:57He says it is urgent.

01:04:00You do not have to go.

01:04:03I should.

01:04:05I want to end this properly.

01:04:13What do you want, Rowan?

01:04:14You cannot go with Theron Blackneck.

01:04:16You do not even know him.

01:04:17Clotha decreed him for me.

01:04:19I am your decree.

01:04:22Zara, do not leave.

01:04:24I know things between us have been...

01:04:26Things between us?

01:04:27There were no things between us, Rowan.

01:04:29For fifteen years you treated me like a servant.

01:04:31You watched Isolde abuse me and you said nothing.

01:04:34You kept Hekti's seal on me so I would never know who I was.

01:04:37And then you broke Clotha's thread.

01:04:39You rejected me, Rowan.

01:04:40Your words to the gods.

01:04:41I will marry Isolde.

01:04:43The betrothal is too far along to break.

01:04:46But I can move you somewhere safe.

01:04:47A house of your own.

01:04:49You would want for nothing.

01:04:50You do not have to go to Blackwick.

01:04:51You do not have to...

01:04:51What are you trying to say to me right now?

01:04:53Are you telling me you want me to be your kept secret?

01:04:55The other woman while you marry Isolde?

01:04:58I came to say goodbye, Rowan.

01:05:00That is all this is.

01:05:03Zara, I have always loved you.

01:05:06What?

01:05:08I said I love you.

01:05:09Do you hear me?

01:05:10You cannot treat someone like nothing for fifty years and then tell them you love you.

01:05:14That is not love.

01:05:15Let me go!

01:05:16I told you I am willing to work something out.

01:05:18What more could you possibly want from me?

01:05:20This is how you show love?

01:05:21I do not want it.

01:05:22Let me go!

01:05:22Stop pretending.

01:05:24You think I do not know?

01:05:25You disobeyed me.

01:05:26Gave me that attitude every day to get my attention.

01:05:29You have it.

01:05:30Just stay and we can...

01:05:31I never wanted your attention.

01:05:32I never wanted any of this.

01:05:33Let me go!

01:05:37You're leaving.

01:05:38Now.

01:05:40What about my things?

01:05:42I have everything you will ever need.

01:06:03You will have your own rooms at House Blackneck.

01:06:06Tomorrow I can arrange for whatever you need.

01:06:09Clothing, anything you want, we can send for.

01:06:11Is that a village?

01:06:13The market town of Veld.

01:06:15Three leagues from Greth territory.

01:06:18A market town.

01:06:22We will sort out the council inquiry tomorrow.

01:06:25Lord Cassian will want to move quickly once.

01:06:29Forgive me.

01:06:30What were you saying?

01:06:31I have never even seen anything beyond the castle walls.

01:06:36Call me Theron.

01:06:41Take the long road through Veld.

01:06:42We are not going home yet.

01:06:56Zara.

01:06:57This house, it knows us.

01:06:59Hectala and Niamh have walked the same road since before mortals had names for either of them.

01:07:04This is a safe place.

01:07:06The shadows.

01:07:08They are moving.

01:07:11They are the nextborn.

01:07:12They guard this house.

01:07:13They will not harm you.

01:07:15They are alive?

01:07:16They are older than alive.

01:07:18They have been here since Nyx first made her covenant with my bloodline.

01:07:26They have never done that before.

01:07:27They recognize Hecate's gift.

01:07:30They are saying hello.

01:07:37I want the girl.

01:07:39Send her out.

01:07:40She is a guest of House Blacknickth.

01:07:42She leaves when she chooses.

01:07:44Open the gate, Zorin.

01:07:45Last time I ask.

01:07:47No.

01:07:49No.

01:08:00You brought Hollow Men to my house.

01:08:02You broke my gate.

01:08:04Think very carefully about what you do next.

01:08:07The girl is a servant of my house.

01:08:09She is not yours to keep.

01:08:11Give me the girl and I walk away.

01:08:13She is not a servant of your house.

01:08:15She never was.

01:08:17And I think you have always known that.

01:08:43What are you doing?

01:08:53Stand down.

01:08:57This isn't over, Blackweck.

01:09:00Send a raven next time.

01:09:02Like a lord.

01:09:04Rowan.

01:09:12I know about the attack on House Saluni.

01:09:14I know you sealed a three-year-old child and kept her hidden for fifty years.

01:09:17And I know Clotha with thread for her.

01:09:18And you threw it away.

01:09:21Atrotus is watching you.

01:09:22You defied the Moraes.

01:09:23Buried Hecathar's bloodline.

01:09:24And destroyed an entire house.

01:09:25The gods don't forget that.

01:09:27And neither do I.

01:09:27You read my ring without permission.

01:09:29That is a violation of the accord between houses.

01:09:39Do not go out there, Zara.

01:09:42Rowan's RS gift is not controlled when he is this angry.

01:09:46He would not mean to, but he could drain you through the seal fractures.

01:09:50The cracks make you vulnerable.

01:09:52I am not afraid of him.

01:09:54I know.

01:09:55But the seal is not fully broken yet.

01:09:58Until it is.

01:09:59Stay inside this house.

01:10:01The Nyxbourne will not let him pass the gate.

01:10:04What happened at the gate?

01:10:06He backed down.

01:10:07For now.

01:10:08But he will move against you.

01:10:09Soon.

01:10:10Rowan does not accept losses.

01:10:12What does he want from me?

01:10:13He defied the decree himself.

01:10:15He sent me away.

01:10:16What is there left to take?

01:10:17He does not want you.

01:10:18He wants to make certain no one else has you.

01:10:20There is a difference.

01:10:21Your name is not just Zara.

01:10:22Your full name is Zara Solene.

01:10:24Daughter of Lord Cassiel Solene and Lady Neva Solene of House Solene.

01:10:30That is not possible.

01:10:32My parents died when I...

01:10:34They did not die.

01:10:36House Greth attacked House Solene 15 years ago.

01:10:39Your parents survived.

01:10:41You were taken in the chaos.

01:10:42Either by Greth soldiers or hidden here afterward.

01:10:46Your parents have been searching for you ever since.

01:10:48My parents are alive?

01:10:49Yes.

01:10:50I met with them two days ago.

01:10:52Your father sat across a desk from me and told me 15 years of searching.

01:10:56Your mother has not stopped looking since the night you disappeared.

01:10:59Oh, Zara Solene.

01:11:01Hector's Covenant.

01:11:02Yes.

01:11:02Your bloodline carries Hector's gift.

01:11:05Soul sight.

01:11:06The ability to see the complete truth of any person.

01:11:08Rarest gift in Arvon.

01:11:09It is why the Covenant seal was placed on you as a child.

01:11:11To keep Hector's gift buried.

01:11:13To keep you buried.

01:11:16Why are you doing this?

01:11:17I gave your father, Lord Cassian, my word.

01:11:20That is not what I mean.

01:11:21You came to that feast looking for something.

01:11:22You saw me and you spent the rest of the night trying to find out who I was, why.

01:11:25The Shadehound tracks in my study led to House Greth territory.

01:11:28The Keris retreating when I arrived.

01:11:30The pieces were already there.

01:11:31That is still not what I mean.

01:11:34My gift responded to you at the gate before I knew who you were.

01:11:37That does not happen.

01:11:38Not to me.

01:11:39Lyra said Clothed are weaves more than one kind of thread.

01:11:42Yes, she does.

01:12:04Lord Cassian.

01:12:05I said I would find her.

01:12:13You have her eyes.

01:12:16Your mother's eyes, exactly.

01:12:24I did not know you were alive.

01:12:26They told me.

01:12:27I thought...

01:12:27I know.

01:12:28I know what they told you.

01:12:29I prayed.

01:12:30For years I prayed.

01:12:32I did not know who I was praying to.

01:12:34I called her Hector.

01:12:35I just prayed that someone was listening.

01:12:37Hector was listening.

01:12:39She always was.

01:12:40I never stopped looking for you.

01:12:42Not one day.

01:12:44Not one hour.

01:12:51You were three years old.

01:12:54The night they came.

01:12:55House Greth attacked at the third bell of night.

01:12:57No warning.

01:12:58No declaration.

01:12:59Just Greth's soldiers at our walls.

01:13:01They knew exactly what they wanted.

01:13:04Hectartus' covenant had just passed to you at birth.

01:13:06House Solane with a newborn heir carrying the full force of soul sight that terrified them.

01:13:11You would have been the most powerful voice at any council table in Auron.

01:13:15So they took me instead of killing me.

01:13:17They put the covenant seal on you that same night.

01:13:20And they kept you where they could watch you and where the seal would never break.

01:13:23Surrounded by Rowan Zara's gift.

01:13:26Pressing the seal down every day simply by existing near you.

01:13:29And Clotha's decree.

01:13:31Rowan was woven for me at birth.

01:13:33He knew if the thread appeared he could not hide who I was any longer.

01:13:37Which is why he defied it immediately.

01:13:40Better to pay the cost of defying the Moirai than to let you know who you were.

01:13:45He was afraid of me.

01:13:50His entire house has been afraid of you since the night you were born.

01:13:57The seal will fully break within days.

01:14:00Once Hectecta's gift is free in her.

01:14:02See through every lie in this realm.

01:14:05She will see what we did to her family.

01:14:07She will be able to prove it at council.

01:14:09Then we stop it before it breaks.

01:14:11The seal is too far gone.

01:14:13Rowan's suppression cannot close those fractures.

01:14:15Hector is driving them open from the divine side.

01:14:16There is only one thing that stops Hecta's gift once it starts.

01:14:19Voidban.

01:14:20Voidban severs the Covenant permanently.

01:14:23Hecta's gift gone from her bloodline entirely.

01:14:25Gone.

01:14:26I know someone who can get it.

01:14:32Get it.

01:14:39How does it work?

01:14:40One touch to bare skin.

01:14:42The poison enters through contact.

01:14:43It reaches the Covenant connection in the blood within one hour.

01:14:47After that, the gift is gone.

01:14:49The bloodline's covenant with Hecta dissolves permanently.

01:14:52As if the original bargain was never made.

01:14:54If I use it on her, what happens?

01:14:56She lives.

01:14:58She simply becomes ordinary.

01:15:13Good morning.

01:15:14Good morning.

01:15:15This was always your room.

01:15:17We never changed it.

01:15:26Tell me what Lyra says your gift does.

01:15:28In full.

01:15:29Soul sight.

01:15:30Hecta's gift.

01:15:31I can see the complete truth of any person.

01:15:34What they intend, what they hide, what they have done.

01:15:36No lie survives it.

01:15:37In its full form, Lyra says I can read an entire room simultaneously.

01:15:41Can you use it now?

01:15:42Not yet.

01:15:43The seal is still there.

01:15:44Most of it.

01:15:45Lyra says when it fully breaks, the gift will arrive all at once.

01:15:48She says it will be overwhelming at first.

01:15:51When it does, you will be able to see the truth of everyone around you.

01:15:55Including me.

01:15:56Does that concern you?

01:15:58No.

01:15:59Zara.

01:16:00The warmth between you.

01:16:01That is real.

01:16:03Clothy wove it differently this time.

01:16:04It will not collapse if defied.

01:16:06It only grows.

01:16:07Not yet.

01:16:08What?

01:16:09Nothing.

01:16:10Lyra talks a great deal.

01:16:13Rowan demands we surrender Zara to House Graith custody within three days.

01:16:19Or he declares inter-house conflict.

01:16:25He cannot declare conflict against both our houses.

01:16:28House Selene and House Blackwell together outrank him at every council.

01:16:32He does not need to win the conflict.

01:16:34He only needs to create enough chaos that the other houses look away while he moves against Zara directly.

01:16:42He is not going to wait for the council.

01:16:44He is going to move before the seal breaks.

01:16:46Lord Cassian.

01:16:47Can you call the council?

01:16:50Formally.

01:16:51Openly.

01:16:53Before Rowan moves first.

01:16:58I can.

01:16:59But if Rowan has something that can stop the seal breaking before the council convenes.

01:17:04Do not let anyone you do not trust come near your wrist.

01:17:06Not until the seal is fully gone.

01:17:2215 years ago, House Graith attacked House Solani without declaration, without cause, and without consequence.

01:17:27My door three years old was taken that same night.

01:17:30A covenant seal placed on a child of Hecate's bloodline to suppress her divine gift.

01:17:34She was kept as a servant in House Graith for 15 years.

01:17:38I am asking this council to answer for what was done.

01:17:40House Graith denies every accusation.

01:17:43The girl in question was an orphan found wandering near our territory.

01:17:46We took her in out of charity.

01:17:48The covenant seal was placed for her own protection.

01:17:51Her gift was unstable.

01:17:52Lord Cassian has no proof of anything he has claimed.

01:17:55Furthermore, this girl has no documented bloodline.

01:17:59No House Solian birth record survives the attack on their estate.

01:18:03Lord Cassian is asking the council to accept the word of a casteless servant over the standing of House Graith.

01:18:09I have proof.

01:18:11When Ronan showed up to my house, I used my gift and read his ring.

01:18:15What I found wasn't pretty.

01:18:1615 years of deliberate moves against House Solane.

01:18:19The attack.

01:18:20Taking the child.

01:18:21Locking Hectima's gift inside her with that seal.

01:18:23All of it.

01:18:24That ring has witnessed everything.

01:18:26He read my ring without permission.

01:18:28Article 7 of the Accord permits a reading of House Insignia when a missing heir is involved.

01:18:32That itself is a violation of the Accord.

01:18:34Everything he claims to have read is indedmissible.

01:18:36Zahra Salande is a missing heir.

01:18:38Her father sits at this table.

01:18:49Zahra, left side.

01:18:51Now!

01:18:57Zahra, fight it.

01:19:00Do not let it reach the Covenant.

01:19:01Do not.

01:19:02Do not.

01:19:12What did you give her?

01:19:15Nothing that was not necessary.

01:19:21Zahra?

01:19:23Zahra!

01:19:24Zahra!

01:19:25Hectias is here.

01:19:26She is fighting it.

01:19:28Hold on!

01:19:52This is what you were born for, Zahra Solanea.

01:19:57Now let them see you.

01:20:01Welcome home.

01:20:02Come home.

01:20:52My name is Zara Soleen.

01:20:54My house made a covenant with Hector at our founding.

01:20:57Her gift allows me to see the complete truth of any person in this room.

01:21:00Nothing hidden survives it.

01:21:02You accepted payment from House Grief six years ago in exchange for blocking House Zalane's petition to this council.

01:21:09You told your household it was a trade agreement.

01:21:12I am not here to expose every secret in this room.

01:21:15I am here to confirm one thing.

01:21:17Everything Lord Blackwell told this council is true.

01:21:20I can see it in every person who was present at House Grief during the years they kept me.

01:21:24Every action.

01:21:25Every decision.

01:21:26Every order given.

01:21:28This council will not accept the testimony of a girl who just had a vow pressed to her wrist.

01:21:33Sit down Rowan.

01:21:36Sit down.

01:21:45Rowan.

01:21:45You lost.

01:21:46Accept the judgment of the council for the mistakes you have made.

01:21:55You're done Rowan.

01:21:56Look around you.

01:21:58I'm not done until I say I'm done.

01:22:16I'm done.

01:22:33It is over, Rowan.

01:22:40You went to a crossroads at night.

01:22:42You took something from Hades' domain.

01:22:44Don't.

01:22:45You pressed it against my wrist in front of this entire council and watched me go down.

01:22:52You tried to kill a divine gift.

01:22:54In neutral land.

01:22:55In front of eight houses sitting in the room.

01:22:58Every lord hearing it clearly.

01:23:00I protected my house.

01:23:02What she would have done with that gift, I can see every lie you've ever told.

01:23:06Don't try another one.

01:23:07I move that House Crane be held responsible for the attempted use of Hades-sourced poison on a divine heir

01:23:12in neutral ground.

01:23:13Isalte Crane to be stripped of her house title and remanded to council custody pending full judgment.

01:23:17You cannot.

01:23:18I am the daughter of House Crane.

01:23:20My father will-

01:23:21Your father is not in this room.

01:23:22Rowan.

01:23:23Rowan, tell them.

01:23:25Tell them I did it for us.

01:23:26For the house.

01:23:27You told me to get it.

01:23:28You said, get it!

01:23:31You're not going to say anything.

01:23:34Are you?

01:23:36I did everything for you.

01:23:39Every single thing.

01:23:40The room.

01:23:42The vial.

01:23:45Fifteen years of watching you look at her instead of me and I said nothing.

01:23:49I did everything you needed and you won't even-

01:23:51I loved you.

01:23:53That was real.

01:23:55Even if nothing else was.

01:24:10I want you to know something before you go.

01:24:13You spent fifteen years trying to stop this moment.

01:24:16And here we are anyway.

01:24:18What do you want, Zara?

01:24:19An apology?

01:24:20I want nothing from you.

01:24:22That is what I came to tell you.

01:24:24After everything you did, I feel nothing when I look at you.

01:24:31The council exiled him.

01:24:33He lost any powers he had.

01:24:43I do not know how to do this.

01:24:53Every single day.

01:24:55Every single day.

01:24:55I said your name every single day so I would not forget the sound of it.

01:24:59So it would still be ready when you came back.

01:25:05Welcome home, Zara.

01:25:08Welcome home, Zara.

01:25:25It's gratitude for what you did and I mean that without reservation.

01:25:28I did not come today for gratitude.

01:25:31No.

01:25:32I did not think so.

01:25:33What are your intentions toward my daughter, Lord Blackwell?

01:25:35Honorable ones, I want the right to court her.

01:25:37Properly, openly, with your knowledge and consent.

01:25:39Nothing hidden, nothing rushed.

01:25:40She has been kept hidden and castless for 15 years.

01:25:42She has just received her full divine gift and learned who she is.

01:25:44She is not a prize to be collected, Lord Blackwell, by anyone, including the man who helped find her.

01:25:49I know that.

01:25:49The decision is hers entirely.

01:25:51I am asking your permission to be considered, not your permission to decide for her.

01:25:55She already knows you came.

01:25:57She saw it in your face the moment you arrived.

01:25:59I am aware of that.

01:26:00Good.

01:26:00Then there is no point pretending this conversation is a secret.

01:26:12I spoke with your father.

01:26:13I know.

01:26:14I saw it in your face before you said a word.

01:26:16Is that going to be a permanent condition?

01:26:18Reading everything before anyone speaks?

01:26:20Yes.

01:26:22Good.

01:26:25In the Accord Hall, when you read me, what did you see?

01:26:28Everything you have done, everything you intend, everything you have been afraid to say out loud since the gate at

01:26:34House Greth.

01:26:36And?

01:26:36And nothing hidden.

01:26:37You are exactly what you appear to be.

01:26:39That is, rarer than you know.

01:26:42Do you see that?

01:26:46I see it.

01:26:47I told you.

01:26:49A decree of purpose.

01:26:50It only grows.

01:26:52So, what do we do with it?

01:26:55I have a few ideas.

01:26:56You are not as serious as you pretend to be.

01:26:59And you are not as unbothered as you pretend to be.

01:27:02I read you, you know.

01:27:03What am I supposed to do with it?

01:27:05I know.

01:27:08You were not afraid of that.

01:27:10I had nothing to hide.

01:27:20Lyra is going to be insufferable about this.

01:27:22I heard that.

01:27:23I heard that.

01:27:23Come on.

01:27:24Your father is going to send someone to find us soon.

01:27:27Let him.

01:27:28You are not as unbothered as you pretend to be.

01:27:29You are not as unbothered as you pretend to be.

01:27:30You are not as unbothered as you pretend to be.

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended