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00:00If I moved in, I'd end up like Lauren, or worse.
00:03Her roommates were bad girls, led by Jade.
00:05And just like that, I had an idea.
00:07Chase was the school alpha, captain of the lacrosse team.
00:09If I could make it look like we were close.
00:11The dean asked you to help me move.
00:13I walked into Ridgewood 302 with Chase.
00:16Chase stepped out from behind me, bags in both hands.
00:18The click went silent.
00:20Then I stepped right into Chase's path and held it out.
00:24Then, against all reasonable expectations, he had bitten down on the straw.
00:28The way Jade looked at me shifted.
00:30There was awe in it now.
00:31It started with a housing reassignment.
00:33The dean stopped me in the hallway.
00:35We're planning to move you into Ridgewood 302 to take Lauren's place.
00:38What do you think?
00:39Lauren, the one before me, had ended up in the counselor's office twice.
00:43Her roommates were bad girls, led by Jade.
00:45They had burned her hair, slapped her, and pinned her down in the bathroom and made her drink filth.
00:50Administration couldn't ignore it, so they just reshuffled the rooms.
00:53Then I draw the short straw.
00:54And I don't have a choice in this?
00:57You're here on a full scholarship, one that's funded by our donors.
01:00I trust you know what's expected of you.
01:01Everyone else at this school had money or connections.
01:04I had neither.
01:05So I'm just some poor schmuck supposed to accept it, huh?
01:07I'd been fidgety all noon, unable to settle down.
01:10If I moved in, I'd end up like Lauren.
01:12Or worse.
01:12Then the back door swung open and Chase walked in with half the lacrosse team.
01:16I watched him drop into a seat and pull out his phone.
01:18And just like that, I had an idea.
01:20Chase was the school alpha, captain of the lacrosse team.
01:22The kind of guy Jade's clique would never go after directly.
01:25If I could make it look like we were close, even just for a few days, it might be enough
01:29breathing room to figure out the rest.
01:30I walked over and set a completed problem set down in front of him.
01:33Today's homework.
01:34He didn't look up from his phone.
01:35I slid it closer.
01:36Fed up, he was about to tear it up.
01:37Only to find it had already been filled out completely.
01:40Then he finally bothered to look at me properly.
01:41The dean asked you to help me move.
01:44It wasn't exactly humiliating for him.
01:46I'd even had the sense to sweeten the deal with a finished homework set.
01:49Considerate of me, I thought.
01:51That afternoon, I walked into Ridgewood 302 with Chase carrying half my boxes.
01:55I slid the key in and pushed the door open.
01:57There was Jade, seated in the chair.
01:59A circle of bad girls flanking her.
02:01The whole scene set up like an interrogation.
02:03Stella, right?
02:05There are rules in this room.
02:07You follow mine.
02:08I'd expected exactly this.
02:09I let out a small sound and stopped in the doorway.
02:12Why'd you stop?
02:13Let's go.
02:13Chase stepped out from behind me, bags in both hands.
02:16The click went silent.
02:18What rules?
02:19Can she put her stuff on the desk or not?
02:22Jade stood up slowly.
02:24She- yeah, she can.
02:26Chase dropped the boxes on the desk without ceremony.
02:28He went back for the rest, brought in my toiletries,
02:31set them in the bathroom without a word, and left.
02:33Do you want to grab dinner together?
02:35Nah.
02:35I caught up with him in the hallway.
02:37Fine then.
02:38Coach Barnett's been asking about your attendance again.
02:40Be careful.
02:41I watched his back disappear around the corner.
02:43Then I turned around, put on my best expression of lingering affection, and closed the door.
02:47The atmosphere in the room had shifted entirely.
02:50So you and Chase, what's the deal with you two?
02:52I glanced up and tucked my hair behind one ear, smiled shyly, and saying nothing.
02:56Sometimes silence was the whole answer.
02:58The bad girl's eyes instantly filled with awe.
03:00They could push around any ordinary girl.
03:02But Chase Hartley's girlfriend?
03:03I finished unpacking, moved my shampoo to the shelf closest to the door.
03:07The perfect spot.
03:08I could just gain relief.
03:10Nobody said a word.
03:12A few days passed.
03:14Ridgewood 302 was quiet.
03:15Everyone was being oddly polite.
03:17Until one afternoon, I ran into Jade outside the dining hall.
03:20She was alone, which was unusual.
03:22Eating alone?
03:23Where's Chase?
03:24My stomach dropped.
03:25She was starting to wonder.
03:26Right on cue, Chase and his teammates came out of the gym across the quad.
03:29I pushed my hair back, gave my brightest smile.
03:32Practice ran late.
03:33Knowing him, he probably hasn't eaten anything.
03:35I jogged over to the vending machine by the gym entrance and grabbed a carton of chocolate milk.
03:40Then I stepped right into Chase's path and held it out.
03:43Thanks for helping me move in the other day.
03:45I didn't wait for a response.
03:46Ducked my head like I was shy.
03:48And walked back to Jade before he could say anything.
03:50His teammates lost it immediately.
03:52Elbowing him, making noise.
03:54The way Jade looked at me shifted.
03:56There was awe in it now.
03:58Does he actually drink that snuck?
04:00No idea.
04:01I like it, so I bought it.
04:02To her, I was now the girl Chase Hartley lets feed him chocolate milk.
04:06Not far off, Chase glanced at me.
04:08Then, against all reasonable expectations, he had bitten down on the straw.
04:13He was walking back toward the dorms, drinking it, like this was completely normal.
04:21If I moved in, I'd end up like Lauren, or worse.
04:24Her roommates were bad girls, led by Jade.
04:27And just like that, I had an idea.
04:28Chase was the school alpha, captain of the lacrosse team.
04:31If I could make it look like we were close.
04:33The dean asked you to help me move.
04:35I walked into Ridgewood 302 with Chase.
04:37Chase stepped out from behind me, bags in both hands.
04:39The click went silent.
04:42Then, I stepped right into Chase's path and held it out.
04:45Then, against all reasonable expectations, he had bitten down on the straw.
04:50The way Jade looked at me shifted.
04:51There was awe in it now.
04:53It started with a housing reassignment.
04:54The dean stopped me in the hallway.
04:57We're planning to move you into Ridgewood 302 to take Lauren's place.
05:00What do you think?
05:01Lauren, the one before me, had ended up in the counselor's office twice.
05:04Her roommates were bad girls, led by Jade.
05:07They had burned her hair, slapped her, and pinned her down in the bathroom and made her drink filth.
05:11Administration couldn't ignore it, so they just reshuffled the rooms.
05:14Then, I draw the short straw.
05:16And I don't have a choice in this?
05:18You're here on a full scholarship, one that's funded by our donors.
05:21I trust you know what's expected of you.
05:23Everyone else at this school had money or connections.
05:25I had neither.
05:26So I'm just some poor schmuck supposed to accept it, huh?
05:29I'd been fidgety all noon, unable to settle down.
05:31If I moved in, I'd end up like Lauren.
05:33Or worse.
05:34Then the back door swung open, and Chase walked in with half the lacrosse team.
05:37I watched him drop into a seat and pull out his phone.
05:39And just like that, I had an idea.
05:41Chase was the school alpha, captain of the lacrosse team.
05:44The kind of guy Jade's clique would never go after directly.
05:46If I could make it look like we were close, even just for a few days,
05:49it might be enough breathing room to figure out the rest.
05:52I walked over and set a completed problem set down in front of him.
05:54Today's homework.
05:55He didn't look up from his phone.
05:56I slid it closer.
05:57Fed up, he was about to tear it up, only to find it had already been filled out completely.
06:01Then he finally bothered to look at me properly.
06:03The dean asked you to help me move.
06:05It wasn't exactly humiliating for him.
06:08I'd even had the sense to sweeten the deal with a finished homework set.
06:11Considerate of me, I thought.
06:12That afternoon, I walked into Ridgewood 302 with Chase carrying half my boxes.
06:17I slid the key in and pushed the door open.
06:19There was Jade, seated in the chair.
06:21A circle of bad girls flanking her.
06:23The whole scene set up like an interrogation.
06:25Stella, right?
06:27There are rules in this room.
06:28You follow mine.
06:29I'd expected exactly this.
06:31I let out a small sound and stopped in the doorway.
06:34Why'd you stop?
06:34Let's go.
06:35Chase stepped out from behind me, bags in both hands.
06:37The click went silent.
06:40What rules?
06:41Can she put her stuff on the desk or not?
06:43Jade stood up slowly.
06:46Yeah, she can.
06:48Chase dropped the boxes on the desk without ceremony.
06:50He went back for the rest, brought in my toiletries,
06:52set them in the bathroom without a word, and left.
06:55Do you want to grab dinner together?
06:56Nah.
06:57I caught up with him in the hallway.
06:59Fine then.
07:00Coach Burnett's been asking about your attendance again.
07:02Be careful.
07:02I watched his back disappear around the corner.
07:05Then I turned around,
07:06put on my best expression of lingering affection,
07:08and closed the door.
07:09The atmosphere in the room had shifted entirely.
07:11So you and Chase, what's the deal with you two?
07:13I glanced up and tucked my hair behind one ear,
07:15smiled shyly, and saying nothing.
07:17Sometimes silence was the whole answer.
07:19The bad girl's eyes instantly filled with awe.
07:22They could push around any ordinary girl.
07:24But Chase Hartley's girlfriend?
07:25I finished unpacking,
07:26moved my shampoo to the shelf closest to the door.
07:28The perfect spot.
07:30I could just gain relief.
07:32Nobody said a word.
07:34A few days passed.
07:35Ridgewood 302 was quiet.
07:37Everyone was being oddly polite.
07:39Until one afternoon,
07:40I ran into Jade outside the dining hall.
07:42She was alone, which was unusual.
07:43Eating alone?
07:44Where's Chase?
07:45My stomach dropped.
07:46She was starting to wonder.
07:47Right on cue,
07:48Chase and his teammates came out of the gym across the quad.
07:51I pushed my hair back,
07:52gave my brightest smile.
07:54Practice ran late.
07:55Knowing him, he probably hasn't eaten anything.
07:57I jogged over to the vending machine by the gym entrance
07:59and grabbed a carton of chocolate milk.
08:01Then I stepped right into Chase's path and held it out.
08:05Thanks for helping me move in the other day.
08:07I didn't wait for a response,
08:08ducked my head like I was shy,
08:09and walked back to Jade before he could say anything.
08:12His teammates lost it immediately,
08:14elbowing him, making noise.
08:16The way Jade looked at me shifted.
08:18There was awe in it now.
08:19Does he actually drink that snuck?
08:21No idea.
08:22I like it, so I bought it.
08:23To her, I was now the girl Chase Hartley lets feed him chocolate milk.
08:28Not far off, Chase glanced at me.
08:30Then, against all reasonable expectations,
08:32he had bitten down on the straw.
08:35He was walking back toward the dorms,
08:36drinking it like this was completely normal.
08:43If I moved in, I'd end up like Lauren.
08:45Or worse, her roommates were bad girls,
08:47led by Jade.
08:48And just like that, I had an idea.
08:50Chase was the school alpha,
08:51captain of the lacrosse team.
08:52If I could make it look like we were close.
08:54The dean asked you to help me move.
08:56I walked into Ridgewood 302 with Chase.
08:59Chase stepped out from behind me,
09:00bags in both hands.
09:01The click went silent.
09:04Then, I stepped right into Chase's path,
09:06and held it out.
09:07Then, against all reasonable expectations,
09:09he had bitten down on the straw.
09:11The way Jade looked at me shifted.
09:13There was awe in it now.
09:14It started with a housing reassignment.
09:16The dean stopped me in the hallway.
09:18We're planning to move you into Ridgewood 302
09:20to take Lauren's place.
09:21What do you think?
09:23Lauren, the one before me,
09:24had ended up in the counselor's office twice.
09:26Her roommates were bad girls,
09:28led by Jade.
09:28They had burned her hair,
09:30slapped her,
09:30and pinned her down in the bathroom
09:31and made her drink filth.
09:33Administration couldn't ignore it,
09:34so they just reshuffled the rooms.
09:36Then I draw the short straw.
09:37And I don't have a choice in this?
09:40You're here on a full scholarship,
09:41one that's funded by our donors.
09:43I trust you know what's expected of you.
09:45Everyone else at this school had money or connections.
09:47I had neither.
09:48So I'm just some poor schmuck supposed to accept it, huh?
09:50I'd been fidgety all noon,
09:52unable to settle down.
09:53If I moved in,
09:54I'd end up like Lauren,
09:55or worse.
09:56Then the back door swung open,
09:57and Chase walked in with half the lacrosse team.
09:59I watched him drop into a seat and pull out his phone.
10:01And just like that,
10:02I had an idea.
10:03Chase was the school alpha,
10:04captain of the lacrosse team.
10:05The kind of guy Jade's clique would never go after directly.
10:08If I could make it look like we were close,
10:10even just for a few days,
10:11it might be enough breathing room to figure out the rest.
10:13I walked over and set a completed problem set down in front of him.
10:16Today's homework.
10:17He didn't look up from his phone.
10:18I slid it closer.
10:19Fed up,
10:20he was about to tear it up,
10:21only to find it had already been filled out completely.
10:23Then he finally bothered to look at me properly.
10:25The dean asked you to help me move.
10:27It wasn't exactly humiliating for him.
10:29I'd even had the sense to sweeten the deal with a finished homework set.
10:32Considerate of me,
10:33I thought.
10:34That afternoon,
10:34I walked into Ridgewood 302 with Chase carrying half my boxes.
10:38I slid the key in and pushed the door open.
10:41There was Jade,
10:42seated in the chair,
10:42a circle of bad girls flanking her.
10:44The whole scene set up like an interrogation.
10:47Stella, right?
10:48There are rules in this room.
10:50You follow mine.
10:51I'd expected exactly this.
10:52I let out a small sound and stopped in the doorway.
10:55Why'd you stop?
10:56Let's go.
10:56Chase stepped out from behind me,
10:58bags in both hands.
10:59The click went silent.
11:01What rules?
11:02Can she put her stuff on the desk or not?
11:05Jade stood up slowly.
11:07She, yeah,
11:08she can.
11:09Chase dropped the boxes on the desk without ceremony.
11:12He went back for the rest,
11:13brought in my toiletries,
11:14set them in the bathroom without a word,
11:15and left.
11:16Do you want to grab dinner together?
11:18Nah.
11:19I caught up with him in the hallway.
11:20Fine then.
11:21Coach Barnett's been asking about your attendance again.
11:23Be careful.
11:24I watched his back disappear around the corner.
11:27Then I turned around,
11:27put on my best expression of lingering affection,
11:30and closed the door.
11:31The atmosphere in the room had shifted entirely.
11:33So you and Chase,
11:34what's the deal with you two?
11:35I glanced up and tucked my hair behind one ear,
11:37smiled shyly,
11:38and saying nothing.
11:39Sometimes silence was the whole answer.
11:41The bad girl's eyes instantly filled with awe.
11:43They could push around any ordinary girl.
11:45But Chase Hartley's girlfriend?
11:46I finished unpacking,
11:48moved my shampoo to the shelf closest to the door.
11:50The perfect spot.
11:52I could just stand really.
11:53Nobody said a word.
11:56A few days passed.
11:57Ridgewood 302 was quiet.
11:59Everyone was being oddly polite.
12:00Until one afternoon,
12:01I ran into Jade outside the dining hall.
12:03She was alone,
12:04which was unusual.
12:05Eating alone?
12:06Where's Chase?
12:07My stomach dropped.
12:08She was starting to wonder.
12:09Right on cue,
12:10Chase and his teammates came out of the gym across the quad.
12:13I pushed my hair back,
12:14gave my brightest smile.
12:15Practice ran late.
12:16Knowing him,
12:17he probably hasn't eaten anything.
12:19I jogged over to the vending machine by the gym entrance
12:21and grabbed a carton of chocolate milk.
12:23Then I stepped right into Chase's path
12:25and held it out.
12:26Thanks for helping me move in the other day.
12:28I didn't wait for a response,
12:30ducked my head like I was shy,
12:31and walked back to Jade before he could say anything.
12:33His teammates lost it immediately,
12:36elbowing him,
12:36making noise.
12:37The way Jade looked at me shifted.
12:39There was awe in it now.
12:41Does he actually drink that snuck?
12:43No idea.
12:44I like it,
12:44so I bought it.
12:45To her,
12:45I was now the girl Chase Hartley lets feed him chocolate milk.
12:49Not far off,
12:50Chase glanced at me.
12:51Then,
12:52against all reasonable expectations,
12:54he had bitten down on the straw.
12:56He was walking back toward the dorms,
12:58drinking it,
12:59like this was completely normal.
13:02Before I turned 25,
13:03I had to be married.
13:04Otherwise,
13:05control of my family's $4 billion trust
13:06would pass to a board already crawling with my enemies.
13:09So I chose Carter Sterling,
13:10my college sweetheart,
13:11my fiancé,
13:12the man who promised me forever.
13:13Then,
13:13the day before our wedding,
13:14I looked into his eyes
13:15and heard what he was really thinking.
13:16One signature,
13:18and her trust is mine.
13:19After the wedding,
13:20I'll move Sloney into the penthouse.
13:22Hey,
13:22you okay?
13:23Celeste can rot in the guest wing until I find a clean exit.
13:25Just...
13:26pre-wedding jitters.
13:27That was when I realized two things.
13:30My wedding was a trap,
13:31and my fiancé had no idea I could hear every word.
13:35It started with Victoria Sterling.
13:38My future mother-in-law sat in my living room.
13:41Celeste, sweetheart,
13:42I'm so sorry.
13:43The company hit a rough patch.
13:44We may not finalize the premarital financial terms in time.
13:47Then I heard another voice,
13:49not from her mouth,
13:50from behind her eyes.
13:51That stupid girl's trust clause activates at midnight tomorrow.
13:54She signs over co-trustly control at the altar,
13:56or the board takes it all.
13:58We own her.
14:00My breath stopped.
14:01Stress,
14:02I told myself.
14:02Wedding nerves.
14:03Maybe I was finally cracking.
14:04So I tested it.
14:05I looked Victoria dead in the eye.
14:07That's terrible.
14:08Is there anything I can do?
14:09Her face folded into sympathy.
14:10After tomorrow we're all family.
14:12What's ours is yours.
14:13Her mind perked underneath.
14:14My son marries a billion dollar heiress for free.
14:17Society will bow.
14:18My hand shook around the water glass.
14:20Not stress,
14:21not madness.
14:21I was reading her thoughts,
14:22and the signal only fired when I looked into her eyes.
14:24I smiled,
14:25showed Victoria to the door,
14:26waited until her car left the driveway.
14:28Then I called the man I was supposed to marry.
14:32Hey babe,
14:33missing me already?
14:34Just nervous.
14:35Do you really love me?
14:36Celesta,
14:37tomorrow is the beginning of our forever.
14:38Perfect answer.
14:39Perfect lie.
14:40But the gift didn't work through a phone.
14:42No eyes,
14:43no signal.
14:44Come over.
14:45I need to see you.
14:46Carter came in the evening,
14:47lilies in hand,
14:48collar open,
14:49smile soft enough to ruin a smarter woman.
14:50Carter Sterling had chased me for three years in college.
14:53He remembered my coffee order,
14:54my favorite composer,
14:55the exact color of the dress I wore the night we met.
14:57He had played devoted best friends so well that I finally said yes.
15:00I used to believe that smile.
15:01Tonight,
15:01I needed to know what lived behind it.
15:05He crossed the room,
15:06tucked my hair behind my ear,
15:07and kissed my forehead.
15:09My bride,
15:10you look beautiful when you're nervous.
15:11I looked into his eyes,
15:12his mind split open.
15:13God,
15:14she eats up everything I say.
15:15One more signature and her trust is mine.
15:17I'll move Sloney into the penthouse by spring.
15:19Celeste can rot in the guest wing,
15:21until I find the cleanest exit.
15:22My heart went cold.
15:23Then,
15:24buried under the greed,
15:25came a flicker.
15:25She really does look beautiful tonight.
15:27She always does.
15:28Sometimes I almost forget this is a game.
15:30If she weren't so trusting,
15:31maybe I could've...
15:32No.
15:32Focus.
15:33The money.
15:33He was still touching my face.
15:35I wish I could stay.
15:36He said,
15:36checking his what.
15:37Last minute wedding things with the groomsmen.
15:39His mind said something else.
15:41Slane's waiting at the meridian.
15:42One last night before the cage door shuts.
15:44Celeste's sweet,
15:45but Slane gets me.
15:46He kissed my forehead again.
15:48Get some rest babe,
15:48big day.
15:49The door clicked shut.
15:50For a long time,
15:50I stood in the hallway and remembered his proposal.
15:52The rooftop.
15:53The lights.
15:54His voice breaking on forever.
15:55My real tears.
15:56Three years of smiles.
15:57All of them invoices.
15:58I pulled his ring off my finger,
15:59dropped it into my nightstand drawer,
16:00and closed it.
16:01Then I scrolled to a name I never thought I would call.
16:03Adrian Moretti.
16:05Adrian Moretti was not a friend.
16:07He was the sole heir to Moretti Industries.
16:09A corporate empire so vast Wall Street called him the architect.
16:11He had taken control at 26,
16:13doubled the valuation by 29,
16:15and made older billionaires lower their voices when he entered a room.
16:17He also had a Yale Law degree he never used.
16:19People said he kept the license the way other men kept loaded guns.
16:22Our families had history.
16:23His grandfather and my great-grandfather had spent decades trying to destroy each other
16:26across boardroom tables.
16:27The kind of enemies who sent flowers to funerals because respect mattered more than peace.
16:31I had met Adrian exactly four times.
16:33Galas.
16:33Summets.
16:34One funeral.
16:35Every time, he did the same thing.
16:36He refused to look at me.
16:37He would nod, say,
16:38Ms. Vale.
16:39Then vanish within 90 seconds.
16:40Once, I watched him talk to my father for 20 minutes while angling his body so his eyes never
16:44crossed mine.
16:45I had always assumed he disliked me.
16:46Maybe he hated the Vale name.
16:47Maybe he hated that our families had survived his.
16:49Whatever the reason,
16:50Adrian Moretti had made one thing clear.
16:52I was someone he preferred not to see.
16:53The lobby of Moretti Tower was 60 feet of black marble and silence.
16:56A security escort appeared in 15 seconds.
16:58Nobody asked me to wait.
17:00That told me more than any Forbes profile ever had.
17:02His office sat above Manhattan like a throne room made of glass.
17:04He sat across from me in a charcoal suit.
17:06No tie.
17:06Black eyes lowered to the file in front of him.
17:08He looked at the documents.
17:09He looked at his pen.
17:10He looked at the window.
17:11Not at me.
17:12I told him everything.
17:13Adrian listened without interrupting.
17:14When I finished, he only lowered his eyes to the file.
17:16Then his voice turned colder.
17:19The agreement they derapted constitutes wire fraud, conspiracy to defloos, and attempted conversion of trust assets.
17:26His voice was low.
17:27If any share transfer clause was hidden inside the marital filing, that adds securities fraud.
17:31My general counsel can file preliminary motions tonight.
17:34Morali Legal is the most feared private counsel team in Manhattan for a reason.
17:37Just like that.
17:38No questions.
17:39No disbelief.
17:39No polite concern.
17:40He picked up my disaster like it weighed nothing.
17:42I'll have a team pull everything on Sterling Corp, Carter Sterling, and this Sloan by morning.
17:47Hotel records, transfers, communications.
17:49We already had Sterling Corp under review for regular reporting.
17:52I stared at him.
17:54Why?
17:54He turned his pen between his fingers.
17:56What format do you want the evidence in?
17:57Brief, raw files, or slide deck?
17:59He dodged the question so neatly I almost missed it.
18:03Projector ready.
18:04I want everyone to see.
18:06At last, something moved across his face.
18:08Not a smile.
18:09Something sharper.
18:10Then I'll make it airtight.
18:11Legal support, logistics, security, whatever you need tomorrow, my team is yours.
18:15Tell me the plan.
18:15I'll build around it.
18:16This man had avoided my eyes for four years.
18:19Now he was offering me an army.
18:20Thank you, Mr. Morandi.
18:21I stood to leave.
18:23Miss Vial.
18:25I was almost at the door when his voice caught me.
18:27He was looking at his hands.
18:28No eye contact.
18:29You deserve better than this.
18:32I stepped into the cold night with a folder under my arm and a strange feeling that I had
18:35missed something important.
18:39Before I turned 25, I had to be married.
18:41Otherwise, control of my family's $4 billion trust would pass to a board already crawling
18:44with my enemies.
18:45So I chose Carter Sterling, my college sweetheart.
18:47My fiancé.
18:48The man who promised me forever.
18:49Then, the day before our wedding, I looked into his eyes and heard what he was really thinking.
18:52One signature, and her trust is mine.
18:55After the wedding, I'll move Sloanie into the penthouse.
18:57Hey, you okay?
18:58Celeste can rot in the guest wing until I find a clean exit.
19:00Just pre-wedding jitters.
19:02That was when I realized two things.
19:04My wedding was a trap.
19:06And my fiancé had no idea I could hear every word.
19:09It started with Victoria Sterling.
19:13My future mother-in-law sat in my living room.
19:15Celeste, sweetheart, I'm so sorry.
19:17The company hit a rough patch.
19:18We may not finalize the premarital financial terms in time.
19:21Then I heard another voice, not from her mouth, from behind her eyes.
19:25That stupid girl's trust clause activates at midnight tomorrow.
19:27She signs over co-trustly control at the altar.
19:29Or the board takes it all.
19:31We.
19:32Own.
19:32Her.
19:33My breath stopped.
19:34Stress.
19:34I told myself.
19:35Wedding nerves.
19:36Maybe I was finally cracking.
19:37So I tested it.
19:38I looked Victoria dead in the eye.
19:40That's terrible.
19:40Is there anything I can do?
19:41Her face folded into sympathy.
19:43After tomorrow, we're all family.
19:44What's ours is yours.
19:45Her mind purred underneath.
19:46My son marries a billion-dollar heiress for free.
19:49Society will bow.
19:50My hand shook around the water glass.
19:51Not stress.
19:52Not madness.
19:53I was reading her thoughts.
19:54And the signal only fired when I looked into her eyes.
19:56I smiled.
19:56Showed Victoria to the door.
19:58Waited until her car left the driveway.
19:59Then I called the man I was supposed to marry.
20:03Hey babe.
20:04Missing me already?
20:04Just nervous.
20:05Do you really love me?
20:06Celeste.
20:07Tomorrow is the beginning of our forever.
20:09Perfect answer.
20:09Perfect lie.
20:11But the gift didn't work through a phone.
20:12No eyes.
20:13No signal.
20:13Come over.
20:14I need to see you.
20:16Carter came in the evening.
20:17Lily's in hand.
20:18Collar open.
20:18Smile soft enough to ruin a smarter woman.
20:20Carter Sterling had chased me for three years in college.
20:22He remembered my coffee order.
20:23My favorite composer.
20:24The exact color of the dress I wore the night we met.
20:26He had played devoted best friends so well that I finally said yes.
20:29I used to believe that smile.
20:30Tonight, I needed to know what lived behind it.
20:34He crossed the room.
20:35Tucked my hair behind my ear.
20:36And kissed my forehead.
20:37My bride.
20:38You look beautiful when you're nervous.
20:39I looked into his eyes.
20:40His mind split open.
20:41God, she eats up everything I say.
20:43One more signature and her trust is mine.
20:45I'll move Sloney into the penthouse by spring.
20:47Celeste can rot in the guest wing until I find the cleanest exit.
20:50My heart went cold.
20:51Then, buried under the greed, came a flicker.
20:53She really does look beautiful tonight.
20:54She always does.
20:55Sometimes I almost forget this is a game.
20:56If she weren't so trusting, maybe I could've...
20:58No.
20:59Focus.
20:59The money.
21:00He was still touching my face.
21:01I wish I could stay.
21:02He said, checking his what.
21:04Last minute wedding things with the groomsmen.
21:05His mind said something else.
21:07Slane's waiting at the meridian.
21:08One last night before the cage door shuts.
21:10Celeste's sweet, but Slane gets me.
21:12He kissed my forehead again.
21:13Get some rest, babe.
21:14Big day.
21:14The door clicked shut.
21:15For a long time, I stood in the hallway and remembered his proposal.
21:18The rooftop.
21:18The lights.
21:19His voice breaking on forever.
21:20My real tears.
21:21Three years of smiles.
21:22All of them in voices.
21:23I pulled his ring off my finger, dropped it into my nightstand drawer, and closed it.
21:26Then I scrolled to a name I never thought I would call.
21:28Adrian Moretti.
21:30Adrian Moretti was not a friend.
21:31He was the sole heir to Moretti Industries.
21:33A corporate empire so vast Wall Street called him the architect.
21:35He had taken control at 26, doubled the valuation by 29, and made older billionaires lower their
21:40voices when he entered a room.
21:41He also had a Yale Law degree he never used.
21:43People said he kept the license the way other men kept loaded guns.
21:45Our families had history.
21:46His grandfather and my great-grandfather had spent decades trying to destroy each other
21:49across boardroom tables.
21:50The kind of enemies who sent flowers to funerals because respect mattered more than peace.
21:54I had met Adrian exactly four times.
21:55Galas.
21:56Summits.
21:56One funeral.
21:57Every time, he did the same thing.
21:59He refused to look at me.
22:00He would nod, say, Ms. Vale.
22:01Then vanish within 90 seconds.
22:02Once, I watched him talk to my father for 20 minutes while angling his body so his eyes
22:06never crossed mine.
22:07I had always assumed he disliked me.
22:08Maybe he hated the Vale name.
22:09Maybe he hated that our families had survived his.
22:11Whatever the reason, Adrian Moretti had made one thing clear.
22:13I was someone he preferred not to see.
22:15The lobby of Moretti Tower was 60 feet of black marble and silence.
22:17A security escort appeared in 15 seconds.
22:19Nobody asked me to wait.
22:20That told me more than any Forbes profile ever had.
22:22His office sat above Manhattan like a throne room made of glass.
22:25He sat across from me in a charcoal suit, no tie.
22:27Black eyes lowered to the file in front of him.
22:28He looked at the documents.
22:29He looked at his pen.
22:30He looked at the window.
22:31Not at me.
22:32I told him everything.
22:33Adrian listened without interrupting.
22:34When I finished, he only lowered his eyes to the file.
22:36Then his voice turned colder.
22:39The agreement they drafted constitutes wire fraud, conspiracy to defloose, and attempted
22:44conversion of trust assets.
22:45His voice was low.
22:46If any share transfer clause was hidden inside the marital filing that adds securities fraud,
22:49my general counsel can file preliminary motions tonight.
22:53Morali Legal is the most feared private counsel team in Manhattan for a reason.
22:55Just like that.
22:56No questions.
22:57No disbelief.
22:58No polite concern.
22:58He picked up my disaster like it weighed nothing.
23:01I'll have a team pull everything on Sterling Corp, Carter Sterling, and this Sloan by
23:04morning.
23:05Hotel records, transfers, communications.
23:07We already had Sterling Corp under review for a regular reporting.
23:09I stared at him.
23:11Why?
23:12He turned his pen between his fingers.
23:13What format do you want the evidence in?
23:14Brief, raw files, or slide deck?
23:16He dodged the question so neatly I almost missed it.
23:20Projector ready.
23:21I want everyone to see.
23:22At last, something moved across his face.
23:24Not a smile.
23:25Something sharper.
23:26Then I'll make it airtight.
23:27Legal support, logistics, security, whatever you need tomorrow, my team is yours.
23:30Tell me the plan.
23:31I'll build around it.
23:32This man had avoided my eyes for four years.
23:34Now he was offering me an army.
23:36Thank you, Mr. Morandi.
23:37I stood to leave.
23:39Miss Vile.
23:40I was almost at the door when his voice caught me.
23:42He was looking at his hands.
23:43No eye contact.
23:44You deserve better than this.
23:46I stepped into the cold night with a folder under my arm and a strange feeling that I
23:49had missed something important.
24:14Sebastian, you've come to say, save me!
24:18You're wrong, sister.
24:29He came here specifically to protect me.
24:33You guys!
24:35Sebastian, I'm your wife, you know!
24:36My wife?
24:37As far as I'm concerned, Lydia is my only wife.
24:41Unless your blood is pure enough to continuously enhance my power, you have no right to remain
24:44by my side.
24:45No, it can't be.
24:47How pitiful.
24:48Sis, do you know why there's a werewolf here tonight?
24:51It's because we opened the border fence and let the werewolves in.
24:58You actually...
24:59So I want to thank you, too.
25:00Thank you for taking care of Sebastian for all these years.
25:10Sebastian!
25:11Sebastian!
25:14Goodbye.
25:16If I were given another chance, Sebastian, Lydia, I'll make you pay for this!
25:26Is this the Sinclair Family Council Chamber?
25:29I've actually been reborn on the day of the Marriage Alliance election!
25:31To maintain peace between the Vampire Clan and humanity, Sinclair House selects outstanding
25:35heirs every hundred years to marry into the Vampire Clan.
25:39Rebecca, my proudest daughter.
25:41Sebastian possesses noble, pure-blooded royal lineage, and I have assigned him to you.
25:48In my past life, I was fooled by his allude demeanor.
25:54I'm sorry, Elders.
25:55I'm late.
25:59Why are you running so fast?
26:03It's okay.
26:05Seeing that Lord Sebastian has been assigned to my sister, I'm gently happy for her.
26:09Lydia.
26:11It turns out they'd been together all along.
26:13I was so foolish in my past life.
26:16I let them fool me the whole time.
26:40Sebastian, you've come to say, save me!
26:44You're wrong, sister.
26:55He came here specifically to protect me.
26:59You guys!
27:00Sebastian, I'm your wife, you know!
27:02My wife?
27:03As far as I'm concerned, Lydia is my only wife.
27:06Unless your blood is pure enough to continuously enhance my power, you have no right to remain by my side.
27:11No.
27:11It can't be.
27:13How pitiful.
27:14Sis, do you know why there's a werewolf here tonight?
27:17It's because we opened the border fence and let the werewolves in.
27:23You actually...
27:24So I want to thank you too.
27:26Thank you for taking care of Sebastian for all these years.
27:36Sebastian!
27:40Good bye.
27:42If I were given another chance, Sebastian, Lydia, I'll make you pay for this!
27:51Is this the Sinclair Family Council Chamber?
27:54I've actually been reborn on the day of the Marriage Alliance election.
27:57To maintain peace between the Vampire Clan and humanity, Sinclair House selects outstanding heirs every hundred years to marry into
28:02the Vampire Clan.
28:04Rebecca, my proudest daughter.
28:06Sebastian possesses noble, pure-blooded royal lineage, and I have assigned him to you.
28:13In my past life, I was fooled by his allude demeanor.
28:19I'm sorry, Elders.
28:21I'm late.
28:25Why are you running so fast?
28:29It's okay.
28:30Seeing that Lord Sebastian has been assigned to my sister, I'm gently happy for her.
28:34Lydia.
28:37It turns out they'd been together all along.
28:39I was so foolish in my past life.
28:41I let them fool me the whole time.
29:03Sebastian, you've come to say, save me!
29:07You're wrong, sister.
29:17He came here specifically to protect me.
29:21You guys...
29:22Sebastian, I'm your wife, you know!
29:23My wife?
29:24As far as I'm concerned, Lydia is my only wife.
29:27Unless your blood is pure enough to continuously enhance my power, you have no right to remain by my side.
29:31No.
29:32It can't be.
29:33How pitiful.
29:34Sis, do you know why there's a werewolf here tonight?
29:37It's because we opened the border fence and let the werewolves in.
29:43You actually...
29:44So I want to thank you, too.
29:45Thank you for taking care of Sebastian for all these years.
29:54Sebastian!
29:58Goodbye.
30:00If I were given another chance...
30:02Sebastian!
30:03Lydia!
30:04I'll make you pay for this!
30:09Is this the Sinclair Family Council Chamber?
30:11I've actually been reborn on the day of the Marriage Alliance election!
30:14To maintain peace between the Vampire Clan and humanity, Sinclair House selects outstanding heirs every hundred years to marry into
30:19the Vampire Clan.
30:20Rebecca, my proudest daughter.
30:22Sebastian possesses noble, pure-blooded royal lineage, and I have assigned him to you.
30:28In my past life, I was fooled by his allude demeanor.
30:34I'm sorry, Elders.
30:35I'm late.
30:39Why are you running so fast?
30:43It's okay.
30:44Seeing that Lord Sebastian has been assigned to my sister, I'm gently happy for her.
30:48Lydia!
30:50It turns out they'd been together all along.
30:52I was so foolish in my past life.
30:54I let them fool me the whole time.
31:14I let them fool me the whole time.
31:16Sebastian!
31:17You've come to say...
31:18Save me!
31:19You're wrong, sister.
31:30He came here specifically to protect me.
31:33You guys...
31:34Sebastian, I'm your wife, you know!
31:35My wife?
31:37As far as I'm concerned, Lydia is my only wife.
31:40Unless your blood is pure enough to continuously enhance my power, you have no right to remain by my side.
31:44No.
31:44It can't be.
31:46How pitiful.
31:47Sis, do you know why there's a werewolf here tonight?
31:49It's because we opened the border fence and let the werewolves in.
31:55You actually...
31:56So I want to thank you too.
31:57Thank you for taking care of Sebastian for all these years.
32:00I want to thank you for all these years.
32:07Sebastian!
32:10Goodbye.
32:12If I were given another chance, Sebastian, Lydia, I'll make you pay for this!
32:25To maintain peace between the Vampire Clan and humanity, Sinclair House selects outstanding heirs every hundred years to marry into
32:31the Vampire Clan.
32:32Rebecca, my proudest daughter.
32:34Sebastian possesses noble, pure-blooded royal lineage, and I have assigned him to you.
32:41In my past life, I was fooled by his allude demeanor.
32:46I'm sorry, Elders.
32:48I'm late.
32:51Why are you running so fast?
32:55It's okay.
32:56Seeing that Lord Sebastian has been assigned to my sister, I'm gently happy for her.
33:00Lydia.
33:02It turns out they'd been together all along.
33:04I was so foolish in my past life.
33:06I let them fool me the whole time.
33:28Sebastian, you've come to say, save me!
33:32You're wrong, sister.
33:42He came here specifically to protect me.
33:45You guys!
33:46Sebastian, I'm your wife, you know!
33:48My wife?
33:49As far as I'm concerned, Lydia is my only wife.
33:52Unless your blood is pure enough to continuously enhance my power, you have no right to remain by my side.
33:56No.
33:57It can't be.
33:58How pitiful.
33:59Sis, do you know why there's a werewolf here tonight?
34:02It's because we opened the border fence and let the werewolves in.
34:07You actually...
34:08So I want to thank you, too.
34:10Thank you for taking care of Sebastian for all these years.
34:19Sebastian!
34:23Goodbye.
34:24If I were given another chance, Sebastian, Lydia, I'll make you pay for this!
34:33Is this the Sinclair Family Council Chamber?
34:36I've actually been reborn on the day of the Marriage Alliance election!
34:38To maintain peace between the Vampire Clan and humanity, Sinclair House selects outstanding heirs every hundred years to marry into
34:43the Vampire Clan.
34:45Rebecca, my proudest daughter.
34:46Sebastian possesses noble, pure-blooded royal lineage, and I have assigned him to you.
34:53In my past life, I was fooled by his allude demeanor.
34:58I'm sorry, Elders.
35:00I'm late.
35:04Why are you running so fast?
35:07It's okay.
35:08Seeing that Lord Sebastian has been assigned to my sister, I'm gently happy for her.
35:12Lydia.
35:14It turns out they'd been together all along.
35:16I was so foolish in my past life.
35:18I let them fool me the whole time.
35:21On the day of our bonding rite, my fiancé paraded his pregnant mistress before everyone just to humiliate me, ordering
35:27me to raise their child.
35:29He thought I had no choice but to obey him, but I decided to just swap him for someone else.
35:33I am the Divine Maiden of the Deer Clan.
35:35When I was born, the High Priest had prophesied that I possess the noblest bloodline and status.
35:39Whoever I bond with, I'll always be the most revered female in the tribe, entitled to everyone's worship.
35:44Naturally, my mate should be the most noble male.
35:46Yet, my fiancé Sorin, the third prince of the Fox Clan walked up to me, hand in hand with a
35:51delicate-looking woman.
35:53She wore the engagement necklace that Sorin had once swore would be mine.
35:56He had vowed to place it on me with his own hands during our bonding rage.
36:00Lynette and I have already mated.
36:02She'd be my only mate if Mother didn't force me to bond with you.
36:06Don't you ever dream that I'll love you!
36:08I just gave Lynette a light glance, but she acted like I'd hurt her, shrinking behind Sorin in terror.
36:14Sorin turned to her tenderly and gently touched her stomach.
36:18She's carrying my child.
36:19Once my cub is born, Elwynn will raise him as her own.
36:27Watching Lynette put on that pitiful act,
36:29I almost thought I'd actually done something wrong to her.
36:32I'll continue the rate, if you promise to treat Lynette well and serve her as your mistress.
36:37You'll wait on her hand and foot while she's carrying,
36:40tend to her recovery afterwards, and then raise the child on your own.
36:43I won't have Lynette exhausted by any of this.
36:46Oh, and since you're this divine maiden of the Deer Clan, you can personally toot our child.
36:50Make sure the child turns out well and make sure they treat Lynette right when they grow up.
36:54Elwynn is so kind.
36:55I'm sure she won't give me a hard time.
36:57Sorin and I hadn't fully completed the bonding rilt yet, so I still had the chance to call it off.
37:01I am no one's servant, and I'll never take care of the child you have with her.
37:05In that case, let's call off the bond.
37:08Whoever wants to be my mate today, step forward.
37:11I'll complete the rile with you right now.
37:17A flicker of Hesitantin crossed everyone's face.
37:20After all, my noble lineage was an irresistible prize.
37:23I thought someone would step up, but Sorin just Sorin just let out a cold scoff.
37:27Alera, stop embarrassing yourself.
37:29My mother arranged our bond, and our names are already carved together on the bonding stone.
37:33Even if I don't want you, you can't have anyone else.
37:36Anyone who tries will be going against the Fox King.
37:39It would be seen as treason!
37:42Soon as the word treason was mentioned, the crowd way silent.
37:45Sensing their fear, Sorin wore a smug, triumphant look, staring down at me with utter arrogance.
37:50This was why he was so fearless.
37:52Even if he let me go, no one would dare to take me in.
37:56Elvin, look around.
37:58If you don't bond with me, you die.
38:00What's it gonna be?
38:01For a moment, I felt hopeless.
38:02Everyone wanted my status and my blood, but no one would actually help me.
38:09Just then, someone approached.
38:12The Queen of the Tribe, Nora.
38:19You filthy slave!
38:20How dare you seduce your master and disrupt the right!
38:23Guards!
38:23Branquist!
38:24Take this slave out and execute her at once!
38:26She's mine.
38:27Touch her, and you're dead.
38:31My dear, I know I failed to raise him well.
38:33I'm sorry you were treated like this.
38:36But today is the big day, and all the nobles are watching.
38:39Can you just play along for now and finish the reed?
38:42Trust me, I'll back you up later.
38:43I won't let that slave climb over you.
38:47You want me to be his partner only because of my bloodline?
38:50Our bond has not even been sealed yet, and Prince Sodan is already allowing a slave to
38:54flaunt herself before me.
38:55And now there is even a disgraceful child.
38:58I'll never consent to be the mate of such a man.
39:01You belong to the crown.
39:02If you don't finish this, I promise your family will pay for it.
39:07Is this really my only fate?
39:09Finally, the silence broke.
39:11Does your offer still stand, Lady Elwynn?
39:13Everyone turned their heads and went silent as they saw someone slowly approaching the altar.
39:17No, wait.
39:20It was someone being pushed in a wheelchair.
39:22It was Avalian, the Fox King's eldest son and the rightful crown prince.
39:26They said he had a strange illness in his childhood.
39:29Whenever it flared up, he would lose his mind and become violently restless.
39:33A cruel complication of his condition left him frail and paralyzed, unable to stand on his own.
39:38Only by finding your fated mate and bonding with her can you be soothed,
39:41and your strange affliction healed.
39:44But if you forge a bond with someone incompatible,
39:47your body will violently burst apart,
39:49and your partner will die right alongside you.
39:52Arierian wasn't Nora's son.
39:55His mother was the previous mate of the Fox King,
39:58and she died to protect the king.
40:03He alone is destined to take the throne of the Fox King.
40:07Your Highness, this isn't a joke.
40:09You can't just bond with anyone.
40:11You'll be dead.
40:13Lady Elwynn, does your offer still stand?
40:15I looked into his blue eyes.
40:17They were as clear as water.
40:19Don't be a fool.
40:20If you bond with him, the ceremony will turn into your funeral.
40:22Don't gamble your life away.
40:23You don't have to do this.
40:24Do you know what will happen if you don't bond with Sorin?
40:27Sorin reached out his hand, like he was offering a collar.
40:30This is your last chance.
40:31Just give in.
40:32Everyone fell silent.
40:34They were all waiting for my answer.
40:37Eland, you'd better think this through.
40:39I heard my own footsteps,
40:40leaving those greedy gazes behind me.
40:42The chains binding me felt broken.
40:44I'd rather die than be a slave.
40:46Does your offer still hold?
40:48Yes.
40:48Everyone looked at each other and started whispering.
40:50I want to bond with her.
40:52Nora froze.
40:53Her face dark.
40:54But since Averian was the crown prince,
40:56there was nothing she could do.
41:07Everyone watched us without blinking.
41:10Aurelian cut his palm, and I did the same.
41:12We held hands, our blood mingling.
41:14A golden light lit up the altar.
41:16But then, terrifying black veins crawled up Aurelian's face.
41:19On the day of our bonding rite,
41:21my fiancé paraded his pregnant mistress before everyone just to humiliate me,
41:25ordering me to raise their child.
41:27He thought I had no choice but to obey him,
41:29but I decided to just swap him for someone else.
41:31I am the divine maiden of the deer clan.
41:33When I was born,
41:34the high priest had prophesied that I possess the noblest bloodline and status.
41:37Whoever I bond with,
41:39I'll always be the most revered female in the tribe,
41:41entitled to everyone's worship.
41:42Naturally, my mate should be the most noble male.
41:45Yet, my fiancé Sorin, the third prince of the fox clan,
41:48walked up to me, hand in hand with a delicate-looking woman.
41:51She wore the engagement necklace that Sorin had once swore would be mine.
41:55He had vowed to place it on me with his own hands during our bonding rage.
41:59Lynette and I have already mated.
42:01She'd be my only mate if mother didn't force me to bond with you.
42:04Don't you ever dream that I'll love you!
42:07I just gave Lynette a light glance,
42:09but she acted like I'd hurt her, shrinking behind Sorin in terror.
42:12Sorin turned to her tenderly and gently touched her stomach.
42:17She's carrying my child.
42:18Once my cub is born,
42:19Elwynn will raise him as her own.
42:25Watching Lynette put on that pitiful act,
42:27I almost thought I'd actually done something wrong to her.
42:30I'll continue the rate,
42:31if you promise to treat Lynette well and serve her as your mistress.
42:36You'll wait on her hand and foot while she's carrying,
42:38tend to her recovery afterwards,
42:39and then raise the child on your own.
42:41I won't have Lynette exhausted by any of this.
42:44Oh, and since you're this divine maiden of the deer clan,
42:47you can personally toot our child.
42:48Make sure the child turns out well,
42:50and make sure they treat Lynette right when they grow up.
42:52Elwynn is so kind.
42:54I'm sure she won't give me a hard time.
42:55Sorin and I hadn't fully completed the bonding rilt yet,
42:58so I still had the chance to call it off.
43:00I am no one's servant,
43:01and I'll never take care of the child you have with her.
43:03In that case,
43:05let's call off the bond.
43:07Whoever wants to be my mate today,
43:08step forward.
43:09I'll complete the rile with you right now.
43:15A flicker of hesitantin crossed everyone's face.
43:18After all,
43:19my noble lineage was an irresistible prize.
43:21I thought someone would step up,
43:23but Sorin just let out a cold scoff.
43:26Alera,
43:26stop embarrassing yourself.
43:28My mother arranged our bond,
43:29and our names are already carved together on the bonding stone.
43:32Even if I don't want you,
43:33you can't have anyone else.
43:35Anyone who tries will be going against the Fox King.
43:37It would be seen as treason!
43:40Soon as the word treason was mentioned,
43:42the crowd way silent.
43:44Sensing their fear,
43:45Sorin wore a smug,
43:46triumphant look,
43:47staring down at me with utter arrogance.
43:49This was why he was so fearless.
43:51Even if he let me go,
43:52no one would dare to take me in.
43:54Elvin, look around.
43:56If you don't bond with me,
43:58you die.
43:58What's it gonna be?
43:59For a moment,
44:00I felt hopeless.
44:01Everyone wanted my status and my blood,
44:03but no one would actually help me.
44:07Just then,
44:08someone approached.
44:10The queen of the tribe,
44:12Nora.
44:18You filthy slave!
44:19How dare you seduce your master and disrupt the right!
44:21Guards!
44:22Brankwist!
44:22Take this slave out and execute her at once!
44:25She's mine!
44:26Touch her,
44:26and you're dead.
44:29My dear,
44:30I know I failed to raise him well.
44:32I'm sorry you were treated like this.
44:35But today is the big day,
44:36and all the nobles are watching.
44:37Can you just play along for now
44:39and finish the reed?
44:40Trust me,
44:41I'll back you up later.
44:42I won't let that slave climb over you.
44:45You want me to be his partner
44:47only because of my bloodline?
44:48Our bond has not even been sealed yet,
44:50and Prince Sodan is already allowing a slave
44:52to flaunt herself before me.
44:54And now there is even a disgraceful child.
44:56I'll never consent to be the mate of such a man.
44:59You belong to the crown.
45:01If you don't finish this,
45:02I promise your family will pay for it.
45:06Is this really my only fate?
45:07Finally,
45:08the silence broke.
45:09Does your offer still stand,
45:11Lady Elwyn?
45:11Everyone turned their heads
45:12and went silent
45:13as they saw someone slowly approaching the altar.
45:15No,
45:17wait.
45:18It was someone being pushed in a wheelchair.
45:20It was Avalian,
45:21the Fox King's eldest son
45:23and the rightful crown prince.
45:25They said he had a strange illness in his childhood.
45:28Whenever it flared up,
45:29he would lose his mind
45:30and become violently restless.
45:32A cruel complication of his condition
45:33left him frail and paralyzed,
45:35unable to stand on his own.
45:37Only by finding your fated mate
45:38and bonding with her
45:39can you be soothed
45:40and your strange affliction healed.
45:42But if you forge a bond
45:44with someone incompatible,
45:45your body will violently burst apart
45:47and your partner will die
45:49right alongside you.
45:50Aririan wasn't Nora's son.
45:54His mother was the previous mate
45:56of the Fox King
45:56and she died to protect the king.
46:01He alone is destined
46:03to take the throne of the Fox King.
46:05Your Highness,
46:06this isn't a joke.
46:07You can't just bond with anyone.
46:09You'll be dead.
46:11Lady Elwynn,
46:12does your offer still stand?
46:14I looked into his blue eyes.
46:16They were as clear as water.
46:17Don't be a fool.
46:18If you bond with him,
46:19the ceremony will turn into your funeral.
46:21Don't gamble your life away.
46:22You don't have to do this.
46:23Do you know what will happen
46:24if you don't bond with Sorin?
46:26Sorin reached out his hand
46:27like he was offering a collar.
46:29This is your last chance.
46:30Just give in.
46:31Everyone fell silent.
46:32They were all waiting for my answer.
46:35Eland,
46:36you'd better think this through.
46:37I heard my own footsteps,
46:38leaving those greedy gazes behind me.
46:41The chains binding me felt broken.
46:43I'd rather die than be a slave.
46:45Does your offer still hold?
46:46Yes.
46:47Everyone looked at each other
46:48and started whispering.
46:49I want to bond with her.
46:50Nora froze,
46:51her face dark.
46:52But since Avarian was the crown prince,
46:54there was nothing she could do.
46:56Haha.
46:56Elowen,
46:57are you done playing this game?
46:59Apologize now
46:59and Lynette and I might forgive you.
47:01You may even keep your place by my side.
47:03Elowen,
47:04don't throw your life away
47:05just because of me.
47:06Everyone watched us without blinking.
47:08Aurelian cut his palm
47:09and I did the same.
47:11We held hands,
47:12our blood mingling,
47:13a golden light lit up the altar.
47:15But then,
47:15terrifying black veins
47:17crawled up Aurelian's face.
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