“I’ll just run to the restroom. You two go ahead, I’ll catch up,” Franco said quickly, already taking a step back.Muna blinked at him, her brows knitting. She grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks.“What are you talking about, Franco? We need to get to the White House before Elena and her family take all the invitations for themselves! Remember what Granny said—whoever brings the invitation card home first marries me. What if Eddie gets it before you? We can’t waste time here!”Franco drew a deep breath, his tone steady, almost reassuring.“Just trust me, Muna. I’ll be right behind you. If you stay here, Elena might snatch every single card. Go on ahead.”Aria stepped forward, slipping her arm through Muna’s and tugging her gently.“Come on, Muna. We can’t stand around and watch Elena waltz in and take the prize. We’re not giving her that satisfaction.”Franco flashed Muna an easy smile, as if to calm the storm in her eyes.“Go. It’s just the restroom—I’ll be back before you e

Rita shot to her feet, eyes blazing. This was outrageous—no, tremendous. Even though speaking while the Ruffian Lord was talking was practically asking for an early grave, she couldn’t stop herself.“What are you talking about, my Lord?!” she snapped. “You want me to apologize to this woman? For what? I didn’t hurt her. I didn’t touch her! We just had a banter, and she insulted me too. So why should I bow and say sorry?”Aria’s head whipped toward her, eyes widening. She leaned in with a low, urgent whisper. “What are you doing, woman? Bow before the Ruffian Lord before you get punished!”Rita turned her glare on Aria, her voice like a whip. “You better keep your mouth shut and stay out of this!”Then, tilting her chin toward the high window, she spoke again. “My Lord, with all due respect, I am asking for a second chance! Besides, you said you already forgave us, right? So why do we need to apologize to this crazy woman? She’s not even worth it!”Maya popped up beside her like a back

“Ahhhhh!” Aria’s scream tore through the air as Regha’s invisible hand twisted deeper into her hair, wrenching her upward.Maya and her family staggered back in fear, retreating as if the very ground beneath them burned. Muna stood rooted to the spot, eyes wide, breath caught in her throat. She could see nothing, only Aria writhing in agony, lifted by some unseen, merciless force.Regha’s voice rang out, echoing across the battlefield like a crack of thunder.“You think you are clever? You think your tongue is sharper than the rest? Do you believe your conscience is pure, cleaner than all others here? Do you think yourself smarter… than me?”Aria whimpered, her hands flailing helplessly, trying to grasp at the invisible fingers tangled in her hair. Regha only pulled harder, lifting her higher. Her feet scraped against the earth before finally dangling above it, her body straining against his strength.“No…” Muna gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Rita staggered backward in shock, e

“You are the reincarnate of the servant of the Demi Clan,” the voice echoed in her mind, as if it were spoken only yesterday. “You wronged a god in the past… and so your soul was cursed.”The words returned in perfect clarity, the prophecy that had been planted within her long ago.“This same god bound your soul to his wrath. You will continue to reincarnate in every world, at least once in every century. For centuries upon centuries, he will always watch for you. He will always hunt you. And even if he finds you and kills you, your soul will return again, in another life, in another century. This will continue until he either abandons his vengeance… or he dies.”The voice grew louder, sharper in her mind.“And once you look upon him with your own eyes, the veil will break. You will remember everything—the past lives, the betrayals, the ways you died in every reincarnation. Every wound, every ending will return to you. But if he dies… then all those memories will die with him. You wil