2025-08-26 23:05:59
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Chapter 268
“What is that?” Cynthia asked, frowning, when she noticed Antonio staring at the sheet.Antonio bent down, picking it up gently between his fingers. His eyes narrowed. “It’s a note,” he murmured. The texture was coarse and unnatural. Turning it over, he froze.There, etched into the surface with dark ink, was a strange circular emblem—a mark that seemed to twist and shimmer faintly, like it was alive.Antonio’s heart stopped. His throat tightened, and his pulse quickened violently.“Antonio?” Cynthia’s voice came softly, curious but concerned.He didn’t answer. The mark blurred before his eyes, memories flooding back with brutal force—his mother’s lifeless body lying on the ground, and that same mark, burned into the skin of her arm like a cruel brand.His breath came short. For a moment, the room seemed to spin.“Antonio!” Cynthia’s voice pulled him back. He blinked rapidly and turned to her, his jaw clenched. “What is it?” she asked again, her voice trembling now.Wordlessly, Anton
Chapter 267
The room had finally begun to quiet down after all the chaos. The faint scent of burning candles mixed with the sharp tang of herbs.Marianne sat up weakly on her bed, her back resting against the carved wooden headboard that towered protectively behind her. Her skin, once as pale as linen, had begun to regain its warmth, and there was color now, a faint blush returning to her cheeks. Her eyes, though still weary, seemed more alert than they had been in days. The storm that had gripped her body with fever and confusion had finally begun to pass.Around her, the servants moved softly, their steps measured, their voices barely whispers. The air felt fragile, as if one loud noise might shatter the calm they had fought to restore. They hovered near the bed, ready to respond at the smallest gesture, but equally afraid of doing anything that might unsettle their recovering mistress.Antonio stood several feet away, his hands clasped loosely behind his back. His sharp eyes never left Ma
Chapter 266
The moment Marianne fell back onto her bed, the entire room turned deathly still. Her body went limp, her head lolled to the side, and the color drained from her skin so completely that it looked like all the life had been sucked out of her in an instant. For a heartbeat, no one breathed. The ticking of the clock on the far wall became deafening, its rhythm echoing through the heavy silence.Then the whispers began—faint at first, then swelling into panic like a tide breaking against the shore.“She’s gone…” someone muttered from the corner, voice quivering.A second later, another voice broke through the stunned quiet. “He’s killed her!”That was all it took. The room erupted into chaos.Several of the servants gasped aloud and stumbled backward, knocking into furniture as they tried to flee. One young maid screamed, clutching at her apron as she bolted for the door. A few of the older relatives rose from their chairs in disbelief, hands trembling, eyes darting from the still figur
Chapter 265
The room was thick with dread.Every breath carried the stench of fear, medicine, and desperation. Marianne’s trembling form lay in the center of it all—half-conscious, half-lost in her suffering—as the family, servants, and attendants crowded around her bed. Her once vibrant face was pale, lips cracked, eyelids fluttering as though trapped between sleep and death. The sound of her labored breathing filled the silence, each wheeze pulling at the hearts of those around her.There was something about the smell of the herbs that unsettled everyone; it was at once natural and dangerous.Gently, Antonio scooped a small portion of the herbs with his thumb and forefinger, dropping them into the cup of water. The mixture began to swirl slowly, faint clouds blooming within the liquid as he stirred it with his finger. Cynthia’s heart raced faster as the water changed color—pale and cloudy, releasing a faint fragrance that tingled in the air.When he was done, Antonio turned toward the bed.
Chapter 264
The house was in complete disarray when Antonio and Cynthia stepped through the door. Shouts echoed through the wide hallway, women were crying, and men stood arguing in corners while servants rushed back and forth, unsure of what to do.The air was heavy with panic — it smelled of fear, sickness, and confusion all tangled into one unbearable stench.Cynthia’s heart pounded as she scanned the faces around the room, most of whom were her relatives or neighbors who had gathered after hearing that her mother’s condition had worsened. The moment she entered, several of them rushed toward her, speaking all at once, asking questions, blaming one another, and crowding her until she could hardly breathe.“Please!” she shouted, raising her hands. “Everyone, calm down! Please, just give us space!”Her voice, though trembling, carried a tone of authority that silenced the chaos for a brief second. “Let us attend to her. I’m begging you — please step aside. Just let us help her!”There was he
Chapter 263
Cynthia’s breath caught. Then, before anyone could react, she lunged forward and snatched the foil-wrapped bundle from Matilda’s trembling hands.She held it close to her chest, her fingers gripping it so tightly that the shiny metal crinkled beneath her palms. For a moment, she simply stood there.“Matilda…” she whispered, her voice trembling. “You have no idea what this means to me. To us.”Matilda gave a faint, weary smile. “I think I do, dear sister. I only pray it’s not too late.”Tears stung Cynthia’s eyes. She wanted to hug Matilda, to pour out every ounce of gratitude she felt, but there was no time. Every minute that passed felt like a thief stealing another breath from her mother.“Thank you,” Cynthia breathed. “Thank you so much.”She turned sharply toward the maid who had been standing quietly by the door, watching the scene unfold. The girl looked young—maybe in her early twenties—her eyes wide with concern and confusion.“Listen to me,” Cynthia said, firmly. “Matilda
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