Beauty and the Unconquered Beast

Chapter 10: The Morning After

Chapter 10: The Morning After

The Montclair estate was silent by the time the last car disappeared through the gates.

The banquet was over.

The guests were gone.

The music had stopped.

But nobody inside the mansion felt as though the night had ended.

Vireya stood beside the tall window of the upstairs corridor, watching the last headlights disappear into the distance.

Behind her, Evren remained silent.

He was still holding his phone.

The screen was black.

But the message remained in his mind.

ASK CASSIUS ABOUT THE CROWN.

Vireya turned toward him.

"You haven't said anything for five minutes."

Evren slipped the phone into his pocket.

"I didn't realize you were counting."

"I was."

He looked at her.

She crossed her arms.

"So?"

"So what?"

"What are you going to do?"

Evren glanced toward the staircase.

"Go home."

Vireya frowned.

"That's it?"

"For tonight."

"After everything that happened?"

"Especially because of everything that happened."

Vireya walked closer.

"You heard Darius."

"I heard him."

"He said your grandfather knows something about Blackhaven."

"I know."

"And then someone sent you a message telling you to ask Cassius about the Crown."

Evren's expression hardened slightly.

"Yes."

"You're not going to ask him?"

"Not tonight."

"Why?"

"Because whoever sent that message wants me to ask."

Vireya paused.

Evren continued.

"That means they're expecting a reaction."

"And you don't want to give them one."

"Exactly."

Vireya studied him.

"You always think three steps ahead."

"Usually."

"That's irritating."

"I've heard that too."

She almost smiled.

Then her expression became serious again.

"What happens tomorrow?"

Evren looked at her.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

She gestured toward the empty hallway.

"Tomorrow, everyone in this house will wake up talking about tonight. My uncle will pretend nothing happened. Your brother will probably tell everyone you're dangerous. The newspapers will have your prison photograph on the front page."

Evren said nothing.

"And we'll still be engaged."

That made him pause.

For the first time, neither of them knew what to say.

The engagement.

Until tonight, it had been an arrangement.

A political agreement between two powerful families.

Something neither of them had chosen.

Something neither of them cared about.

But tonight had changed something.

Not the arrangement.

Them.

Vireya looked away first.

"I don't know what our families are planning."

"Neither do I."

"But I know one thing."

Evren waited.

"If they think tonight will make me cancel the engagement, they're wrong."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You're keeping the engagement?"

"I'm keeping my options open."

"That sounds like something Darius would say."

"Don't insult me."

"I wasn't."

"You were."

"Maybe."

Vireya gave him a look.

For a moment, the tension disappeared.

Then footsteps approached.

Lucien Montclair appeared at the end of the corridor.

His expression was exhausted.

"Vireya."

She turned.

"Father."

Lucien looked at Evren.

Then back at his daughter.

"We need to talk."

Vireya nodded.

Lucien's gaze moved toward Evren again.

"Privately."

Evren stepped back.

"I'll wait downstairs."

Vireya watched him walk away.

Her father waited until he disappeared.

Then he spoke quietly.

"You trust him."

Vireya frowned.

"I barely know him."

"That's not what I asked."

She remained silent.

Lucien sighed.

"Tonight, when that attacker appeared, you didn't hesitate."

"I didn't have time."

"You trusted him."

Vireya looked toward the staircase.

Evren had already disappeared.

"He saved me."

"I know."

"And he protected everyone else."

"I know."

Lucien's voice became quieter.

"Then be careful."

Vireya looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because men like Evren Valcero don't survive five years in Blackhaven by accident."

She said nothing.

Lucien walked toward the window.

"The person who returned tonight isn't the boy who went to prison."

Vireya remembered the way Evren had moved.

The way he had caught the attacker.

The way he had looked at the black mask.

The way he had spoken to Darius.

And the way he had remained calm while everyone else panicked.

"I know."

Lucien looked at her.

"Do you?"

Vireya nodded.

"Yes."

"What are you going to do about it?"

She thought for a moment.

Then answered:

"Find out who he really is."

~

The Valcero Estate

Evren arrived home shortly before midnight.

The house was almost completely dark.

Only one room remained illuminated.

His grandfather's study.

Evren stopped when he saw the light.

He already knew what was waiting for him.

He entered.

His grandfather was sitting behind the desk.

The old man didn't look up immediately.

"You came."

"You were expecting me."

"I knew you would."

Evren closed the door.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then his grandfather looked at him.

"You should never have stayed at the banquet."

"I didn't stay."

"You know what I mean."

Evren walked toward the desk.

"Darius told me you know something about Blackhaven."

His grandfather's expression changed.

Only slightly.

But Evren noticed.

"What did he tell you?"

"That I should ask you."

Silence.

Evren leaned against the edge of the desk.

"So I'm asking."

His grandfather looked toward the window.

"There are things about Blackhaven that you don't understand."

"Then explain them."

"I can't."

"Can't?"

The old man shook his head.

"Not yet."

Evren's eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

"Because knowing too much can be dangerous."

Evren gave a quiet laugh.

"I spent five years in Blackhaven."

His grandfather looked at him.

"I know."

"I think I've already passed dangerous."

The old man lowered his eyes.

"You don't understand what Cassius was involved in."

Evren became completely still.

"Then tell me."

"I don't know everything."

"But you know something."

His grandfather didn't answer.

Evren pushed himself away from the desk.

"What is the Crown?"

The old man's face lost its color.

That was enough.

Evren saw the answer before he heard it.

"You know it."

His grandfather whispered:

"Where did you hear that name?"

"Someone sent me a message."

"Who?"

"I don't know."

"Did they mention Cassius?"

"Yes."

The old man stood abruptly.

"Evren, listen to me."

Evren stared at him.

"Who is the Crown?"

His grandfather looked toward the locked study door.

Then lowered his voice.

"The Crown isn't a person."

Evren waited.

"It's an organization."

Silence.

"How old?"

"I don't know."

"How powerful?"

His grandfather hesitated.

"Powerful enough that people disappear when they ask too many questions."

Evren's eyes hardened.

"And Cassius?"

The old man closed his eyes.

"Cassius knew them."

"Knew?"

"More than that."

Evren stepped forward.

"How much more?"

His grandfather didn't answer.

"Grandfather."

The old man finally looked at him.

"Cassius was once connected to them."

Evren stared at him.

"Connected how?"

"I don't know."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I am telling you what I know."

Evren turned away.

His mind returned to Blackhaven.

The old corridors.

Cassius's cell.

The locked room.

The strange lessons.

There had always been something Cassius refused to explain.

Something behind the walls.

Something hidden beneath the prison.

Something that even the guards feared.

Evren remembered one night.

Five years ago.

Cassius had taken him through a restricted corridor.

They had stopped in front of a black metal door.

Above it was the symbol.

A crown.

Pierced by a blade.

Cassius had stared at the symbol for several seconds.

Then he had told Evren:

"If you ever see this outside Blackhaven, walk away."

Evren's eyes opened slowly.

His grandfather noticed.

"What is it?"

"I remember."

"What?"

"The door."

His grandfather's face changed.

"What door?"

"The one Cassius showed me."

The old man stepped backward.

"Evren..."

"He told me to stay away from the Crown."

His grandfather's voice became almost a whisper.

"Then you should listen to him."

Evren looked at him.

"Five years ago, I listened to everyone."

He paused.

"That's how I ended up in prison."

His grandfather had no answer.

Evren walked toward the door.

Before leaving, he stopped.

"Tomorrow, I'm going back to Blackhaven."

His grandfather stared at him.

"No."

Evren turned.

"No?"

"You can't."

"Why?"

"Because you don't know what you'll find."

Evren's expression remained calm.

"That's exactly why I'm going."

Then he left.

~

Morning

By seven in the morning, the story had already spread across the city.

Every major news outlet had covered the banquet.

Some reports focused on the failed accusations against Vireya.

Others focused on Caelan's confrontation with Evren.

But one headline dominated the morning.

VALCERO'S DISGRACED SON RETURNS TO SOCIETY

Below it was the same prison photograph.

The image from Blackhaven.

The young Evren.

Five years younger.

Cold.

Bruised.

Handcuffed.

Vireya stared at the newspaper on her breakfast table.

Her mother placed another cup of coffee beside her.

"You shouldn't read that."

Vireya didn't look up.

"They're calling him a criminal."

"He was convicted."

"He was also framed."

Her mother became silent.

Vireya folded the newspaper.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No."

Her mother looked at her.

"You defended him."

"I defended the truth."

"At the banquet."

"Yes."

Her mother sat across from her.

"Why?"

Vireya finally looked up.

"Because nobody else would."

Her mother studied her daughter carefully.

Then she said something that made Vireya pause.

"You're beginning to sound like you care about him."

Vireya frowned.

"I don't."

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

Her mother smiled faintly.

"Good."

Vireya narrowed her eyes.

"Why did you say that like you don't believe me?"

"Because you're my daughter."

Before Vireya could respond, her phone rang.

She looked at the screen.

Unknown number.

She answered.

"Hello?"

No response.

Then—

"Miss Montclair."

Vireya's expression changed.

"Who is this?"

"You should stay away from Evren Valcero."

"Who are you?"

"Someone who knows what he became."

The call ended.

Vireya slowly lowered the phone.

Her mother noticed.

"What happened?"

Vireya looked toward the window.

For some reason, the warning didn't frighten her.

It made her curious.

"What did he become?"

~

Meanwhile

Evren stood in front of the mirror inside his room.

He was dressed simply.

Black shirt.

Dark trousers.

No tie.

No watch.

His phone vibrated.

A message.

YOU SHOULD NOT RETURN TO BLACKHAVEN.

Evren stared at it.

Another message appeared.

CASSIUS IS NOT THE MAN YOU THINK HE IS.

Then another.

AND NEITHER ARE YOU.

Evren deleted all three.

He picked up his keys.

Before leaving the room, he stopped.

For the first time in five years, he felt something he hadn't felt since walking out of Blackhaven.

Not fear.

Anticipation.

He walked downstairs.

His grandfather was waiting near the entrance.

"You aren't going."

Evren opened the door.

"I am."

The old man sighed.

Then Evren heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Then I'm coming too."

He turned.

Vireya stood at the entrance.

Evren stared at her.

"What are you doing here?"

She held up her car keys.

"You said you're going somewhere dangerous."

"I didn't tell you where."

"You didn't have to."

Evren looked at her for several seconds.

"You shouldn't come."

"I know."

"Then why are you here?"

Vireya walked toward him.

"Because last night you said something."

"What?"

She stopped in front of him.

"You said we should find out who is behind this."

Evren stared at her.

"I remember."

Vireya smiled faintly.

"So we're finding out."

Evren looked at the open door.

Then at her.

For some reason, he didn't tell her no again.

"Fine."

Vireya smiled.

"Good."

Evren stepped outside.

Vireya followed.

Behind them, his grandfather watched silently.

He knew something Evren didn't.

And somewhere in the city, someone was watching them leave together.

A black vehicle started its engine.

The driver picked up his phone.

"They're going to Blackhaven."

The voice on the other end remained silent for several seconds.

Then came the answer.

"Let them go."

The driver frowned.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

A quiet laugh came through the phone.

"Because if Evren opens that door..."

The voice paused.

"...he'll finally learn why his family was so desperate to put him behind it."