Beauty and the Unconquered Beast

Chapter 8 The Name Beneath the Mask

The Name Beneath the Mask

The banquet did not end with applause.

It ended with silence.

The guests stood frozen around the hall, staring at Caelan Valcero, who was still clutching his injured wrist. The documents meant to destroy Vireya lay soaked and ruined on the table. The screen behind the stage had gone dark, but the damage had already been done.

And everyone had witnessed Evren Valcero fight back. For the first time, no one was laughing at him. That seemed to anger Caelan more than the pain in his wrist.

“You humiliated me,” he cursed.

Evren adjusted the cuff of his sleeve. “You did that yourself.”

Caelan stepped forward again, but two members of the Valcero security team immediately moved between them.

“Enough,” the Valcero patriarch ordered.

His voice carried through the hall, as he looked at Evren with cold disappointment. “Is this how you intend to represent our family?”

Evren turned toward and looked at him. “No. This is how I intend to represent myself.”

A few guests lowered their eyes.

The patriarch’s expression darkened. “You have always been selfish.”

Evren’s gaze remained steady. “Interesting. I was taught that lesson by the people who sent me to prison.”

The words struck the room like a gunshot.

Caelan’s face turned pale.

Lucien Montclair looked toward Evren with surprise, while Vireya’s eyes narrowed. She had heard the rumors about Evren’s conviction, but she had never heard him speak about it with such directness.

The patriarch stepped forward. “Watch your tongue.”

Evren smirked. “For the last five years, I watched everything.”

He glanced around the hall. “I learned when to speak.”

Then he walked away.

Vireya followed him without asking permission. They reached a quiet corridor away from the guests and the music. For several seconds, neither of them spokes.

Vireya leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. “You broke his wrist.”

“I didn’t break it.”

“You nearly did.”

“He grabbed me first.”

“And you couldn’t simply pull away?”

“He wouldn’t have understood that.”

Vireya looked and studied him. “You enjoyed it.”

Evren looked at her. “Not really.”

“Then why do you look satisfied?”

“Because he finally stopped touching me.”

Vireya almost laugh, but stopped herself.

The sound of hurried footsteps approached from the far end of the corridor. Lucien appeared, followed by Vireya’s mother.

“Vireya,” Lucien said, “we need to leave before the press starts asking questions.”

“Let them ask,” Vireya replied.

Her father lowered his voice. “Your uncle will use tonight against you.”

“He already was.”

“The documents may have been fake, but people remember accusations more easily than explanations.”

Vireya looked back toward the banquet hall.

“Then we’ll give them something else to remember.”

Lucien glanced at Evren, his expression was conflicted.

“You should both be careful. Tonight, was not just an attempt to embarrass you.”

Evren’s eyes sharpened. “I know.”

Lucien hesitated. “What do you mean?”

Evren looked toward the ceiling, where a small security camera pointed down the corridor. “Someone wanted the hall distracted.”

Vireya immediately understood. “The transmitter.”

Evren nodded.

Lucien frowned. “What transmitter?”

“Someone planted a device near the side entrance,” Vireya explained. “It was probably used to interfere with the screen or communicate with someone outside.”

Her father’s face tightened. “Did you give it to security?”

“No,” Evren answered.

Lucien stared at him. “Why not?”

“Because I wanted to know who would come looking for it.”

A sudden noise echoed from the banquet hall. A glass shattered.

Then someone shouted.

Evren turned instantly and Vireya caught his arm. “Wait.”

He looked down at her hand as she reluctantly released him slowly.

“If this is another trap, you shouldn’t walk into it alone.”

Evren watched her for a moment. Then he said, “Stay behind me.”

Vireya’s eyes hardened. “I didn’t say I would hide behind you.”

“I didn’t say you could not fight.” That answer surprised her.

Before she could respond, the lights in the corridor went out. Darkness swallowed them.

A second later, the emergency lights flickered on. At the end of the corridor, a man in a waiter’s uniform stood beside the open service door. He was holding a knife.

Vireya’s mother gasped, everyone gasped.

The man lunged.

Evren moved before anyone else could react. He stepped between the attacker and Vireya, caught the man’s wrist, and twisted it sharply. The knife fell to the floor. The attacker tried to strike with his other hand.

Evren ducked, drove his elbow into the man’s ribs, and swept his leg from beneath him. The waiter crashed onto the marble floor. The entire movement took less than three seconds.

Lucien stared.

Vireya did not. She had already picked up the fallen knife and kicked it away. The attacker rolled onto his back, gasping.

Evren crouched beside him. “Who sent you?”

The man spat blood onto the floor. “Go to hell.”

Evren’s expression remained calm. He pressed two fingers against a nerve near the man’s neck. The attacker’s face twisted in pain.

“Try again.”

“Evren!” Lucien warned.

Evren ignored him. “Who sent you?”

The man’s eyes flickered toward the service door. That was enough as Evren released him and stood.

Vireya looked toward the open door. “He wasn’t trying to attack us.”

Evren nodded. “He was trying to escape.”

A shadow moved outside.

Evren rushed through the door.

The service passage was empty except for a swinging metal gate and a trail of water leading toward the rear courtyard. He followed it into the night. At the far end of the courtyard, a figure climbed over the wall. Evren reached the wall in seconds, but the figure had already disappeared beyond it. He saw something glinted near the ground he bent down and picked it up a black metal mask. On the inside of the mask, carved into the metal, was a single symbol: A small crown pierced by a blade.

Evren’s expression changed. Only slightly.

But it was enough for Vireya, who had followed him outside, to notice. “What is it?”

Evren closed his hand around the mask. “Nothing.”

“Stop saying that.”

He looked at her.

Vireya stepped closer. “Every time you say ‘nothing,’ someone ends up bleeding.”

Evren glanced toward the wall. “Then perhaps you should stop following me.”

“Perhaps you should stop walking into danger.”

“I was already in danger.”

“So was I.”

Their eyes met. For a moment, the courtyard became strangely quiet.

Then Evren looked away. “You should return inside.”

Vireya did not move. “Who uses that symbol?”

Evren’s jaw tightened. “No one you need to know.”

“That means it’s someone I absolutely need to know.”

Before Evren could answer, the sound of police sirens rose beyond the estate gates.

Vireya turned toward the noise. “Did you call the police?”

“No.”

A black police vehicle entered the driveway. A familiar woman stepped out.

Officer Serena Vale.

She moved quickly through the estate grounds, her eyes scanning the security guards, the damaged decorations, and the people gathered near the entrance. When she saw Evren holding the black mask, her expression hardened.

“Of course,” she muttered. “You.”

Evren looked at her. “Officer.”

Serena stopped in front of him. “I received a report of an attempted assault, a suspected financial fraud scheme, and unauthorized access to the estate’s security system.”

She looked at the mask in his hand. “And now I find you standing in the courtyard holding evidence.”

Evren handed the mask to her. “Then you should take it.”

Serena hesitated before accepting it. “You’re being cooperative?”

“Don’t get used to it.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You are remarkably irritating.”

“I’ve been told.”

“By everyone?”

“Mostly by you.”

Vireya stepped between them. “Someone attacked a servant and tried to escape through the rear courtyard.”

Serena looked at her. “Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“Mr. Valcero?”

“No.”

Serena’s gaze moved back to Evren. “Did you see the attacker’s face?”

“No.”

“Did you chase him?”

“Yes.”

“Did you catch him?”

“No.”

“Did you touch anything?”

Evren looked at the mask. “Only this.”

Serena sighed. “Wonderful. A witness who gives incomplete answers and handles evidence.”

Evren tilted his head. “You’re welcome.”

Serena looked as if she wanted to hit him.

Vireya noticed. Despite the chaos, she almost laughed.

Inside the estate, the banquet had dissolved into confusion. The guests were being escorted into separate rooms while security searched the premises. Darius stood near the stage, speaking urgently with several men from his faction.

His face was calm. Too calm.

Adrian stood beside him, whispering, “The documents failed. The attack failed. We need to leave.”

Darius did not look at him. “Lower your voice.”

“Uncle, Evren saw the transmitter. He may know—”

“I said lower your voice.”

Across the room, Evren watched them from the shadows.

Vireya stood beside him. “You’re staring at my uncle.”

“I’m observing him.”

“Is there a difference?”

“Staring is emotional.”

“And observing?”

“Useful.”

Vireya looked toward Darius.

“He’s pretending to be shocked.”

“He isn’t shocked.”

“How can you tell?”

“His left hand.”

She looked carefully.

Darius’s right hand held his glass. His left hand remained closed near his waist.

“What about it?”

“He keeps touching his thumb against his ring.”

Vireya frowned. “What does that mean?”

“It means he’s counting.”

“Counting what?”

“People. Exits. Risks.”

Vireya turned to him. “You read people like they’re documents.”

“Documents lie less often.”

“That is not reassuring.”

“It wasn’t meant to be.”

Before she could answer, Darius approached them. His expression had changed into one of false concern. “Vireya, are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

“I heard there was another incident outside.”

“Your security seems to have a problem.”

Darius glanced at Evren. “Perhaps the problem is that certain people keep attracting trouble.”

Evren’s eyes remained cold.

Darius smiled. “Still, I must admit, you surprised everyone tonight. I never expected you to act so violently.”

“You should update your expectations.”

Darius’s smile faded.

Vireya stepped forward. “Uncle, who gave you the documents?”

“What documents?”

“The ones accusing me.”

Darius raised his brows. “I thought we established that they were false.”

“We established that they were poorly prepared.”

A few people nearby turned to listen.

Vireya continued, “But someone had access to internal financial information. That means the person who created them had help.”

Darius’s gaze sharpened. “Are you accusing me?”

“I’m asking a question.”

“You should be careful with questions like that.”

“I’ve survived worse than questions.”

Darius leaned closer. “You think being intelligent makes you untouchable.”

“No,” Vireya replied. “I think people who underestimate me make themselves vulnerable.”

Evren looked at her. For the first time that night, his expression showed unmistakable approval.

Darius noticed. His eyes moved between them.

Then he smiled faintly. “So, the two of you are already becoming allies.”

Vireya’s voice cooled. “We are engaged.”

“An arrangement,” Darius corrected. “Nothing more.”

Evren stepped closer. “Be careful.”

Darius looked at him. “Is that a threat?”

“No.” Evren’s gaze dropped briefly to Darius’s left hand. “It’s advice.”

Darius’s fingers slowly closed into a fist.

Evren turned away. But before he could leave, Darius spoke again.

“Evren.”

He stopped.

“You should ask your grandfather why he never told you the truth about Blackhaven.”

The corridor seemed to grow colder.

Vireya looked at Evren.

Darius smiled. “Good night.”

He walked away.

Evren remained still.

Vireya studied his face. “What truth?”

Evren looked toward the darkened banquet hall. “I don’t know yet.”

“Then we’ll find out.”

He turned to her. “We?”

Vireya held his gaze. “They attacked me, framed me, and tried to humiliate you in front of half the city.”

She glanced toward the hallway where Darius had disappeared. “I’m not allowing them to enjoy the results.”

Evren was silent. Then he said, “You’re stubborn.”

“So, I’ve been told.”

“Mostly by me?”

“Mostly by you.”

For a brief moment, the tension between them softened.

Then Evren’s phone vibrated. A message appeared on the screen.

‘THE MASK WAS NOT MEANT FOR YOU.’

A second message followed.

‘IT WAS A WARNING.’

Evren’s eyes hardened.

Vireya saw the change. “Who sent that?”

Evren did not answer.

A third message appeared.

‘ASK CASSIUS ABOUT THE CROWN.’

The phone screen went black. Evren slowly lowered it.

Vireya’s voice became quiet. “Evren.”

He looked at her. “What is the Crown?”

For the first time since returning from Blackhaven, Evren had no immediate answer he could safely give. He looked down at the black mask in Serena’s hands. The symbol carved inside it seemed to burn in his memory. A crown pierced by a blade. A symbol he had seen once before.

Five years ago.

On the door of the room where Cassius Veyr had taken him on the night, he first revealed the truth about Blackhaven.

Evren’s fingers curled at his sides. The prison had not simply changed him, it had hidden something from him. And someone had just begun tearing the secret open.

Across the hall, Serena Vale watched him carefully.

She opened her investigation notebook and wrote a new line beneath his name:

EVREN VALCERO — CONNECTION TO BLACKHAVEN, CASSIUS VEYR, AND THE CROWN SYMBOL.

Then she added one final question.

WHO IS THE BEAST REALLY WORKING FOR?