2025-10-14 05:00:13It had been almost five years since Tyler had been struck by a noble. In his mind, he wondered at how their hits felt worse than those from other servants and commoners.
Growing up, Tyler had been hit by many servants in the Kramer Estate. Mostly because he was dirty, but mainly because of his mannerisms.
The way he stood.
The way he sat.
The way he responded.
The way he looked at people.
One time, he had even breathed too loudly and had received a thrashing from the head butler, in the presence of other servants – he had been twelve years old.
That last time flashed in Tyler’s mind, and the bile rose in his stomach.
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“Where is my mother?” Tyler screamed at the Lord and Lady Kramer.
“You dare to raise your voice here? Who do you think you are? Have you forgotten your place?!” Vincent screamed back in Tyler’s direction.
Tyler was being held, physically, by
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Chapter 75
Saturday arrived. Claire Navine’s party was right on the beach. The music and noise were unmatched.The sun was bright out, and the crowd was just under a hundred close friends.Vincent Kramer was in attendance.He was not as boisterous as he usually was, but he was present, he was laughing, he was interacting with guests, and he was sober.His mother had insisted on it, and the young Lord had complied. It had taken three days to get the drugs out of his system. A private doctor had been brought in to flood the substance from his body after his father had finally returned to the Estate.Edward Kramer had been released, but was still under investigation. His release had not been publicized. The Perrisels were doing their work behind the scenes.The public dismissal had done what the nobles had intended – it had calmed the citizens and the government.Even as evidence against Edward Kramer grew, all such findings were kept under wraps a
Chapter 74
Tyler stood firmly, his back straight, head level as Ashley kept her gaze averted.They had not met, physically, since their last encounter almost a month prior. And had only spoken or interacted for official matters over the phone or in writing after the near-fatal dinner party to host Lord Henry Kramer, an incident that remained unknown to the public.He stepped forward, toward Raymond.“Why?” he asked the younger man carefully.Raymond turned from Tyler to Ashley.“Ashley has something to tell you,” he stated evenly, his voice low.Tyler already knew that Raymond’s office was not being surveilled. Ashley’s was, and so was his. To intentionally want to meet him on Belarnt property, but in Raymond’s office, spoke volumes.What was even louder was the absence of the two stooges.“Ash– Madam,” Tyler stated formally, correcting himself and bowing slightly.The Lady smiled, her gaze still not on the man she wanted to speak
Chapter 73
Saturday…it all comes to a head this Saturday… Tyler mused as he parked his car.Tyler Esteil is going to come into the light, and there will be nowhere to hide.The early release papers will be out on Friday. Tyler Esteil, on paper, will be getting out of the Vault a month early, for good behavior. No one in the Kramer Estate will get the news.He almost laughed, but instead, settled for a smile as he checked the rearview mirror, a force of habit. He had already come to recognize two particular vehicles that followed him everywhere since his return to the Bell Tower.New additions. But he was only going from his city home to the mall, there was no need to lose them, so he had ignored them.Lord Belarnt… Tyler mused. It must be him… Once he discovers who I am, what would that mean for Ashley? He thought distractedly, then pushed the man out of his mind. He refused to think about his latest abuser.
Chapter 72
The stranger paid for her items, and she transferred the money back to him that same day.Both her phone and wallet had been delivered to the lost and found desk and were announced through the mall’s speakers, while she and the stranger were having a coffee that the stranger had insisted on, to help the Lady take the edge off her rough day.He took her to dinner the next day to say ‘thank you,’ and she took him to a bar the following week to say ‘no problem.’ In both instances, they had arrived separately, and she had selected the venue.They became ‘friends’ who discussed anything the Lady wanted and who met up only at the Lady’s home, in the evenings, two to three times a week.Tyler occasionally brought gifts that could not be found in any stores, and she occasionally made purchases through his contacts, selling them at a profit to her circle of friends.Tyler always got her sweet deals, and she was always grateful. First with light hugs, then l
Chapter 71
Lord Henry Kramer had been present, so the aide had rushed to his Master’s side and whispered the information.He was then asked to repeat it by Lord Henry Kramer. When he hesitated, the old Lord instructed his personal guard to ask Lance the question in private, and the man had fallen to his knees and done as earlier instructed.“Are you pleased with all this, Mother?” Vincent asked quietly, his eyes glassy.Since the dinner incident, the young Master, now Lord, had fallen into old, bad habits. Part of why Lord Henry had left him behind when the nobles had moved to present a united front in Ashrone’s capital, and had not announced to the public that Vincent was stepping into his father’s place.Drugs. The same kind found during the raid, only his had more of the very expensive gem additives in it.The effects on the young man were bad, to say the least, and Lord Henry had simply acted like he saw noth
Chapter 70
“Their leader has been missing since Monday’s raid. We will find him within twenty-four hours and deliver him to the authorities, courtesy of the noble houses,” Maricius continued firmly.“Tonight…”“Yes, my Lord. At the latest. Do you want to speak with him before he his handed off?” Lord Voltera asked neutrally.“No.”Lord Voltera bowed and stepped back.After a long silence, Lord Kramer spoke.“Damien, I will need a speech. Make it short. Very short. Quentin, you have my leave to attend to our friends.”He glanced at those gathered. “We are being attacked by someone who has a personal vendetta against my son, or my house. This is being investigated,” he nodded at Maricius, “and we will be going through every suspicion with a fine comb.”He stood.“We will not be cowed by anyone or anything. Our lives will not be take
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