Chapter 35\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 35\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe celebration will soon start, oh, I can\u2019t wait! Everyone is waiting to see the beautiful white wolf!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRight, I\u2019ve never seen one before.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course you haven\u2019t. The last one was Miss Sienna\u2019s mother, and she died giving birth. You were too young to see her wolf. Anyway, Miss Sienna and the master are here. Let\u2019s get Miss Sienna ready for the celebration.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Their voices drifted down the corridor, and I pressed my back against the cold stone wall as the group of servants passed by. Their laughter echoed faintly before fading around the corner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We\u2019d done it. Somehow, we had managed to sneak back into the temple without being seen. It was not an easy feat, considering how tight the security had gotten with the celebrations tonight. But I knew this place like the back of my hand. And with Elias keeping Evelyn quiet and close behind me, we slipped through unnoticed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, crouched behind the window to my room, I rolled my sleeves up and reached for the ledge. \u201cAlright,\u201d I murmured, more to myself than them. \u201cWe\u2019re almost there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could climb, Elias raised a hand. \u201cAllow me, my lady.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I arched a brow at him, but I nodded. I had to remind myself not everything had to be done by my own hands anymore. The people I cared about needed to feel useful, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPardon me,\u201d he said softly, then stepped closer, his hands firm but careful as he gripped my waist and lifted me up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I caught the window\u2019s edge easily and pulled myself inside, the cool air of my room brushing against my face. The box was still secure in my hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHelp Evelyn,\u201d I whispered down.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elias nodded and, without hesitation, helped Evelyn next. Poor Evelyn was bright red, clutching at his shoulders as if her life depended on it. I couldn\u2019t help but chuckle, stretching out my hand from above to grab hers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on,\u201d I said, amused, \u201cbefore someone catches us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With a small grunt, I tugged her up, and she tumbled through the window beside me, landing with a soft thud on the carpet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be in front of your room, my lady.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silas\u2019s voice was calm as always. He gave me a respectful bow before turning away, his long strides carrying him down the dimly lit corridor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded, watching him until he disappeared around the corner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment the sound of his footsteps faded, I turned toward Evelyn, who, to my amusement, was still standing there with her face bright red.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re like a tomato, Evelyn,\u201d I said, a teasing lilt in my voice. \u201cDoes his touch affect you that much?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes went wide. \u201cMy lady! Please don\u2019t say something like that!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I raised a brow, smirking. \u201cWhy? Am I wrong?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn bit her lip, fidgeting, her blush somehow deepening. \u201cI-this is the first time a man actually touched me like that. So\u00a0<\/p>\n
I\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:47 Tue, Dec 23 MG.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 35\u00a0<\/p>\n
I grinned, unable to resist. \u201cSo you\u2019re tempted, then? By how hot his body felt?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cL-Lady Selene!\u201d she squeaked, hiding her face in her hands, mortified.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I laughed softly, shaking my head. \u201cYou\u2019re fun to tease, Evelyn.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She really was. So pure and young, and barely sixteen. She was still too innocent for this cruel world. I had no idea who her mate would turn out to be in the future, but one thing was certain, if he turned out to be trash, I\u2019d make sure to personally tear him apart and find her someone better. Evelyn deserved that much.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stretching my arms, I let out a small sigh and turned back toward the box resting on my desk. My fingers brushed over the rough wood, a smile tugging at my lips. \u201cWell, enough of that,\u201d I murmured. \u201cI should get started on this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as excitement began to rise in my chest, there was a sudden knock on the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSelene,\u201d a woman\u2019s voice called out, clipped and formal. \u201cThis is Hannah. I was sent to deliver a message to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hannah.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My smile faded. That name alone was enough to sour my mood. Before I could even respond with a come in, the door began to creak open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn\u2019s eyes went wide in panic. We were still in our sarees from earlier, clear evidence that we had been outside the temple. If anyone saw us like this, especially Hannah, rumors would spread faster than wildfire.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t even think twice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow disrespectful,\u201d I said, my voice sharp and cold.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The door froze halfway open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Hannah\u2019s voice carried irritation already.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are a maid, and yet you open the door before I give you permission? Do you have a death wish?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a tense pause.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even without seeing her face, I could feel her anger filling the room. I knew that woman too well, her arrogance, her smirk, her smugness that came from serving my stepmother directly. Hannah never hid her disdain for me. Unlike Emma, Sienna\u2019s maid, who at least knew how to act respectful in public, Hannah made no such effort.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Back then, she made my life in the temple miserable, with her sharp tongue and sharper insults.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head toward the half-open door, eyes cold. \u201cIf you have something to say, say it now. Or do you plan to stand there all night, peeking into a lady\u2019s chambers like a rat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hannah hesitated, then scoffed, voice filled with contempt. \u201cI\u2019ve heard the rumours around the temple quarters about how unruly and bold you are. I didn\u2019t expect it to be true. It seems you still don\u2019t know your place, Selene.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn\u2019s face flooded red, ready to speak, but I cut her off with a quick, quiet motion and crossed my arms. \u201cSilas, are you at the door yet?\u201d I asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was the faint scrape of boots, Silas\u2019s answer came low, \u201cYes, my lady.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hannah gave a sharp little yelp of surprise, she hadn\u2019t expected him to be there. In the doorway I could see Silas\u2019s shadow step forward; Hannah took an involuntary step back. The whispers about what he\u2019d done to Arthur had already traveled around the temple.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst,\u201d I said evenly, \u201cyou\u2019ll stay outside and say whatever it is you came to say. Or you\u2019ll leave.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
BEN\u00a0<\/p>\n
12:47 Tue, Dec 23\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 35\u00a0<\/p>\n
My voice dropped, colder now. \u201cSecond, you\u2019re a servant. How dare you call me by my name? Didn\u2019t your mistress teach you\u00a0<\/p>\n
better? Learn to show me respect, or I\u2019ll make sure everyone remembers what happens when someone dares to forget their place.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hannah opened her mouth, pale, then swallowed whatever venom she\u2019d been saving. \u201cWhatever, the madam said-\u201d she began, but when she looked at Silas again the words choked off. Finally, with a forced sneer, she spat, \u201cThe madamn says get ready. The coming-of-age is about to start, lady selene. Even if nobody expects anything from you, you\u2019re still part of the family. Don\u2019t cause a scene and embarrass the Bloodrose name. A dress will be brought for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without waiting for me to say another word, she spun on her heel and stalked off. The door shut behind her with a sharp.\u00a0<\/p>\n
click.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silas\u2019s voice broke the silence. \u201cWhat should I do, my lady?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cLet her go,\u201d I said. \u201cDon\u2019t worry. They will all learn soon enough. I will teach every last one of them a lesson they won\u2019t ever forget.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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12:47 Tue, Dec 23 MG<\/p>\n
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Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 35 Chapter 35\u00a0 Chapter 35\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 \u201cThe celebration will soon start, oh, I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27829"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27829\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}