Chapter 14 Ephraim walked closer . The air shifted between us . He wasn't touching me , but I felt it , like something ancient and angry wrapped in human skin . " Good , " he said . " I don't need a flower . I need a blade ." I stared at him , my throat tightening . " Then why me ? " He tilted his head . " Because you know how it feels to lose everything . And you didn't die . That makes you dangerous . " I wasn't sure if it was a compliment or a warning . But I nodded anyway . And I whispered , " I didn't come here to be saved . I came here to burn . " ** Our families hosted a private dinner that felt more like a masquerade . Everyone wore jewels and smiles but spoke in whispers behind tall glasses and finer linen . The Calderons and Lamberts sat at the long table as if the years hadn't bled and broken us , as if this alliance wasn't being stitched back together with bruises and dead children between the cracks . I sat beside Ephraim . My hands were cold and tucked neatly on my lap . I hadn't touched the food . The knife looked too familiar and the wine reminded me too much of blood . I heard them before I saw them . Guests . Distant cousins and board members and heiresses too pretty for their own good . The room buzzed with murmurs like moth wings against glass . " Isn't that her ? That's Therese , right ? " " The ex - wife of Torren Massaro ? " " I didn't know she was a Calderon . A real one . ' " Wait - are you serious ? Like the daughter of that Duke Calderon ? " " If Torren knew , he wouldn't have thrown her out like trash in public . She's old money . Royal blood , for God's sake . " " He threw away a diamond while chasing a rock . What a fool . " " But look at her . She doesn't even look alive . Pale as chalk . Thin like she hasn't eaten in He Left Me for Dead Now He Rear Me for Morew 1/3 104 % 22.09 Sun , LE LA U X - days . And her eyes … " " Yeah . Like shattered glass . Can't be put back together . " I didn't flinch . Not once . Ephraim noticed . He leaned in and whispered , " They're loud tonight ." " They always are , " I said without turning . " They just think pain makes us deaf ." He gave a quiet laugh , low and sharp . " Still got that bite , I see ." I didn't answer . I couldn't . My throat was tight again , like it always got when they mentioned Torren . Then Ephraim stood and lifted my hand , and every eye in the room turned toward us like we were puppets on strings . He kissed the back of my hand , slow and deliberate . The room hushed . He leaned close to my ear and said , " This time , don't run from me . " I looked at him . At the boy who once held my hand in secret gardens but I still chose Torren . Now a man with ice in his veins and war in his eyes . " I didn't run , " I whispered back . " I was thrown . " His grip tightened slightly . Not cruel . Just a reminder . " And now ? " he asked . " Now I walk on my own , " I said . " And if I walk beside you , Ephraim , it won't be for love ." He looked at me for a long moment . Then nodded once . " Good ." The guests clapped politely as we sat down again . They thought they were watching a love story . A second chance . But I wasn't here for fairy tales . I was here to rewrite the ending . ** RUBY'S POV I was scrolling with my newly bought iPhone Pro Max when I saw her name again . Her face popped up like a cockroach that refused to die . Therese Calderon . Engaged . To Ephraim Lambert . The headline blinked at me like it was proud of itself . I almost dropped my wineglass . Almost . Instead , I threw it at the TV . The sound of glass shattering felt good . Therapeutic . Jude jumped from the couch and looked at me with those wide little eyes . " Mommy ," he said , pointing at the screen , " isn't that … her ? " I smiled like a saint . " Who , baby ? " He tilted his head . " That lady . The one Daddy used to be married to . The one who cried all the time . " Chapter 14 213 41.4 % 22:09 Sun , Aug 10 …… HASH ADMIT HIL 49 % X I walked over and turned the volume down . " Yes . That's her . She's getting married again . " " To that man in the suit ? " " Yes . His name is Ephraim Lambert . He's rich . Comes from a scary family . You don't need to worry about him . " Jude climbed back on the couch and looked at the TV again . " So … is she gonna be a queen now , Mommy ? " I forced a smile . I sat beside him and tucked a blanket over his lap and touched his soft little cheek . " She can be whatever title she wants , " I said sweetly . " But she already lost what matters . She lost her son , remember ? Cleo . And she lost your Daddy . And now she has nothing but shiny rings and sad eyes . That's not winning . That's pretending . " Jude giggled like it was funny and went back to playing with his toy truck . I stood up slowly and walked toward the kitchen , phone in hand . I opened a secure chat and typed fast with my thumb while pretending to check on the food . " I want a full background check on Ephraim Lambert . Every crack . Every scandal . Everything that can break a man like him . Also find out about Therese . I mean really find out . Calderon , that name feels familiar . What kind of Calderon is she ? What bloodline does she carry ? Who the hell did I just go to war with ? " I hit send and leaned against the counter . I could still hear Jude making car noises in the background . And I smiled . Because war wasn't over . It hadn't even started yet . 22:09 Sun , Aug 10