Chapter 3 Secrets In Shadows Chapter 3 Secrets In Shadows : Eleanor had tried to harm her because Fiona had stumbled upon her secret affair . Zachary realized this almost at once . The thought settled in his chest like a stone , expression darkening until his face looked as if it had been carved from iron . his 460 +10 Free Coins An affair was disgraceful enough , but to go so far as to plot the death of the daughter he treasured most was beyond forgiveness . Meryl was sharp and bitter . " The people you choose to keep at your side are truly remarkable ." Zachary had no defense . Eleanor had not been his choice to begin with . She had been forced into his household by his mother years ago . Still , whether out of duty or weakness , he had allowed it . Now he could only endure his wife's sarcasm , shoulders heavy under the weight of her words . At last , he softened , his voice low with contrition : " Do not worry , Meryl . I will make certain Fiona receives justice . " That single promise was enough to open the floodgates . With a clear suspicion guiding them , the investigation proceeded swiftly . Zachary's most loyal retainer traveled south to Eleanor's native village . There , the story emerged . Eleanor and the man in question had grown up together , childhood sweethearts tied by years of familiarity . Later , when poverty pressed hard , her parents had sold her . Han had purchased her freedom , raised her in comfort , and kept her near . When Eleanor's wit and pleasing manner impressed , Hannah had decided she was fit to be given to Zachary as a concubine . When he learned that Eleanor was being held hostage , the man cracked under Zachary's pressure . Believing the truth was already known , he confessed without further struggle . And so the truth was confirmed . Just as Fiona had said , Eleanor had feared her indiscretions would be exposed and had sought to silence her before the scandal could spread . Zachary's heart was leaden . That such a venomous woman had lingered by his side for so long left him shaken to his core . Though Fiona was still weak in body , Meryl wasted no time . As lady of the estate , she had Eleanor dealt with swiftly and without ceremony . Even though Eleanor had long enjoyed Hannah's favoritism , this time the matriarch did not raise a hand to protect her . Meryl never spoke of the matter in front of Fiona , but the girl was perceptive . Watching her mother's calm composure , the way she never once mentioned Eleanor again , Fiona understood what must have become of her . Her mother was not a woman who would ever 1/3 14:35 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 3 Secrets In Shadows quietly swallow such humiliation . A 60 +10 Free Coins Having caught a severe chill , Fiona was ordered to rest . Her brother was still stationed at the borders , and visitors were few - aside from members of the main branch and Meryl's kin , who came several times to look in on her . In truth , Fiona did not mind the solitude ; it gave her body and spirit time to recover . Two weeks passed before she was well enough to rise from bed . " In only a few more days , the banquet will be held in your honor , " Meryl reminded her with a sigh . " I only wonder if your face will have rounded out again by then ." " Mother , are you saying I no longer look presentable ? " Fiona teased , lifting her brows . " How could you not ? " Meryl replied quickly , though her concern was plain . Fiona was nearing the age of adulthood , yet her body had always been slow to mature . Illness had left her thinner still , making her appear almost fragile . Meryl fretted constantly . Several families she had considered for her daughter's match had already secured their sons elsewhere , and time was slipping away . The Zonfrillo brothers , Soren and Callum , were the most sought - after in all of Jexburgh , courted by countless households . The Thankerton family also had their eye on them . Meryl , proud and pragmatic , had no desire to join that fray . The young son of the Wagner family was a respectable option . But his mother's domineering temperament was well known , and Meryl could not bear to imagine her daughter living under such a shadow . The Luthor family was of lesser standing , and Meryl had nearly dismissed them outright . Yet when she recalled the second son , Xavier , the young man who had helped rescue Fiona from the river , she hesitated . Reports spoke of his sharp mind , his decent looks , and above all , his lack of arrogance . Unlike many born into prestigious families , he carried himself with modesty and courtesy . Meryl began to consider him with growing seriousness . She told no one of these thoughts , not even Fiona . First , she would watch , inquire , and weigh carefully . If he proved unworthy , she would let the idea vanish as though it had never been . The day of the banquet came quickly . To mark Fiona's survival , Hannah ordered the event to be lively , filling the Niven Estate with laughter and music , hoping to banish lingering shadows and bring fortune back into the household . It was Fiona's first time stepping into society since her accident . 2/3 14:35 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 3 Secrets In Shadows A 60 +10 Free Coins Though still slimmer than before , her pale skin glowed , her tall figure lent her grace , and her delicate features seemed all the more striking . When she smiled , her eyes sparkled like fresh spring water - pure , bright , untouched by guile . She wore a gown of soft green embroidered with intricate emerald patterns , the fabric catching the light so that she seemed to glow . The moment she appeared , countless eyes followed her . Accompanying Hannah and Meryl , Fiona greeted the guests , bowing , exchanging pleasantries with practiced ease . Only afterward did she glance toward the table where the young ladies sat . Daughters of the great houses of Jexburgh gathered together , each beautiful in her own style . It was as though a garden of a hundred blossoms had bloomed at once . " You've grown so much since last season ," Yolanda Wagner teased as Fiona took her place . " It won't be long before suitors are hammering down the doors of the Niven Estate . " She was the third daughter of the Wagner family and engaged to Fiona's eldest cousin , Ulrich Niven . " Why spend your breath teasing me ? " Fiona answered , her smile playful . " That day when Lord Soren pulled you from the water , " Yolanda whispered , leaning close , " how did it feel ? Did your heart not flutter ? " Fiona froze , her lashes lowering as silence stretched . Her affection for Soren had always been a secret . Only Yolanda had sensed it . In her past being rescued by him had filled her with secret joy for weeks . But now , the memory felt far more complicated . Across the table , she saw Roxanne Thankerton , the second daughter of the Thankerton family . The young woman's gentle smile and graceful poise were beyond compare . Famed for her intellect , admired for her beauty , and gifted in every discipline of the Six Arts , she was everything Fiona aspired to be , and she was also the woman who held Soren's heart . Though Duflana was not the strictest of kingdoms , tradition still held firm . Men and women sat apart . Still , Fiona could not resist . She let her gaze wander across the hall until it found him . Three years of marriage in her past life had etched Soren's image deep into her memory . Even now , though he was only newly come of age , she spotted him at once among the crowd . 3/3 14:35 Fri , Oct 10