Chapter 75 – A Dangerous Game of Power

The night was thick with tension, the moon casting long shadows over the Hellgrave estate. The grand banquet had ended, but the whispers it left in its wake still lingered in the corridors.

Theodore stood by the window of his private study, watching the city below. His fingers tightened around the glass of whiskey in his hand. He had expected Verbena to act against him—had even prepared for it—but what he hadn't anticipated was just how effortlessly she had turned the situation against him.

She had planted doubt.

By merely suggesting that Duke Belmont was being framed, she had thrown the entire noble society into confusion. What should have been a clear case of retaliation was now tangled in speculation.

And now, he couldn't move against Belmont without seeming like a reckless, power-hungry fool.

A knock on the door broke through his thoughts.

Cassius entered, his expression grim. "We've found something, Your Grace."

Theodore turned. "Speak."

Cassius handed him a folded parchment. "One of our spies intercepted this message before it reached Duke Belmont's estate."

Theodore unfolded the paper, his sharp eyes scanning the words. It was a detailed report of his estate's vulnerabilities—information that only an insider would have known.

His blood ran cold.

There was a traitor among his people.

His grip on the paper tightened. "Who had access to this information?"

Cassius hesitated. "Not many, but…" His eyes darkened. "Your wife did."

Theodore's jaw clenched. He should have expected this. Verbena had been acting too boldly, too recklessly. She had meddled in things she shouldn't have, and now…

Had she betrayed him?

He wasn't sure what angered him more—the idea that she might be working against him or the fact that he still didn't want to believe it.

"Where is she?"

Cassius hesitated again. "…In the library, Your Grace."

Theodore exhaled slowly. He set down his glass and strode out of the study.

If she was playing a dangerous game, then it was time to remind her just who she was dealing with.

—

Meanwhile, in the Library…

Verbena sat in the dimly lit library, flipping through an old novel with little interest. She had been waiting.

Waiting for him to come to her.

And just as she expected, the heavy double doors slammed open.

Theodore stood at the entrance, his figure cast in shadows, eyes burning with cold fury.

"You seem upset, darling," Verbena mused, not bothering to look up from her book.

Theodore's voice was dangerously low. "Did you do it?"

She finally glanced up, tilting her head. "Do what?"

"Don't play games with me, Verbena." He strode closer, his presence suffocating. "Did you leak information about my estate?"

A slow smirk played on her lips. "Now why would I do that?"

Theodore grabbed her wrist, pulling her up from the chair in one swift motion. His grip was firm, his breath hot against her skin.

"I'm warning you," he murmured, his voice filled with restrained anger. "If I find out you had a hand in this—"

"You'll what?" She met his gaze, defiant as ever. "Kill me?"

A thick silence settled between them.

For a moment, his grip tightened as if he was fighting some internal battle. But then, with a low curse, he released her and stepped back.

"You're making a mistake," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

Verbena sighed dramatically. "If you're so convinced that I'm your enemy, then why haven't you thrown me into the dungeon yet?"

His gaze darkened. "Because I don't know what you want anymore."

For the first time, Verbena faltered.

There was something raw in his voice—something that made her chest tighten.

She had expected rage, accusations, threats… but not this.

Not the quiet frustration of a man who didn't know whether to punish her or protect her.

"Let me make this clear," Theodore finally said, his voice softer now but no less intense. "If you really are involved in this, I won't hold back."

Verbena forced a smirk. "Good. I'd hate for things to get boring."

Theodore shook his head, his expression unreadable.

Without another word, he turned and left, the door closing with a quiet click.

Verbena exhaled, pressing a hand against her chest.

Wohy… did her heart feel like this?

And why did she suddenly feel like she was standing on a very, very dangerous edge?

—

End of Chapter 75