Shadows Behind the Curtain

CHAPTER TWO

The moment Jade stepped onto the terrace, she felt the tension in her shoulders ease—just slightly. The crisp night air, laced with the faint scent of jasmine and rain-soaked earth, was a welcome relief from the suffocating grandeur of the Middleton ballroom. Inside, the rich and powerful played their never-ending games, their laughter hollow, their smiles polished but insincere.

Out here, there was silence. Space to think.

Jade moved toward the edge of the terrace, gripping the cool marble railing as she gazed at the sprawling estate gardens below. The path was lit by elegant lanterns, casting elongated shadows across the cobblestone. This world—this life—was meant to be a dream. A fairytale. But she knew better.

This wasn't a love story.

This was a war.

She heard the door open behind her, followed by the soft, measured steps of the man she had once believed she could trust.

"Leaving so soon?" Alexander's voice was smooth, but there was something unreadable beneath it.

Jade didn't turn. "I needed air."

He came to stand beside her, mirroring her position against the railing. A silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter.

"You didn't have to come tonight."

Jade let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "Wouldn't that have been convenient?"

Alexander sighed, rubbing a hand over his jaw. "Jade—"

She held up a hand, stopping him. "No. Don't." Her voice was sharper now. "Don't pacify me. Not after what I just walked into."

He turned to face her fully, his jaw tightening. "You knew what tonight was."

Jade exhaled slowly, trying to temper the fire rising in her chest. "Yes, Alexander. I knew exactly what it was. A spectacle. A performance, where I am the unwelcome guest, the scandalous wife your family parades around to remind everyone of your *mistake*."

His eyes darkened at that. "Is that what you think?"

She let out a soft, bitter laugh. "I don't have to think, Alexander. Your mother made it clear. Your *ex* made it clear." Her voice dropped, almost a whisper. "And you… you said nothing."

His silence stretched too long, confirming what she already knew.

Jade stepped back, folding her arms across her chest. "Tell me something, Alexander. If I had thrown my drink in Liliana's face tonight, if I had snapped back at your mother the way I wanted to—would you have defended me?"

His lips parted slightly, but no words came.

That was answer enough.

Jade scoffed, shaking her head. "Exactly."

She turned away, ready to leave, but Alexander reached out, gently catching her wrist. His touch was warm, firm, but not forceful. A part of her wanted to pull away—to sever this moment, this connection. But another part of her stayed still.

"I didn't say anything because I didn't want to make things worse," he admitted, his voice low. "You don't understand my mother the way I do. She's testing you, waiting for you to crack."

Jade's gaze met his, sharp and unyielding. "She'll be waiting a long time."

Something flickered in his expression—respect, perhaps? Or maybe regret?

Before either of them could say more, the soft creak of the terrace door opening broke the moment.

"Forgive me for intruding."

Jade turned, and her breath caught slightly.

Standing in the doorway was **Lady Eleanor Middleton**, the family's true matriarch.

The older woman was dressed in an elegant emerald gown, her silver hair swept into a regal chignon. Though her face was lined with age, there was no mistaking the sharpness in her gaze. Unlike Victoria, whose power lay in manipulation and social standing, Eleanor's influence was something deeper. Quieter. Unquestionable.

Alexander straightened slightly. "Grandmother."

Jade quickly schooled her expression, inclining her head. "Lady Eleanor."

The woman's lips curved slightly, though whether it was amusement or something else, Jade couldn't tell. "Walk with me," she said simply.

Jade hesitated for a brief moment. A request from Lady Eleanor was not truly a request.

She glanced at Alexander, who gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.

With measured steps, Jade followed Eleanor down the stone steps of the terrace, disappearing into the moonlit gardens.

Something told her this conversation would change everything. .