Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Duchess's Desire: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Victoria’s pulse raced as Isabella’s cold, calculating eyes fixed on her and the Duke. The air in the room was thick with tension, a storm gathering that threatened to break at any moment. Every muscle in Victoria’s body screamed for her to flee, to escape from the suffocating grip of Isabella’s presence. But she stood rooted to the spot, her mind spinning, trying to make sense of the sudden turn of events.Isabella’s smile deepened, but it was nothing more than a thin veil over her icy demeanor. She crossed the threshold, stepping into the room with an elegance that belied the venom in her gaze. “So, this is where you’ve been hiding,” she remarked, her voice smooth, almost affectionate, as if she were speaking to an old friend, not an enemy. “Victoria, how lovely to see you again.”Victoria clenched her fists, her body coiled in readiness for whatever was coming next. She refused to show any weakness. “What do you want, Isabella?” she demanded, her voice icy, her chin lifted in defia

Victoria stood motionless, the chilling words of the Duke hanging in the air like a dark cloud. She couldn’t breathe, her heart racing in her chest, every instinct screaming for her to run, to escape whatever it was they were about to face. The tension between them, the silent understanding, had reached a breaking point—one she wasn’t sure she could survive.“What do you mean, ‘she’s making her move’?” Victoria asked, her voice a whisper of fear and confusion. She hadn’t expected this. She had thought Isabella’s disappearance was just a desperate attempt to escape the manor, to flee from whatever hold Lord Thomas still had on her. But this, this felt different.The Duke’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. “Isabella has been playing a long game, Victoria. We underestimated her. She’s been working behind the scenes, pulling strings, setting everything up for this moment.” He paced across the room, his footsteps heavy and deliberate, his mind clearly worki

Victoria's heart raced in her chest, every instinct screaming at her to flee, to run from the man who had once been her husband. Lord Thomas stood before them, his eyes dark and full of malice, his posture stiff with anger. For a brief, fleeting moment, she wondered if she had truly underestimated him."Lord Thomas," she said again, her voice trembling only slightly, though she wasn’t sure whether it was from fear or the cold fury that boiled in her veins. She stepped forward, trying to make sense of the situation. "What is it you want now?"Lord Thomas gave a humorless chuckle, the sound devoid of any warmth. He turned to face her completely, his eyes piercing through her as if searching for something she couldn’t even name. His smile, twisted and sinister, sent a shiver down her spine. "I want what’s mine, Victoria," he spat, his voice venomous.The Duke, who had stepped beside her, his jaw clenched tightly, moved slightly in front of her, as if shielding her from Lord Thomas’s gaze

Victoria stood by the window, her hands gripping the cold ledge as she gazed out at the sprawling estate. The wind outside had begun to pick up, rustling the trees in the distance, as though echoing the storm inside her mind. Every passing day seemed to pull her further into a web of deceit, betrayal, and calculated moves. Every move, every decision felt like it could lead her closer to her end or to the redemption she longed for.She turned as she heard footsteps behind her. The Duke entered the room, his face grim, the tension in his posture palpable. She could tell something was wrong. The faint echo of the door closing behind him seemed to seal them in, alone with whatever new chaos was about to unfold."Victoria," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight she hadn’t expected. "We have a problem."Her stomach twisted with anticipation. A problem. She was used to that word by now, but she didn’t expect him to say it with such concern. "What is it?" she asked, trying to keep her v

The door creaked open, and the tension in the room thickened. Victoria’s eyes darted to Elena, who wore a slight smile, as if the arrival of whoever was outside was no surprise.Victoria’s pulse quickened. The footsteps were heavy, deliberate—someone important, someone dangerous. And the way Elena stood there, completely at ease, told Victoria that whatever was coming wasn’t something she could stop.The door swung fully open, revealing a man Victoria had never seen before. His broad shoulders and cold, calculating eyes told her everything she needed to know: he wasn’t here to make friends."Ah, there you are," Elena said smoothly, her voice calm, almost playful. "You’ve made it just in time."The man stepped into the room, his gaze immediately locking with Victoria’s. She could feel the weight of his stare, cold, assessing, like he was mentally stripping her bare."This is Viktor," Elena said, her tone casual. "He’s my... associate. He’s here to help us take care of things."Victoria