Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 21 - Chapitre 30

CHAPTER 22 - “The Line Ethan Crosses”I shouldn’t have spoken.The moment the words left my mouth, I knew it.Too sharp. Too loud. Too final.“You are lying,” I said. “And everyone here knows it.”The hall went quiet.Not shocked, quiet.Dangerous quiet.The nobleman’s smile froze. It was thin. Polished. Practiced.“You should choose your words carefully,” he responded. “This is not a place for emotionaloutbursts.”I didn’t look away. “Then stop insulting our intelligence.”A few breaths broke.A few heads turned.Adrian stiffened beside me. I felt it without looking.“Ethan,” he said slowly. “Don’t.”But it was already done.The gentleman laughed softly. “You accuse Marcus without proof.”“I'm accusing you,” I said. “Of protecting him.”Gasps followed.Someone whispered my name. Someone else whispered Marcus’s.The gentleman stepped closer. “You forget your position.”“No,” I said. “I remember it too well.”Adrian’s hand brushed my arm. Warning. Fear.“Ethan,” he said again. “Please

CHAPTER 24 - “The Night Adrian Breaks”“You think this is easy for me?” I snapped. “You think I enjoy watching everything slip?”“I think you enjoy not choosing,” Ethan said.The words hit hard.“I don’t have a choice,” I said.“You do,” he said. “You just don’t like the cost.”My voice cracked. “You don’t know what happens if I defy her.”“I know what happens if you don’t,” he responded. “You disappear.”“That’s not true.”“You’re already fading,” he said.I stepped closer. “Stop.”“No,” he said. “You need to hear this.”“I said stop,” I repeated.“You hide behind duty,” Ethan continued. “Behind tradition. Behind fear.”“I’m protecting everyone,” I said.“You’re protecting yourself,” he responded.Silence fell between us.I whispered, “I’m scared.”He softened. Just a little.“I know,” he said.“I’m scared of choosing you,” I revealed. “And losing everything.”“And I’m scared of staying,” he said, “and losing myself.”That hurt more than anything else.“You’d leave?” I asked.“Yes,”

CHAPTER 26 - “What Love Costs”“You protect me by being yourself,” I whispered. “By fighting. By letting me fight with you.”He closed his eyes. Pain written across his face. “I… I don’t deserve you.”“You’re wrong,” I said strongly. “You deserve someone who won’t run. Someone who sees theman behind the crown. I see you, Adrian.”He opened his eyes then. Full of something raw and scary. “And if I lose you?”“You won’t.” I put my hand over his heart. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”We stayed there, silent, hands clasped, breathing in rhythm. The world outside didn’t exist. Onlyus.Then I remembered Marcus. I had the tape, the one where he admitted everything: the plans,the lies, the manipulation. Proof that could destroy him.Adrian looked up, eyes wide. “You… you recorded him?”I nodded. “I had to. For us. For you. For everyone he’s trying to hurt.”He swallowed hard. “Ethan… you’re taking a risk.”“I know,” I said. “But some things are worth it. You’re worth it.”We shared a qui

CHAPTER 28 “The Lie They Tell the World”They said I was dangerous.I laughed when I heard it. Not because it was funny. Not because it didn’t hurt. I laughed because the lie was too clean. Too easy.“Unstable,” the official said, voice calm, practiced. “Mentally compromised. Emotionally volatile. A threat to the crown.”I leaned forward. “And that makes your hands clean?”He didn’t answer. They never do.I had expected torture. I had expected silence. I had expected death. I did not expect them to erase me with words.“You framed me,” I said quietly. “And now you’re rewriting me.”“You did this to yourself,” another voice replied. “If you had stayed away from the prince, none of this would have happened.”I felt it then. The ache. Deep. Sharp. Adrian’s face flashed in my mind. His eyes. His promise. His silence.“So where is he?” I asked. “Where is the man who swore I wouldn’t face this alone?”No answer.The door opened again. Papers were placed in front of me. A decision already m

CHAPTER 30 “Seraphina’s Choice”I was tired of watching good men bleed for lies.I didn’t raise my voice.I didn’t need to.“Tell me why,” I said calmly. “Why won't you stop?”Marcus looked up from the papers, surprised by my tone. “You sound disappointed.”“I am,” I replied. “I thought you wanted justice.”He laughed softly. “Justice is just another word people use when revenge sounds ugly.”I crossed my arms. “You’re destroying Ethan to hurt Adrian.”“And?” he asked. “Isn’t that fair?”“No,” I said firmly. “It’s cruel.”His smile faded. “Careful, Seraphina. You’re choosing sides.”I took a step closer. “I already have.”Silence stretched between us.“You always knew the truth,” I continued. “You knew Ethan was framed. You knew Adrian was cornered.”“And yet,” Marcus said, eyes sharp, “he still chose the crown.”The words stung because they were true.“He chose survival,” I said quietly. “You’re choosing destruction.”Marcus stood slowly. “I’m choosing to expose weakness.”“No,” I c