It started with a small, plain envelope left on the counter of her private lounge in the mansion. No stamp, name, and there's no even return address. It's just sitting there, waiting, like it had grown out of the marble itself. Belle picked it up, frowning. It felt thin. When she slid her finger under the flap and pulled out the single sheet inside, her blood ran cold. It was a photograph, already faded, creased, and obviously taken years ago before she met Draven. She was standing outside a cheap apartment building, wearing worn-out clothes, holding a stack of flyers she used to distribute for extra cash. A time when she was struggling, hungry, and desperate. A time she had never shown anyone, not even Draven. “Is something wrong, Belle?” She jumped, shoving the photo behind her back instantly as Draven walked in, fresh from a meeting, his coat is even slung over his arm. “N-nothing,” she said, her voice coming out higher than usual, it's shaky. “Just… nothing important. Ju
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