Novel & Cerita The Winter Of Our Discontent

This winter was not only cold— This winter was bloody.

Julian’s breath hitched, his eyes darting frantically toward Elena. For five years, he had treated her like a piece of decorative furniture—an asset to be locked away and ignored. Now, standing in the dim light of the sub-basement, flanked by the three most dangerous men on the continent, Elena looked like a completely different woman. The dove-grey silk of her blouse was unbuttoned at the collar, the heavy raw emerald pendant resting against her skin, a physical manifestation of her restored sovereignty. Her dark eyes were entirely devoid of pity.

"You did." "Look, I'm not trying to say that you're a liar or that any of these is a lie, but the thing is, I don't seem to know any of these things you're talking to me about. I'm not whoever you're taking me to be. My name's Winter, not Vinci and I'm a girl and not a man —”

THE UGLY TRUTH Author’s Narration (Flashback of the murder of Zella’s parents) Winter held the whole city in a strong grip. The heating system groaned, but the wind still slipped through the curtains. Frost crawled over the tall windows, locking out the world and turning the Midnight estate into its own little ice palace.

"Stiles didn't want a home. He wanted a showpiece. Something to prove to his business associates that he'd made it. I was just part of the decor." The bitterness in her voice made my hands clench into fists. I wanted to march up to that perfect house and drag Stiles out by his collar, make him apologize for every moment of pain he'd caused this incredible woman. But Winter needed her documents more than I needed to punch someone. Again. We got off at the next stop, and I followed Winter as she walked slowly toward her former home, each step seeming to cost her something. By the time we reached the end of the driveway, her shoulders were hunched, her earlier joy completely extinguished.

I clutched my chest, gasping for breath as tears blurred my vision. My fists clenched so tightly my nails dug deep into my palms, using the pain to keep myself upright. “Wandi spent a year overseas, recuperating, before she was willing to forgive Neve. In a couple of days, I’ll stage a medical ‘miracle’, stand up again, and let her resume being the Donna. This year is a penance for her willfulness.” Each word of his was uttered coolly, piercing deeper into my heart. “But… it has been a year. Will she buy it?” someone asked hesitantly.

He seemed to be having a lot of questions inside his head but he chose to shut it out as he took notice of the woman’s ruthlessness! Merida entered the open-wide two doors and took her graceful steps towards the storage room. She glared at the closed door and get a hold of the doorknob. A sharp twist was made by her slender fingers and the door burst open. A smell of rotten male release filled the air and it wafted into her nose. “Ughhh...” Merida groaned in disgust pinching her nose to block the rotten smell from entering her system. It seemed like her belly was twisting into different knots ready to pour out everything that she had eaten earlier.

Their harsh crimson accents stood out with jarring, aggressive contrast against the muted, elegant winter colors that defined the traditional attire of the Winter Court, signaling an unspoken declaration of political war. Following the dramatic conclusion of the opening statements, the high-stakes proceedings transitioned into the formal presentation of testimonies. Draven’s meticulous scribes wasting no time, calling forward a succession of hand-picked witnesses from the remote northern territories. These were weathered elders and traditionalist lords who spoke in low, rehearsed tones of “unstable bloodlines” and “fatally weakened Alpha authority” within House Winter. Every single word was

"What happened?" "Alpha, Winter. Winter has been poisoned."

she ventured softly. Winter’s head turned slowly, as if only now remembering she existed. His gray eyes met hers briefly, distant and unreadable. “That will be all,” he said coldly. “You can leave.” The dismissal stung, sharp as the winter wind. Scarlett’s frown deepened, a flicker of hurt flashing across her face before she bowed again and turned away, the basin clutched tightly in her trembling hands. She walked further away toward the open yard, the moonlight trailing her like a ghost, leaving Winter alone once more with the silent night.