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The moon hung low in the sky, casting an ethereal glow over Riverton Springs. The grand mansion of Henry Davenport, the esteemed Governor of Vhantrosa, stood proudly on the hill, its windows glowing with the warm light of a solitary candle. Inside, Henry paced the length of his study, his thoughts consumed by the woman who had haunted his dreams for years—Alice Starling.
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Alice, now widowed after the untimely death of her husband Damon, had once been Henry's closest friend. Damon and Henry had been inseparable, their bond forged in the fires of youth and strengthened by their shared ambitions. But their friendship was complicated by their rivalry for Alice Galliano's affections. Harold Archer, another powerful figure, had also vied for Alice's heart. Yet Alice had always loved Henry.
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When they were teenagers, arranged marriages were a mandatory tradition in Vhantrosa, and no one dared to protest. Her family, the Gallianos, saw the proposal from the Starlings as the obvious choice due to their prominence and power. Despite her love for Henry, Alice accepted her fate and married Damon, making the best of their imperfect, tarnished marriage. They upheld appearances, especially for the sake of their three children: Sam, Evelyn, and Jae.
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Henry's heart ached as he remembered the day Alice had been betrothed to Damon. He had stood by, a silent witness to their union, while his heart had secretly yearned for her. Harold Archer had been a persistent suitor, but Alice's heart had always belonged to Henry. Yet, duty and tradition dictated her path, and she was bound to Damon.
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The years passed, and Alice and Damon worked to make their marriage as harmonious as possible. Damon, however, had a harsh side, particularly towards their youngest son, Jae. Henry shuddered as he recalled the chilling rumors about Damon's treatment of Jae and the tragic day when Damon took his own life in front of the young boy. It was a memory that haunted Henry, a stark reminder of the darkness that had tainted Alice's life and the lives of her children.
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After Damon's death, Alice remained in Bloomfield, where she raised her family as a single mother. She took on the role of chairwoman of the Starling conglomerate, ensuring the family's legacy and business interests thrived. Her son Sam had grown up to be the president of the ruby mines and energy barons, continuing the family's influence and power.
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Years had kept them fated, Alice had always sought solace in him, before and after Damon's death. Their paths had crossed once more, and the flame that had never truly died had reignited with a fervor that neither could deny.
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Henry's thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. He turned to see Alice standing in the doorway, her eyes filled with a mixture of longing and hesitation.
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Henry's ambition to protect Alice and her children burned stronger than ever. He knew the power and influence of his family, the Davenports, well-known for their prestigious political reputations across the chain islands. His sister, Kendall, was married to the Prime Minister of Ghryza, Archinald King, further solidifying their family's standing. But Henry understood that true power lay with the founding families, who had overthrown the Ferucchis.
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In the midst of his responsibilities, Henry had remained a bachelor, never having children of his own. This reality weighed heavily on him, especially as he now aided Victor Burchart in his quest to restore the Ferucchi family legacy. Henry thought about the dangers he faced, the evident betrayal to Alice, and the implications of not having a lineage to leave his wealth and legacy to. The Starlings, being one of the seven founding families, made his actions even more treacherous. It was a risk he was willing to take, driven by a complex mixture of loyalty, ambition, and a deep-seated need to restore the history of Vhantrosa.
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For Henry, his position as Governor was not just a title but a means to effect change and safeguard those he cared about. The love he had for Alice, undiminished by time and circumstance, fuelled his determination to ensure her happiness and safety. He resolved to keep their rekindled relationship discreet, knowing the consequences of discovery could be disastrous for both of them.
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As Alice stepped into the room, Henry's heart swelled with a mix of relief and desperation. He couldn't keep living a lie, and he didn't want to. They deserved to be happy, and he would do whatever it took to protect their secret and their love. The world outside might demand duty and sacrifice, but within the sanctuary of their embrace, they found solace and a chance at the happiness they had always longed for.
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Alice moved closer, her gaze never leaving his. The air between them crackled with unspoken words and pent-up emotions. Henry reached out, gently taking her hand in his, feeling the warmth of her skin against his. He pulled her into his arms, their bodies fitting together as if they had never been apart.
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The room seemed to fade away as they stood there, wrapped in each other's embrace. Henry's fingers traced the curve of Alice's cheek, his touch tender and reverent. He leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was both gentle and passionate, a promise of the love they had always shared.
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Alice's breath hitched as she responded, her hands gripping the fabric of his shirt as if afraid to let go. The years of longing and separation melted away, leaving only the two of them, bound by a love that had endured despite the odds.
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As their kiss deepened, the world outside ceased to exist. In that moment, they were free from the constraints of duty and expectation, lost in the intensity of their connection. It was a stolen moment, a brief respite from the challenges they faced, but it was enough to remind them of what they had always known—they were meant to be together.
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The telephone rang sharply, breaking the moment. Annoyed, Henry muttered that he would ignore it, but Alice gently pulled away, her eyes filled with regret.
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"It's time for me to leave anyway," she said softly. "Evie has left for a different state to open another world-renowned gallery for her authentic art pieces, Sam is out of town for business, and I can't leave Jae home alone. We're in the midst of preparing for the high society gala, and he has school tomorrow."
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Henry sighed, understanding but reluctant to let her go. He nodded, his hand lingering on hers for a moment longer. "My driver will take you home, I would feel much more at ease that way. Promise me we'll see each other again soon," he whispered.
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Alice smiled, her eyes reflecting the same longing. "I promise," she said before slipping out of his embrace and quietly leaving the room, leaving Henry standing there, his heart heavy with both love and the weight of their complex world.
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As Alice drove home, the weight of her secrets pressed heavily on her chest. The guilt of her affair with Henry gnawed at her, knowing how Jae would react if he ever found out. Her phone rang, and she saw Jae's name on the screen. She took a deep breath before answering.
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"Hi, sweetheart," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
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"Mom, where are you?" Jae's voice was filled with concern.
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Guilt flushed over her as she lied, "I'm on my way back into town from a business meeting. I'll be home soon."
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Regret and fear gripped her heart. She knew how much Jae had struggled with his temper and the darkness that had once overshadowed his life before she sent him to the mental health resort. She couldn't bear the thought of him finding out about her affair with Henry.
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"I love you so much, Jae," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm so proud of you. I'll be home soon, and we can have a nice dinner together."
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Jae's voice softened, "I love you too, Mom. I'll be waiting."
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As Alice pulled into the driveway, Jae was looking out of the living room window. She stepped out of the car, her heart pounding. She didn't notice the driver, but Jae did—he recognized him as one of Henry's.
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Alice entered the house, relieved to find it quiet. "Did you see Henry?" Jae asked, suspicion lacing his voice.
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Alice shook her head, "No, I hired someone to drive me since I had a drink at the business meeting."
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Jae's world turned upside down as he noticed his mother's lipstick, usually applied perfectly, was smudged. He knew in that moment that she had lied to him and suspected her affair with Henry. Devastated by the thought, he felt a surge of anger and betrayal.
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"I've already had something to eat," Jae said coldly, turning away from her. "I'm going to my room."
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Jae's world turned upside down as he noticed his mother's lipstick, usually applied perfectly, was smudged. He knew in that moment that she had lied to him and suspected her affair with Henry. Devastated by the thought, he felt a surge of anger and betrayal.
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His mind raced, the possibility of his mother and Henry together tearing at his heart. Henry, his father's best friend, had always stood in as a father figure for Jae. He had admired, respected, and looked up to Henry. The realization that Henry could be having an affair with his mother was a betrayal he couldn't bear.
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The memories of his father loomed large in his mind. The harsh treatment, the cold words, the haunting image of his father taking his own life right in front of him. Those memories were a constant shadow, a darkness that Jae could never fully escape. The years of trauma and emotional turmoil had left deep scars, and his violent temper was a constant reminder of the pain he carried within.
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As he stood there, the weight of everything happening in his life threatened to overwhelm him. The possibility of Wiley uncovering the Veiled Circle's dark secrets loomed like a storm cloud. Kayetana ending things with him and continuing to toy with his emotions only added to his sense of instability. Every unresolved conflict, every painful memory, seemed to converge in that moment, creating a pressure that felt unbearable.
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Jae's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white with the effort to control the rage boiling inside him. He had always struggled to control his temper, and now, with the betrayal of his mother and Henry, the anger threatened to consume him. The love he had once felt for Henry twisted into a knot of bitterness and pain.
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His mind spiraled, thoughts racing and colliding. The darkness that had once overshadowed his life seemed to surge forward, threatening to engulf him. He wanted to scream, to lash out, to break something—anything—to release the torrent of emotions inside him. But he knew that giving in to his anger would only lead to self-destruction, a path he had walked too many times before.
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The thought of his mother, the only person who had always been there for him, betraying him with the one man he had trusted most, was a wound too deep to fathom. The respect and admiration he had held for Henry now felt like a cruel joke, a facade that had shattered in an instant.
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"Jae, are you okay?" Alice's voice broke through his turmoil, filled with concern.
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He turned to her, his eyes burning with a mix of hurt and fury. "I've already had something to eat," he said coldly, turning away from her. "I'm going to my room."
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Alice watched him go, her heart breaking as she saw the pain in his eyes. She knew she had to find a way to make things right, but for now, all she could do was watch as her son retreated into his own world, the weight of her secrets threatening to tear them apart.
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In his room, Jae tried to calm himself, but the thoughts kept swirling, the emotions too intense to contain. He felt like he was on the edge of a precipice, one step away from falling into the abyss. The world he had known, the people he had trusted, seemed to be slipping away, leaving him in a sea of confusion and pain.
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The silence of his room was deafening, and he couldn't escape the memories that haunted him. The betrayal of his mother and Henry felt like the final blow, a confirmation that the world was as dark and twisted as he had always feared. The anger and hurt threatened to consume him, but deep down, he knew he had to find a way to hold on, to survive the storm raging inside him.
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Jae's mind was a whirlwind of emotions as fell down on his bed. The betrayal he felt from his mother and Henry gnawed at him, and he needed an escape. He reached for his phone, his fingers trembling as he texted Kaye, the one person who could make him feel better, who could calm the storm inside him.
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"Meet me at the old pier?" he typed, his heart pounding as he hit send. When she didn't respond, he called her, but she declined his call twice. The rejection stung, deepening his sense of isolation.
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Feeling like he had no one, his phone buzzed with a message from Lizzie.
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“I got a century old Whitmore Whiskey and a bag of crystals. The gang is at the cabin, come link up.” -Lizzie
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Contemplating it over, his former addiction to the crystal drug known as HMs, and the horrible choices he used to make seemed inevitable. Desperate for any kind of distraction, he replied quickly.
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“Be there in ten.” -Jae
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He snuck out of the house as he heard his mother’s footsteps pacing in the kitchen, where she was humming, and sat out to the cabin in the woods behind the Drew’s Estate, where the walls held many secrets. The cabin was a place of solace for Jae, a hidden sanctuary where he could escape the pressures of his life. As he arrived, he was surprised to find only Lizzie there, her eyes lighting up when she saw him. She wore sultry laced black dress, that covered little of her thighs and held little modesty. Her cleavage was overly exposed and the way she positioned herself on the sofa, showed that she wasn’t wearing underwear.
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Jae placed his gaze on the window, determined not to look at her as he grew even more annoyed that she had lied to get him there. “Where are the others?”
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“Oh come on, Jae,” Lizzie leaned forward, exposing more of her cleavage, “you were never one to say no to a good time. Ever since you came back this summer, you’re suddenly this stiff politician, you’re turning into Henry.”
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Jae clenched his jaw, he knew she was probably already high but it didn’t excuse how antagonizing her comment felt. Like, she knew exactly what turmoil was rushing inside of him. He contemplated it over, knowing that Henry was the one to convince him to take his mother’s help and attend the mental health resort’s summer program -felt calculated in that moment, like he was trying to replace his father by being so good to him. He wondered whether it was always Henry’s plan.
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“Fuck it.” He mutters under his breath, seeing no harm the consequences of his following actions.
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Lizzi was delighted always having harbored feelings for Jae, the chance to spend time with him all alone, meant everything to her -it presented so much opportunity and given her so much hope.
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They settled into the cabin, the air thick with unspoken words as Lizzie poured their drinks, slipping a something into Jae’s as he prepared the pipe filled with the crystal drug. Jae passed the pipe to Lizzie, leaning back on the sofa, the familiar haze of HMs offering a temporary reprieve from his turmoil. Lizzie enjoyed the moment, a devilish grin slipped across her face as her own plan fell into place. The two of them sank into a state euphoria as they drank and indulged in the substances that dulled their senses.
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The night wore on, and the cabin became a cocoon of escape. Jae's thoughts drifted, the alcohol and drugs blurring the edges of his pain. Lizzie's presence was a comfort, a distraction from the chaos in his mind.
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Lizzie took their drinks, placed it on the table, and wrapped her legs across Jae. As much as he wanted to resist, his arms felt heavy and his judgement clouded, all he wanted to do, was forget and Lizzie provided that comfort in that moment. She took a pull from the pipe and placed her mouth on Jae’s, releasing the smoke into his.
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They shared an intimate kiss, their bodies seeking solace in each other as he couldn’t help but give in to the moment. For Jae, it was a fleeting moment of relief, a way to forget the betrayal and hurt that consumed him, Kaye finding his mind briefly before he was consumed by the hurt of her rejection. But for Lizzie, it meant everything—a connection she had longed for, a glimpse of the love she hoped to find with him.
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“We should stop.” Jae protest. His speech slurred and his mind dazed by what he thought was the effects of the drug after a long time, not knowing it was due to Lizzie spiking his drink.
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As the night turned to dawn, Jae felt himself lose consciousness. “Kayetana.” He muttered continuously.
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The weight of his emotions pressed down on him, but for a brief moment, he felt a semblance of peace. He knew it wouldn't last, that the reality of his life would come crashing back, but for now, he clung to the fragile calm that Lizzie's presence provided as he dozed off into a peaceful state of unconsciousness.
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