Betrayed by Blood: My Second Life as a Queen novel Chapter 101

Those few ordinary words, delivered without even a shift in tone, pierced straight through Tessa Thorne's heart like a jagged thorn.

Dazed, she looked up at Willow Shaw. Willow's retreating figure radiated a bright, self-assured confidence. Her steps swayed with natural grace as she ascended the podium under the spotlight, never once looking back.

Holding the trophy Tessa had desperately coveted, Willow smiled effortlessly while posing for photos with the judges.

Outside the camera's frame, Tessa collapsed pathetically on the floor, her eyes overflowing with venomous envy as she stared at Willow.

The stark contrast felt like the cruelest punishment in the world, drowning Tessa in a suffocating wave of resentment. She turned, looking pleadingly at Julian. "Julian..."

Julian averted his gaze, hardening his heart against her tears. He had cleaned up Tessa's messes for years, but for the first time, an overwhelming exhaustion settled into his bones.

Why did she have to be so irrational? It was just a trophy; was it really that important to her? Did she really have to orchestrate a bribery scandal with the judges when The Shaw Group was already in the middle of a massive crisis?

The mere thought of how difficult it would be to salvage their reputation left Julian too furious to speak.

Panic flared in Tessa's eyes. She lowered her head, her eyelashes trembling uncontrollably. Why had things suddenly spiraled out of control? If even Julian refused to help her now, who else could she rely on?

It was all Willow's fault! If she hadn't insisted on digging into the truth, none of this would have happened!

She glared at Willow with burning jealousy, but before she could open her mouth, her gaze collided with Lucian Jagger's.

Lucian's expression was composed, but a predatory, lethal glint lurked in his eyes. In that single second of eye contact, Tessa felt utterly exposed. A sudden, inexplicable fear gripped her, and she hurriedly looked away.

What was going on? How could an ordinary man with no background possess such a terrifying gaze?

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify