Her Gilded Revenge For Stolen Fate novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28

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Quentin was breathing heavily, his eyes bloodshot. He just couldn’t understand it. Flora came from nobility, and he himself was no commoner. While their son was so utterly clueless.

Matthew gave people more than enough to gossip about, yet he seemed completely unaware of his own mistakes. All he did was bully his unmarried sister, which was downright embarrassing.

Quentin wanted to unleash his anger on Matthew right then, but the thought of Flora fighting for her life held him back. Flora was the Duchess of Aurea, and her survival hung in the balance.

“Matthew, this isn’t the time to argue about right and wrong,” Quentin said, forcing his voice steady. “Your mother’s life is on the line. Getting her the medicine comes first.”

Finally, it dawned on Matthew that Flora still hadn’t taken her dosage. His throat tightened. He took the dagger from a nanny, sterilized it over the flame, and sliced his own wrist. Blood dripped steadily into the bowl.

When it was nearly half full, the doctor quickly stopped Matthew and bandaged the wound. Then, carefully carrying the bowl, the doctor headed to the kitchen. Under his watchful eye, there would be no chance for the medicine to be tampered

with this time.

“Matt…” Celia stared blankly at Matthew’s blood–soaked bandage, tears streaming down her face. “This is all my fault. I should have guarded the cure. Because of me, you had to suffer like this.”

“It’s not your fault, Celia,” Matthew said softly, ruffling her hair. His expression was gentle now, a far cry from the scowling man he’d been moments before. For once, he truly seemed like a caring older brother.

But Vivian shattered the moment. She covered her mouth and let out a few light coughs. All eyes turned to her.

“Grandmother, Father, there is one thing I want to share with you if you don’t mind,” Vivian began hesitantly.

“Go on,” Quentin said, waving a hand for her to continue.

“I think I might have seen the person who swapped out the blood,” Vivian said.

“I knew it,” Matthew snapped, his anger bubbling back up. “So you’re saying it was you who stole Celia’s blood?”

Vivian raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering meaningfully on Celia before she replied.

“Matthew,” Beatrice interjected, tapping her cane firmly on the floor to silence Matthew.

Vivian took out a piece of paper from her sleeve. Holding it carefully in both hands, she presented it respectfully to Beatrice.

Sylvia felt as if an invisible hand were squeezing her heart. She could barely breathe. She was desperate to know what was on

that

paper.

Beatrice unfolded the paper without delay. It was a portrait. The man depicted was young, likely just past twenty, with handsome and refined features. He carried a gentle, almost scholarly air. He was the kind who seemed harmless at first glance.

If Judith had been there, she would have recognized him instantly. This was the coachman who had once sliced her hands and feet.

In her previous life, Vivian had crossed paths with this coachman more than once. His name was Dylan Bond, and he was the man Celia trusted above all others, even more than Xavier.

Dylan had once been a nobody on the streets until Celia saved him and gave him a new life.

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Chapter 28

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He owed her everything. From then on, he became her shadow, her sharpest blade. Every dirty deed, every task that needed to stay in the dark. Dylan was the one who handled it.

Vivian knew Celia’s ways inside and out. Someone as careful as she would never let just anyone near the truth. Only Dylan could be trusted with something as critical as collecting the blood.

Vivian was so certain that she’d sketched this portrait ahead.

Quentin’s voice turned icy and commanding. “Who is he? And where did you see him?”

“I don’t know his name.” Vivian replied. “I only sketched him because he was acting so shady. He pretended to be a coachman while sneaking around the women’s quarters. He was up to no good, so I made sure to remember his face.”

Celia recognized the portrait immediately. Dylan was her most trusted ally, her shadow in the dark. He was someone she never intended to expose to the world.

Now here he was, laid bare in front of everyone at Aurea Manor. It felt like Vivian had ripped away Celia’s armor, exposing every secret she’d ever buried.

For the first time, real fear gripped Celia. She cursed in her heart, ‘Is Vivian here to ruin me? How did she find spot so easily? She lowered her head, lips trembling, careful not to let Quentin or Beatrice see her panic.

my

weakest

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Luckily, Quentin and Beatrice were focused entirely on Vivian.

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“He’s no one from the manor. That’s for sure,” Quentin said, voice heavy with confusion. “Why would he switch Celia’s blood? Does he have some grudge against Flora? Is he waiting for a chance to hurt her?”

Flora was gentle and devout. She’d spent years in prayer, staying out of drama. Even as the Duchess of Aurea, she kept a low profile. Quentin couldn’t imagine who’d want to harm her.

Vivian almost said it out loud, “Maybe he wasn’t trying to hurt Mother. Maybe he was protecting Celia.” But she held back. She knew she didn’t have the leverage yet. Going head–to–head with Celia, who was spoiled by everyone, would only backfire.

“I really don’t know,” Vivian said, shaking her head slowly.

Sylvia and Celia exchanged a glance, both quietly relieved. ‘Good,’ Sylvia thought, ‘if Vivian knew the truth, this could spin out of control fast.’

Vivian went on, “But this man can slip in and out of the women’s quarters unnoticed. He already swapped the blood once. he ever meant real harm, with so many young women living here…”

Quentin’s face darkened.

If

Vivian’s looks might already be ruined, but Celia, the Belle of Aurestus, was their golden ticket. She was meant to marry into power, to bring strong alliances to Aurea Manor. If her reputation got tarnished, her future would be ruined.

And that wasn’t even considering the other girls in the manor, from the main and branch families, and the concubines. Quentin wasn’t about to let his house become a laughingstock.

“Search the manor!” he barked, slamming a hand on the table. “Turn the place inside out if you have to, but find that man.”

Vivian let a faint smile touch her lips. She was thrilled.

However privileged Quentin might be, he was still a seasoned noble. Once his mind was set, catching Dylan was only a matter of time. She couldn’t be happier after taking out Celia’s right–hand man.

Noticing how pale Celia looked, Vivian put on a tone of concern. “You’ve lost too much blood. You’re completely drained. You should go rest. Let me take care of things here in Hearthstone Court.”

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Chapter 28

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But Celia refused. Tm Mother’s daughter. Caring for her is my duty. Handing it to someone else would go against everything we stand for.”

Celia’s words were a clear reminder that Vivian should know her place. The line between the main family and the branch was not to be crossed.

Vivian raised an eyebrow, catching the flash of disappointment in Sylvia’s eyes. A faint, knowing smile played on her lips.

Just wait. Vivian thought, ‘until the day Celia’s real background comes to light. Will she still be crying about being Lady Flora’s daughter or pretending she has nothing to do with some lowborn concubine?‘