The clock ticked past 8:30 PM as tension coiled through the east wing, the mirror's silent presence a witness to the unfolding drama. Elara stood beside Cassian, her heart racing as Lila's confession hung in the air. Gideon's father, presumed dead, alive and pulling strings from the estate's shadows—it was a revelation that turned their world upside down.
Cassian's voice cut through the silence, sharp and commanding. "Where is he, Lila? Tell us now."
Lila's hands trembled, the papers slipping to the floor. "The cellar. He's been hiding there, planning… something. I don't know details, but he spoke of ending the Valmont line—starting with you, Cassian, and now Elara."
Gideon's face paled, his usual charm replaced by a raw edge of anger. "My father's a monster. If he's alive, he's here to destroy us all." He turned to Cassian, his eyes fierce. "We end this tonight."
Elara nodded, her resolve firm despite the fear gnawing at her. "I'm with you. He won't take this from us."
Cassian retrieved the lantern, its glow casting long shadows as they descended the narrow stairs to the cellar. The air grew damp, the scent of mold mingling with the faint tang of iron. At the bottom, a figure emerged from the darkness—tall, gaunt, with Gideon's sharp features twisted by years of bitterness. His gray hair was streaked with white, and his eyes gleamed with a cold, calculating light.
"Well, well," the man sneered, his voice raspy. "The prodigal son and his little bride. And Gideon—traitor to your own blood."
"Father," Gideon spat, stepping forward. "You faked your death to scheme against us? Why?"
The man—Elias Valmont—laughed, a hollow sound. "To reclaim what's mine. Your uncle stole the family's true power, and his wife knew too much. I silenced her, and now I'll silence you. The Valmont legacy ends with me."
Cassian's fists clenched, his voice a low growl. "You killed my mother. For power?"
Elias shrugged, unrepentant. "A necessary sacrifice. And Elara—your marriage threatens my plans. A new heir would ruin everything."
Elara's blood ran cold, but she stepped forward, her voice steady. "You underestimate me. I'm not just a pawn."
Elias drew a dagger from his coat, its blade glinting in the lantern light. "We'll see."
The fight was swift and chaotic. Cassian lunged, disarming Elias with a powerful strike, while Gideon restrained him. Elara grabbed the fallen papers, scanning them—proof of Elias's treachery, including orders to harm Lila's sister. "This ends here," she said, holding the evidence aloft.
Elias struggled, but Cassian's grip held firm. "You're done, Father," Gideon said, his voice breaking. "The family's yours no more."
As servants arrived, summoned by the commotion, Elias was bound and led away, his curses fading into the night. The clock neared 9:00 PM, the danger lifting like a heavy fog. Cassian turned to Elara, his eyes softening. "You were brave tonight."
She met his gaze, a quiet strength in her smile. "We were. Together."
Gideon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I need a drink after that. But… thank you, both of you."
As they ascended to the manor's warmth, the cellar's darkness receded, but the bond between them had deepened. The Valmont secrets were unraveling, and with each step, Elara felt the promise of a new beginning—one forged not by force, but by choice.