Beneath The Veil of Deception 7
Episode 7: For Her, in Silence. Serenade In Shadows.
Jacinth Ashbourne
You were aware of the tradition, weren’t you?
Zander turned to face her, his expression impassive, though his brow quirked slightly at her tone.
Zander Von Edrington
I was.
He said, his voice calm, measured.
Love Story—Indila
Not support
Jacinth Ashbourne
And yet you allowed me to leave.
Her jaw tightened, her anger simmering beneath the surface. He held her gaze, unflinching.
Zander Von Edrington
Yes, I did.
There was a flicker of something in his eyes—defiance, perhaps—but it wasn’t enough to disarm her. Her fingers curled slightly against her sides, her tone cooling further.
Jacinth Ashbourne
Do you always disregard the customs of your own household so easily, Your Grace?
Zander’s eyes darkened slightly. His lips pressed into a thin line.
Zander Von Edrington
Easily?
But his voice remained measured, deliberate.
Zander Von Edrington
I would not call it that.
Jacinth Ashbourne
Then what would you call it— ?!
She snapped, her voice rising slightly before she forced it back down. Zander's jaw tightened.
Zander Von Edrington
I wanted to.
The word hung between them, heavy and unyielding. Jacinth’s breath caught, her carefully guarded composure threatening to crack. She studied his face, searching for something—guilt, remorse, indifference—but all she found was that same infuriating calmness.
Love Story—Indila
Not support
Jacinth Ashbourne
You did not have to. No one asked you to break the tradition.
His reply came swiftly, without hesitation.
Zander Von Edrington
No one needed to ask. I made the decision because I thought it was what you needed.
Jacinth Ashbourne
You thought it was what I needed.
She repeated, her tone clipped.
Jacinth Ashbourne
You thought this… indulgence would make me grateful?
Zander’s jaw tightened, the first visible crack in his composure. He took steps, towering over her.
Zander Von Edrington
Do not test my patience.
His words struck her harder than she cared to admit, sending a wave of guilt crashing into the storm of her anger. But she wasn’t ready to let it go—not yet.
Jacinth Ashbourne
Then why?
She demanded, her voice trembling despite her efforts to steady it.
Jacinth Ashbourne
Why would you go against your family tradition just to—
Zander Von Edrington
To let you go.
Zander Von Edrington
To give you even a moment of peace, in a marriage that was forced upon you.
Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she was utterly silent. She felt the weight of his words settle over her, leaving her off balance. She had expected indifference, perhaps even resentment. But not this.
Not the quiet, unyielding understanding that seemed to radiate from him, breaking down every wall she tried to build.
Jacinth Ashbourne
I did not ask for your understanding.
She said finally, her voice low and strained.
For a moment, his expression softened, but only slightly. It was replaced by hurt—but there's no way Jacinth would understand beneath his stoic mask.
Zander Von Edrington
No. You did not.
Love Story—Indila
Not support
Zander Von Edrington
But I will give it to you anyway, 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘩.
Her hands trembled ever so slightly at his response, though she quickly turned away, unwilling to let him see the turmoil his words had caused. Zander has always addressed her as 𝘿𝙪𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙨. Now, her name sounds so intimate to her.
The intimacy she 𝙞𝙨𝙣'𝙩 ready for.
Jacinth Ashbourne
The marriage was not forced upon 𝙢𝙚 only.
For the first time, Zander's lips curved, even if melancholy was evident in that smile.
Zander Von Edrington
You don't know, Jacinth.
For a moment, neither of them moved, the tension between them a tangible force. Jacinth turned away abruptly, blinking back tears.
Jacinth Ashbourne
Don't make it any harder than it already is, Zander.
Love Story—Indila
Not support
She walked toward the grand staircase, whispering, her steps steady but her thoughts anything but.
Zander watched her retreating form, his chest heavy with the weight of unspoken words. Her anger was a blade, sharp and unforgiving, but he took it willingly. It was easier this way—to let her believe he was unfeeling, distant.
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘥𝘰? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦 𝘐 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦, 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳? 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘥𝘰?
As her footsteps faded, he went to the carriage, waiting for her as silence engulfed him. It was better this way, he convinced himself.
Better to bear her scorn than risk her knowing the truth—that he cared for her far more than he should.
Comments
Cara De Clare — Reverie! 🌈
*Sigh* These understanding men should sometimes just let it out. Don't lock every single of you unsaid feelings.
2025-03-19
1
Cara De Clare — Reverie! 🌈
Elsa singing in background — "Let it go! Let it go!” But then she shouldn’t. For their relationship reach a peak.
2025-03-19
1
Cara De Clare — Reverie! 🌈
C'mon girl. Stawp. Your words are sharp like a hunters knife that could smoothly cut any prey's throat.
2025-03-19
1