[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-2603134E5B19-26":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},26,8,"Chapter 8: A Price Paid in Blood","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She whispered the words to herself, over and over.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Until the coppery tang of blood filled her mouth, until the pain was a dull throb she could barely register.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Then, and only then, did she finally crumple to the ground.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">...\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Meanwhile, somewhere else, the heavy door to Dante's confinement creaked open after a night of solitary.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His grandfather, leaning heavily on his cane, stepped inside.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante looked up, a flicker of hope in his eyes. \"You're letting me out?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His grandfather let out a cold snort. \"Come with me.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Without another word, he turned and walked away. Dante had no choice but to push himself up and follow.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They arrived at the entrance to the family chapel. As the doors swung open, a gruesome sight greeted them: Celine, lying inside, her body a bloody mess.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante froze.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Even Dante's grandfather, a man not easily fazed, was taken aback by Celine's sheer, unyielding stubbornness.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine might not have been the Williams family's ideal granddaughter-in-law, but no one could deny she was the one who loved Dante the most.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"She took thirty-three lashes for you yesterday and then knelt here all night.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Dante, I never approved of your marriage to her. But since you insisted, you need to start treating this seriously.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante remained silent for a few seconds, his breath catching in his throat. \"I only married her out of spite back then.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His grandfather pressed on, \"And now? Do you truly not care for her at all?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A strange flutter stirred in Dante's chest, but then the image of Isabella flashed in his mind.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He answered, his voice flat, \"No.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">With that, he turned and walked out of the chapel, not looking back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante's grandfather let out a weary sigh, simply instructing a maid to help Celine back to her room.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">...\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When Celine finally woke, the pain was so excruciating she could barely move a muscle.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Confined to her bed, she had no choice but to lie still and let her body heal.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Is Dante okay? Did Grandfather punish him?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The maid entered with her medicine, and Celine's first words were a torrent of anxious questions about Dante.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The maid couldn't help but marvel at how deeply the young mistress loved the young master.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Young mistress, please don't worry. The young master is unharmed.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Only then did Celine's worried expression ease. She didn't ask about Dante again, quietly taking her medicine.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She remained bedridden for several days before she was finally strong enough to get up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After a brief farewell to her grandfather, Celine left the family estate.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She bypassed their shared home and headed straight for a bustling shopping mall.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">There, she bumped into a few of the usual suspects from their social circle, women who also happened to be friends with Isabella.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">These women, who had always looked down on Celine, couldn't resist a cruel smirk at her disheveled appearance.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They swarmed around her, making sure to loudly detail Dante's recent romantic gestures for Isabella.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Did you hear? Dante set off fireworks all over the city for three days straight to celebrate the end of Isabella's concert tour. So damn romantic.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Yeah, and I heard when Isabella caught a fever, Dante totally ditched a meeting just to nurse her back to health. It's true, a first love is a first love. Some people, no matter how they're dressed up, are still crows at heart, never able to become swans.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They expected Celine to crack, to break down, but to their utter shock, she seemed completely unfazed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She glided past them as if she hadn't heard a single word, leaving the two socialites fuming, their faces a comical mix of pale and flushed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine walked into a nearby flower shop and carefully selected a stunning bouquet of calla lilies.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Only three more days, she thought.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As she was exiting the mall, she ran smack into a familiar pair.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante, fresh from lunch with Isabella, hadn't expected to see Celine.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Then, his eyes landed on the flowers in her hand.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Dante's expression soured instantly, and a cold sneer touched his lips. \"You're out here looking like that, just to pick up flowers from some other guy?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine replied, her voice remarkably calm, \"No. I bought these myself. I'm going to visit a couple of friends.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">What friends could she possibly have in this city? Dante scoffed internally, convinced she was lying.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But then, a belated realization hit him: the moment he saw her holding those flowers, a pang of something—annoyance, maybe?—had pricked him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His tone turned even icier. \"And what business is that of mine?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Seeing Dante's reaction, Isabella tugged at his sleeve. \"Dante, I need to get back to the theater.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His gaze immediately softened. \"I'll take you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">They didn't spare Celine another glance, walking away hand-in-hand, as if they were the only two people in the world.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Celine stood rooted to the spot, silently watching their retreating backs.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It's normal, she told herself. He just doesn't remember what day it is.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272932055]