Shadows Before the Crown
Shadows Before the Crown
(Olivia’s POV)
The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting long shadows across the polished floor. I stood by the window, watching as a sleek black car pulled into the Kane Estate’s circular driveway.
My heart clenched. I would recognize that vehicle anywhere.
Theodore.
“He’s here,” I said quietly, more to myself than to Martha, who was arranging fresh flowers nearby.
Martha paused, concern etching her features. “Shall I call for Beta Tristan, Luna?”
I shook my head. “No. I need to face him alone.”
This confrontation had been inevitable. Tomorrow was Matthew’s coronation ceremony–the official recognition of his status as Alpha King. And Theodore, true to his nature, would make one final attempt to reclaim what he believed was his.
I met him in the garden pavilion, away from prying eyes. He looked haggard, the perfect facade finally cracking to reveal the desperate man beneath.
“Olivia,” he said, his voice hoarse with emotion.
I kept my distance, arms crossed protectively over my chest. “Why are you here, Theodore?”
He stepped forward, then stopped when I tensed. “I had to see you. One last time.”
“There’s nothing left to say.”
“Please,” he implored, his eyes filled with a desperation I’d never seen before. “Just hear me
out.”
I nodded once, steeling myself.
“I’ve been working with researchers,” he began, words tumbling out in a rush. “They’ve developed experimental heart treatments–treatments that could extend your life indefinitely.”
My breath caught. The heart condition that had claimed my mother’s life and now threatened mine–the very reason Theodore had kept Clara as a backup.
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+25 Points
“Come back to me,” he continued, “and I’ll make sure you get the best care. You could live a full life, Olivia. With Leo. With me.”
For a moment–just a moment–I allowed myself to imagine it. A long life. Watching Leo grow up. But at what cost?
I laughed, the sound hollow and sad. “You still don’t understand, do you? This isn’t about my
heart condition. This isn’t even about Leo or Aurora.”
I stepped closer, looking directly into his eyes. “I would rather have five years of true love with Matthew than fifty years of manipulation with you.”
He flinched as if I’d struck him.
“Matthew loves me for who I am, not what I can give him. He sees me–all of me–and still chooses me every day.”
Theodore’s composure crumbled. “I love you, Olivia. I’ve always loved you.”
“No,” I said gently. “You loved possessing me. There’s a difference.”
He sank onto a nearby bench, head in his hands. For the first time since I’d known him, Theodore Redgrave looked utterly defeated.
“It’s really over, isn’t it?” he whispered.
“It’s been over for a long time,” I replied. “We just didn’t want to admit it.”
We sat in silence for several minutes, the weight of our shared history hanging between us.
Finally, Theodore straightened, wiping discreetly at his eyes. “I want you to know something.”
I waited.
“I will always protect our children,” he said, his voice steadier now. “Leo, and yes, even Aurora. From a distance. You have my word.”
The sincerity in his voice surprised me. Perhaps this was the first truly selfless thing Theodore had ever offered.
“Thank you,” I said softly. “For finally letting go.”
He stood, smoothing his jacket with trembling hands. “Be happy, Olivia. Even if it’s not with
me.”
As I watched him walk away, I felt an unexpected sense of peace. The chapter of my life with Theodore Redgrave was finally, truly closed.
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I returned to the pavilion where Matthew waited, his eyes questioning.
“It’s done,” I said, taking his hand. “He won’t interfere again.”
+25 Points
Matthew pulled me close, his warmth chasing away the last shadows of my past. “Are you okay?”
I nodded against his chest. “For the first time in a long time, I think I really am.”
Tomorrow, Matthew would be crowned Alpha King, with me by his side. Whatever challenges our future held, we would face them together.
(Clara’s POV)
The abandoned warehouse reeked of rust and decay. I huddled in the corner, my once–pristine clothes now filthy, my hair a tangled mess. How had it come to this?
Just months ago, I had been in Theodore’s private sanatorium, supposedly “recovering” from the scandal of our exposed affair. In reality, I was a prisoner–a vessel being kept healthy for one purpose only.
My escape had been pure chance. During a transfer to a more secure facility, I’d overheard a phone conversation that shattered my world.
“Isadora,” Theodore had said, his voice low as he stepped away from the car. “If I could turn back time, I would never have started a s****I relationship with Clara.”
I’d frozen, straining to hear more.
“Yes, I know it was a mistake,” he continued. “After that first night, when I had her investigated and discovered she was Olivia’s half–sister, I should have ended it. But her genetic compatibility made her the perfect backup vessel for heart cultivation.”
My blood had turned to ice. Heart cultivation? Backup vessel?
“Rosalie was… an unfortunate complication. Partly my weakness, I admit. But with Leo’s condition, having another genetically compatible child seemed prudent.”
The truth hit me like a physical blow. My daughter–my precious Rosalie–had only been conceived as spare parts for Leo.
Theodore had never loved me. Never wanted me. I had been nothing but a convenient body to him–first for his pleasure, then for my organs.
In that moment of clarity, I’d seized my chance. When the driver stopped for fuel, I’d slipped away, disappearing into the city’s underbelly.
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< Chapter 268 Shadows Before the Crown
+25 Points
Now, some days later, I was hiding in this decrepit warehouse, surviving on stolen food and burning with a rage that kept me warm at night.
A sharp knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts.
I crept to the door, peering through a c***k. A woman stood outside–tall, elegant, with flowing dark hair.
Audrey Vale.
Cautiously, I opened the door. “What do you want?”
Audrey’s perfect lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “To help you, Clara. And perhaps you can help me too.”
I let her in, watching warily as she surveyed my squalid hideout with barely concealed disgust.
“How did you find me?” I demanded.
“I have my sources,” she replied smoothly. “More importantly, I know what Theodore did to you. What he planned to do.”
My hands trembled. “Why should I trust you?”
“Because we share a common enemy.” Audrey’s eyes hardened. “Olivia Blackwood.”
The name sent a fresh wave of hatred through me. “What do you propose?”
“Tomorrow is Matthew Kane’s coronation ceremony. Security will be focused on him.” Audrey leaned closer. “It’s the perfect opportunity to take what matters most to Olivia.”
“The pups,” I whispered, understanding dawning. “Leo and Aurora.”
Audrey nodded. “With both children as leverage, we can lure Olivia away from her protectors.” My mind raced with possibilities. If Leo were back with me, Theodore would have to acknowledge me again. He would see that I was the only one who truly cared for his son.
“I have contacts,” Audrey continued. “Rogue wolves willing to help for the right price. And I know the security arrangements intimately.”
“Why?” I asked. “Why do you hate her so much?”
Audrey’s perfect composure slipped, revealing raw fury beneath. “Matthew was mine before she returned. Everything was arranged. Then she waltzed back into his life, and suddenly I was nothing.”
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I understood that feeling all too well.
“So,” Audrey said, extending her hand. “Partners?”
I took her hand, sealing our unholy alliance. “Partners.”
+25 Paints
As we began plotting the details, a cold certainty settled in my heart. Tomorrow, I’m going to kill Olivia.
And I would finally have my revenge.
