Chapter 166
Chapter 166
Elara’s POV
The shed fell into a brief, almost uncomfortable silence.
Then, as if en cue, Kimberly, Dorian, and I erupted into laughter. It felt good, like the tension that had been building up for days had finally
found an outlet.
“That’s the spirit, Elara!” Kimberly cheered. “You’ve got to make her pay.”
I smiled, though my lips barely curled. There was something darker beneath the surface of that smile, a promise of something unforgiving. “I’m thinking bigger than that,” I replied, my voice cool, controlled.
Dorian leaned forward, that playful grin of his creeping back. “I take it you already have a plan?”
“I do.” I nodded, the weight of the decision pressing on my chest.
Jory was practically bouncing with anticipation. “Then spill it! We’ve got three days before the wedding, and we need to get moving. Whatever it is, count me in. I need a front–row seat for this.”
Kimberly’s eyes sparkled with wicked excitement. “What about abducting Miela? We could just make sure she misses the wedding altogether.”
“That’s one way to do it,” I said, but shook my head. “Not quite my style.”
Jory chipped in, her enthusiasm growing. “We could always hire someone to throw paint at her wedding dress. Picture her walking down the aisle, drenched in colors. That would be priceless!”
I cut in before they could get too carried away. “I was thinking something more subtle. We don’t want to draw too much attention. Dorian still needs to get me out of the city that night. Subtlety is key.”
Dorian gave me an indulgent smile, leaning back in his chair. “Don’t worry about getting out of here, Elara. You could burn the whole place to the ground, and I’d still have your back. But tell us what you’re really thinking.”
“The thing that Miela values most is her reputation,” I said, the words dripping from my tongue like venom.
I could feel their eyes on me, waiting for more. “Her reputation’s already tarnished in Direstone Pack. But she thinks she can come here and wipe the slate clean–become the most powerful woman in a place where no one knows her. I’m not going to let that happen. I’m going to expose her for who she really is.”
Dorian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That sounds good… but how?”
“There are pictures.” My words were cold, sharp.
Kimberly’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What kind of pictures?”
“Pictures that Miela would never want anyone–especially her future husband–to see.” I let that hang in the air for a moment, watching their expressions shift from curiosity to outright glee.
Jory gasped. “Wait, do you have them?”
I shook my head. “No. But I know where she keeps them. She has them locked away in an album on her phone. If we can get our hands on that phone…” I trailed off, letting the weight of the plan sink in.
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Chapter 166
Dorian raised an eyebrow. “I can do that.”
Jory and Kimberly exchanged skeptical glances.
“You?” Jory asked, her tone dripping with disbelief. “You’re going to steal the Queen’s phone?”
“Not just any phone,” Dorian said with a shrug, unfazed. “But yeah, I can do it.”
I watched them as their skepticism lingered in the air, but Dorian wasn’t backing down. He gave me a look, one of those sexy, confident ones that made my heart skip.
“I’ll get it. I’ll get you the phone,” he promised, leaning over and pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. “Can I see you in your room tonight?”
My heart skipped again, and I nodded. “Of course.”
With that, Dorian stood up and left, his footsteps receding into the distance.
Kimberly sidled up to me, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Seriously, Elara, do you trust him? He’s a bit… off.”
I laughed, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “I trust my instincts. And they’ve never led me astray.”
She raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Alright, but if he messes this up…”
I patted her shoulder and changed the subject. “Now, let’s get Claire out of that kitchen.”
We headed back to the kitchen, switching places with Claire. No one noticed the change, the headmaid still yelling at everyone for being
slow.
After a long day of kitchen work, I went back to my room, my body exhausted, but my mind racing.
I turned the faucet on in the bathroom. The water ran smoothly now–the damage from Thorne’s fight had been repaired.
A quick shower, and I was back in my room, waiting for Dorian to show up. The clock ticked past eleven–thirty before I heard a knock on my
door.
I jumped up, hurrying to answer it.
But Dorian wasn’t alone. He had brought Gill, the maid who had always been a little too friendly with Miela.
I froze, my eyes narrowing as I looked at Gill. Something didn’t sit right with me.
“I asked her to help,” Dorian said, his tone calm. “She’s in charge of changing the sheets in Miela’s room.”
I wasn’t convinced. “Can she be trusted?”
Dorian gave a slow nod. “She won’t say a word. Not a chance.”
Gill shifted uneasily, glancing nervously over her shoulder. “Can we hurry this up? I really don’t have much time…”
“Where is it?” I asked, my voice low.
Gill hesitated, then reached into her pocket and pulled out Miela’s phone.
“I lifted it from her nightstand. She’s in the shower right now. But when she comes out and can’t find it…” Gill trailed off, clearly expecting me to understand the plan.
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Chapter 166
I reached for the phone, but Gill hesitated, holding it tighter.
“Don’t get any ideas, okay?” she hissed, glaring at me. “I’m doing this for Dorian. If I get caught, you’re taking the fall.”
I bit back a sneer. “Noted. Now hand it over. Time’s ticking.”
She reluctantly passed the phone to me, and Dorian shoved a laptop into my hands.
“I think you might need this,” he said.
I nodded, barely acknowledging him as I turned toward my room. “Five minutes.”
Dorian gave me a quick, understanding glanced, and he and Gill left.
I closed the door behind me, placing Miela’s phone and the laptop on the table.
The phone was locked. I knew it would be. But I also knew Miela. I knew how her mind worked.
I started by trying the date she was rescued from the kidnappers, the day Thorne had rejected her. But it didn’t work.
Next, I tried Corla’s birthday. Still nothing.
I sighed, already knowing what I had to do. One last try: Miela’s own birthday.
I entered it, and the phone clicked open.
I couldn’t help but laugh internally. It was almost too easy. But then again, it made sense. Miela loved herself above all else.
I scrolled through the photos, finally landing on what I was looking for: a secret album. Over eighty pictures. Each one showing Miela in bed
with a different man.
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