NEWS was as fast as lightning when it reached the gates of the Chauverthier manor. Noxton gripped the freshly delivered periodical with such force that the corners crumpled beneath his fingers. His sharp eyes scanned the bold headlines, and there, unmistakably, were their names. The scandal involving the House of Valentina had already made its rounds, and the ink was barely dry.
Flashes of that fateful evening surged through his mind. The confrontation between Klarine, Thalia, and the other lady had been intense, a storm of accusations, emotions, and wounded pride. In the thick of it, his temper had flared. He had acted rashly, instinctively siding with Klarine. And in doing so, he failed to notice how deeply he had wounded Thalia — not just in the flesh, but in the heart. At the time, he
