The Thorne Heiress Unveiling Shadow novel Chapter 71

The moment their eyes met across the display case, the silent war began. The Duchess, her smile never faltering beneath her veil, began to move toward them. Her grace was that of a panther, elegant and lethal.

Kaelen shifted his weight, a subtle, fluid motion that placed him slightly in front of Evelyn. It was a protective gesture, a human shield formed without a single word. His presence was a silent declaration: to get to her, you have to go through me.

The Duchess's sharp eyes flickered over Kaelen's broad shoulders, a brief acknowledgment of the obstacle, before settling back on Evelyn.

"And this must be the famous Mademoiselle Chrysalis," the Duchess said, her voice a smooth, cultured melody that carried easily over the hushed whispers of the nearby guests. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

Before Evelyn could offer a polite, empty reply, another figure scurried to the Duchess's side. It was Penelope Vanderbilt, her face still blotchy with humiliation, her eyes burning with a desperate, vengeful light. She saw an opportunity to reclaim her honor by aligning herself with a greater power.

She leaned in close to the Duchess, whispering in a conspiratorial tone that was deliberately loud enough for everyone in their immediate circle to hear.

"Your Grace, you must be careful," Penelope hissed, her voice trembling with malice. "This woman… she's nobody. She and her companion are impostors. They have no breeding, no class. They don't belong in our world."

All that mattered was the woman standing beside him, and the woman who had just declared herself their enemy.

The Duchess finally turned her gaze to Penelope, a look of mild curiosity on her face, letting the silence stretch for a moment.

"Is that so?" she murmured.