Chapter 1196:
Many had brought extravagant gifts to honor him, hoping to earn his favor.
With poise and a polished smile, Elyse mingled through the crowd as if she belonged, carrying herself like the hostess of the night. Even those who once ignored or looked down on her now greeted her respectfully as “Miss Harper,” though only because of her connection to Lord Rosethorne.
When the clock struck midnight, Lord Rosethorne and Elyse joined hands and walked together to the grand staircase in the main hall.
Lord Rosethorne gently tapped his champagne glass with a spoon, his face glowing with pride and happiness. “Thank you, everyone—my friends and family—for coming here to celebrate my birthday with me. I’m truly grateful, and I hope you’re all having a wonderful time. Now, I want to introduce you to the woman standing next to me, the woman I love, Miss Elyse Harper—”
Before he could finish, a voice dripping with sarcasm and mockery cut through the room. “What a fun little party you’ve got here! How could it possibly be complete without me?”
Lord Rosethorne froze mid-sentence. Every guest in the hall turned toward the entrance.
Torin strode in with the swagger of a man who owned the world, his hands buried deep in his pockets, every step radiating indifference to those in his way. Behind him, a pack of armed soldiers followed like hunting wolves, their heavy boots echoing across the polished floor.
The moment they crossed the threshold, the grand banquet hall—once filled with laughter and warmth—felt like a cage, the air thick with tension. Joy drained from the room as Torin’s soldiers spread out, their cold, predatory presence driving the guests back like startled sheep.
Lord Rosethorne’s stomach dropped, his expression twisting into a scowl as one thought hammered through his mind: What the hell is Torin doing at my party?
Fighting the urge to throw him out, Lord Rosethorne forced a strained smile and spoke through gritted teeth. “Your Grace, if I’d known you had time to spare tonight, I would’ve sent you an invitation. Everyone knows how busy you are with all that military business. I wouldn’t want to waste your precious time.”
Torin dropped into one of the finest seats as if it belonged to him, while his soldiers settled into a flawless formation around him, creating an invisible wall of menace.
Feel the magic at gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s․cο𝓶
In an instant, the entire atmosphere shifted—Torin looked like the true master of the night, and Lord Rosethorne felt like an intruder at his own birthday celebration.
Lord Rosethorne pressed his lips into a thin, bloodless line, his mind racing to figure out what kind of twisted game this man intended to play.
Torin pulled out a cigarette and lit it with infuriating casualness, blowing smoke toward Elyse and Lord Rosethorne as a cruel smile spread across his face. “You sent me a little present. Thought I’d be polite and return the gesture.”
Lord Rosethorne stared blankly, his mind scrambling to make sense of the words. When had he ever sent Torin anything?
Completely lost, he began, “Your Grace, I think there’s been some kind of mix-up here. I honestly don’t remember sending you—”
Before he could finish, one of Torin’s soldiers stepped forward and hurled a bloodstained package onto the pristine marble floor with a wet thud.
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