More flowers were placed as the caskets were lowered into the graves, disappearing into the cold earth that would forever hold them. Crescentia stood still, her body trembling with exhaustion. She had cried until no more tears would come, yet an ache remained—a deep, hollow pain that refused to leave.
Her parents were gone. Dead and buried.
The final handful of red sand was tossed over the graves, signaling the end of the ceremony. People murmured their final goodbyes, some with genuine grief, others with barely veiled satisfaction. Crescentia clenched her fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms as she reminded herself to stay strong. Her enemies were watching, waiting for her to break. But she wouldn't give them that satisfaction.
Not today. Not ever.
She inhaled shakily, willing her emotions back into the depths of her heart. Just as she wiped at her damp cheeks, a voice broke through the thick air around her.
"Crescentia, I didn't see you there. Have you been here the entire time? You should have come to say hi."
She turned, her gaze landing on a man who bore an uncanny resemblance to her father—her uncle, James. The very same uncle who had once advised her to listen to Magnus, telling her to give up her dignity if it meant saving Noella's life.
Crescentia took a slow breath before responding.
"Why would I do that?" Her tone was cold, devoid of warmth.
James let out a short chuckle. "Come on, are you still mad at me for the last time we spoke?"
A bitter smile curled on her lips. "So you do know what you did was wrong? Encouraging me to sell my body to pay Noella's hospital bills? Tell me, Uncle James, if it were your daughter, would you have given her the same advice?"
James' smile faltered. His eyes flickered with something unreadable, and for a brief moment, his lips parted, as if he had a response. But no words came.
"I thought as much." Crescentia's voice was laced with venom, her eyes burning with restrained rage. "I'm glad your true colors are showing. Now I know who I can call family and who I can't. I suppose you were in on it too—helping Magnus get rid of my parents, weren't you?"
James stiffened. "I would never do such a thing, Crescentia," he said, his voice tight. "Yes, I know I'm not the best uncle, but I would never stain my hands with their blood."
Sincerity flickered in his gaze, but Crescentia didn't know what to believe anymore.
She turned away, effectively dismissing him. He lingered for a few more moments, perhaps hoping she would say something else. But when it became clear she wouldn't, he let out a quiet sigh and walked away.
Crescentia remained by the graveside a little longer, waiting for the crowd to disperse. But before she could finally leave, she felt another presence by her side.
She almost regretted coming to the funeral if it meant dealing with every single person in her life one after the other.
"When did you and Damian Lorenzo start dating?"
The voice was sharp, laced with barely restrained fury.
Crescentia didn't even turn. She knew who it was.
It was none other than Lucian.
He was standing close, too close, his body rigid with tension.
She refused to acknowledge him, instead turning toward the exit, ready to leave without so much as a glance in his direction. But Lucian wasn't willing to let her go so easily. He followed her, his footsteps heavy behind her.
"Have you suddenly turned deaf?" he snapped.
Crescentia clenched her jaw, still not giving him the satisfaction of a response.
Before she could hail a taxi, Lucian grabbed her wrist, his grip tightening painfully.
"What the hell is your problem?" she snapped, yanking her arm back, but his hold only strengthened.
"When did you and Damian Lorenzo start dating?!" His voice was low but seething with barely contained rage. "I only broke up with you a few days ago, and now you're with him?"
Crescentia narrowed her eyes. "I'm glad you remember that you broke up with me. We are no longer together. Why do you care who I'm with?"
Lucian's fingers dug into her skin. "So you were cheating on me the whole time?" His voice was a growl, his fury thick and dangerous.
A bitter laugh slipped from Crescentia's lips despite the pain shooting up her arm. "You have the nerve to accuse me of cheating? You broke up with me while holding my cousin in your arms, and now you have the audacity to stand here and act like the victim?"
Lucian's nostrils flared, his eyes darkening with fury.
A sudden thought crossed Crescentia's mind, and she decided to push him, to test his limits.
"Yes," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "I've been cheating on you since the day we met, and you never had a clue."
Lucian's grip on her wrist tightened dangerously.
She didn't stop.
"Damian is a far better man than you could ever be," she continued, her voice venomous. "He loves me. And unlike you, he didn't throw me away the moment I lost everything. I've been cheating on you this whole time, Lucian."
Lucian's rage reached its breaking point.
His hand shot up, ready to strike her across the face. Crescentia's breath caught in her throat.
He was going to hit her.
But before his palm could meet her skin, another hand—stronger, deadlier—grabbed his wrist midair.
A sharp crack echoed in the air as Lucian's arm was twisted behind his back, forcing him to release Crescentia's wrist.
Lucian let out a pained gasp, dropping to his knees when a swift kick landed against his calf.
Crescentia barely had time to react before Damian's voice cut through the tense silence like a blade.
"What exactly were you just about to do, Lucian?"
His voice was eerily calm. Too calm.
But there was something lethal beneath it.
The calm before the storm.