Page 256 of Bound By Crimson

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She pressed Noah’s head to her shoulder, and they moved—quiet, quick, invisible.

Tonight was the night.

And she wasn’t stopping now.

Lyric held him close—the weight of him grounding her—as her eyes darted in every direction.

The east wing hallway was quiet. Still.

She walked past the portraits that lined the corridor like silent judges—toward the grand staircase.

Every footstep sounded too loud.

Every shadow threatened to shift.

Then—

A door creaked open ahead.

Tessa.

The youngest maid—barely more than a girl—stepped into the corridor and froze.

Her eyes landed on Lyric.

Then on Noah.

They locked eyes.

Tessa’s lips parted. “You can’t—”

But before another word left her mouth, Lyric begged, “Please Tessa, you have to let me go. If I’m out of the picture… Kai is all yours. I know you love him… I can see it.”

Tessa didn’t respond. But her hand… moved—subtly—settling over her lower belly.

Lyric’s breath hitched.

No.

Her eyes flicked from Tessa’s face to the quiet placement of her hand.

Tessa was pregnant.

With his child.

The realization sliced through her.

She stumbled back a step, tightening her grip on Noah.

Tessa’s silence said everything.

And suddenly, Lyric understood. The hatred. The jealousy. The loyalty.

She was carrying his child.

How long has this been going on?

She didn’t speak, but the revulsion in her eyes made Tessa look away.

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