Chapter 13 The Second Strike
林:83%
Finished
At the sound of the voice, every gaze in the room shifted toward Brielle standing in the doorway, and the collective sentiment was one of distinct repulsion.
Owen’s brow furrowed as he marched over, intending to bar her entry. However, Brielle pierced him with a razor-sharp glare and shoved her way right past him. That singular, frigid look unexpectedly sent a shiver straight through Owen’s heart.
Daniel demanded, his voice dripping with ice, “What sort of trouble are you stirring up now?”
Brielle stared daggers at Donna and raised the peculiar ron talisman she was holding. “Why don’t you explain this lightning-attracting artifact in detail, Donna Let everyone understand exactly what is going on.”
Donna’s conscience pricked her, making it impossible to maintain eye contact, yet she feigned seriousness. “What are you suggesting, Brielle? Owen witnessed it with his own eyes. I removed the object. You holding it now proves absolutely nothing.”
“That is because I instructed you to take it out. Naturally you cannot explain a single thing about it.” Brielle let out a derisive, cold laugh.
Donna, naturally, refused to confess. Her eyes instantly brimmed with tears as she looked imploringly at Brielle, her voice dripping with practiced misery. “Say whatever you wish, Brielle. You are the trueborn heiress. I have always deferred to you since we were children.”
That pitiful, aggrieved tone and expression painted Brielle as a lifelong tyrant.
This immediately triggered Daniel’s protective instincts He glowered at Brielle and scolded her, “Brielle, do not forget my warning. Leave us!”
Indignation flared within Brielle. She dashed the artifact onto the floor. As it shattered, the casing fell away to reveal a sharp iron rod as thick as a thumb, etched with arcane sigils and scorch marks.
“Behold? It is not this ornament that attracts the lightning. It is the conduit core hidden within.”
The room was stunned. How could Brielle possibly know this?
Donna’s face drained of color, but her reflexes were quick. She gasped dramatically, “Brielle, I already discarded that thing. Why have you brought it back inside? Remove it at once! You will harm Daniel!”
Daniel shot a meaningful glance at Owen. Owen stepped forward immediately, snatched the iron rod, and hurled it out into the yard.
Brielle crossed her arms, a cold smile playing on her lip. “A single conduit core cannot attract lightning on its own. That is merely one component of the lightning array. There are at least ten of these rods concealed within Clarke Estate. They must be positioned at cardinal points to generate a specific resonance. Then, when a thunderstorm arrives, they can drag the lightning down.
“And you, Donna-you do not even grasp the basics. You deliberately obscured the truth to claim credit for an act you did not commit. What are you so afraid of?”
She knew Donna would never grant her a chance to gain favor in Daniel’s eyes. Not that Brielle desired such favor, but she could not stomach watching Donna perpetrate such a fraud.
She intended to tear off Donna’s mask right here, in front of everyone.
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Chapter 13 The Second Strike
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Finished
Donna had not anticipated that this foolish girl actually understood these mechanics and could articulate them with such clarity. She was struck dumb, her face flushing red with frustration and embarrassment.
“I… I didn’t…”
Unable to formulate a defense, Donna turned to Daniel and wept, “Daniel, I didn’t…”
“Other than weeping and playing the victim, what skills do you possess? If you are truly capable, go locate the other conduit cores and demonstrate your skill. Prove that you are the one who actually saved everyone.” Brielle’s voice cut like a knife as she stripped Donna of her pretenses without mercy.
Donna was so flustered she could do nothing but sob.
Even Owen’s gaze toward Donna shifted. If she truly understood these esoteric arts, she should have been able to counter Brielle’s arguments rather than dissolving into tears.
Brielle, conversely, was clear and logical, explaining the principles of the lightning array in detail. It sounded absurd, yet the existence of the conduit core was undeniable.
Furthermore, that ornament had been in the residence long before Brielle married into the Clarke family. Therefore, it was impossible for Brielle to have planted it to stage a scene.
“Daniel, I… I truly know nothing of a lightning array. I merely thought that object felt malevolent, so I took it outside. I do not understand what Brielle is talking about.” Donna resumed her innocent, pitiful act.
Brielle reasoned that the evidence was irrefutable. Surely Daniel would not take Donna’s side again?
All she desired was a fair verdict.
If she had not detected this lightning array, would the people in that room still be breathing? Yet Donna had claimed the credit with a few mere words, and everyone had believed her.
But when Daniel saw Donna’s tears, he fixed a cold, dark glare on Brielle, his face contorted with rage. “Other than trying to outdo everyone, what are you good for? Your position as my wife should have been Donna’s from the start, and here you are, acting so aggressively.
“Get out!” Daniel roared.
He was convinced Brielle was a spy dispatched by Elijah Why else would she fight for credit? She simply wanted to win their trust to gather intelligence.
Brielle’s temper ignited at being berated in such a manner.
“I must have been out of my mind to save you twice. Daniel, you owe me two lives!”
She spun on her heel and stormed out in a fury.
Owen watched with a deep frown etched into his face. Brielle’s expression of frustration seemed genuine, as if she had truly been wronged. Had Daniel misjudged her?
Outside, the rain continued to pour, accompanied by the roar of thunder. He could not help but worry that something ill might befall Brielle if she ran off alone. He followed her out, intending to dispatch two guards to escort her back to her chambers.
However, Brielle did not return to her room. Instead, deven by anger, she went to the veranda and shifted
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Chapter 13 The Second Strike
the iron lance ornament to a different location.
# Finished
The other conduit cores had not been disturbed. Even though the rod from the room had been tossed into the yard, relocating this one was sufficient to alter the energy flow and attract the lightning once more.
Owen witnessed her action the moment he stepped out the door.
The very next instant-
“CRACK.” Lightning struck.
It descended with terrifying speed, tearing through the roof.
“Lord Daniel!” Owen bellowed.
The moment the lightning breached the roof, a fire erupted. But this was no ordinary flame; the heavy rain failed to extinguish it. Instead, the inferno spread ravenously, devouring the entire structure.
“Daniel, beware!” Donna threw herself over Daniel.
She pressed hard against his injury, causing him a sharp jarring pain. Gritting his teeth, he rose, wrapped a blanket around himself, and scooped Donna up to flee.
“Lord Daniel!” Owen desperately tried to rush inside, but the wall of fire barred his path.
The courtyard descended into chaos. Reid arrived with a large troop of guards to assist. Everyone stripped off their outer garments, beating at the flames in a desperate attempt to smother them.
Just as the fire began to subside slightly, another bolt of lightning struck, igniting an even greater blaze.
“CRASH-”
The main roof beam splintered.
At the critical last moment, Daniel carried Donna out of the chamber, with Bruce following close on their heels.
The instant they cleared the threshold, the entire building collapsed into a heap of rubble.
Brielle was not surprised by any of this. She understood the mechanics of these arrays intimately. She could control exactly where the lightning struck. This bolt had not been aimed at Daniel’s bed. She had no intention of killing them; she was merely enraged and wished to teach him a lesson.
Therefore, it came as no shock to her that Daniel had made it out alive.
But the moment Daniel escaped, he thrust Donna into wen’s arms and locked his eyes onto Brielle. A look of pure, deadly murderous intent rose within them.
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Fate Binds Me to Lord Clarke
