Meanwhile…
At Celdric’s house, the air was thick with tension after both father and daughter had been revived from their fainting spells. No sooner had Celdric regained full consciousness than his rage turned squarely upon Samantha. His eyes, still red from shock and humiliation, blazed with fury as he pointed a trembling finger at her.
“I must deal with you for your hard-heartedness and foolishness!” he thundered, his voice echoing through the small chamber. “You dared to chase after what does not belong to you anymore!”
He lunged forward, his palm raised to strike her.
Samantha’s breath hitched, and she stumbled back in fright, hiding quickly behind her mother’s frame. Yet even as her heart raced, her lips curled into defiance.
“But Father, I did nothing wrong! I only wanted to elev
