Chapter Five : Faith In The Eye

That night, Evelyn lay awake, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The storyteller’s performance had been mesmerizing, the night alive with magic and illusion. But none of that mattered now.

The sharp gasp, the sudden stumble—she could still see Rose’s face, frozen in shock as blood blossomed across her dress. Evelyn had caught her as she collapsed, her hands warm and slick with the life draining from her best friend’s body.

“No—stay with me!” Evelyn had pleaded, her voice cracking. But Rose had already gone still.

The chief maid had wept bitterly, but Evelyn’s grief had quickly turned to suspicion knowing fully well that she was killed. Rose had never been the kind to seek trouble. Someone had done this. And Evelyn intended to find out who.

Determined, she set off for the Chief Judge’s house, moving through the dimly lit streets with quiet resolve. But on her way, she saw a familiar figure.

Logan.

Her heart pounded as she rushed toward him.

“Are you serious about this?” she demanded. “My best friend just died, and you’re still chasing after me, asking me to run away with you?” Listen to me l am no longer the Evelyn you think .

Logan’s face darkened with confusion. “What…?”

Evelyn’s breath hitched. “Stop pretending.”

But as she looked into his eyes, a shiver ran down her spine. Something was wrong. This wasn’t Logan.

Without another word, the man turned and leaved without saying anything to her.

At the Chief Judge’s house, Evelyn stood frozen in shock as the truth unfolded before her.

The man she had seen wasn’t Logan. He was the Chief Judge’s son.

Later that evening, he approached her again. “You mistook me for someone else,” he admitted, his voice calm. “But I want to help you.”

Despite her doubts, Evelyn accepted his aid. Together, they pursued justice, uncovering the truth behind Rose’s death. It was a long and grueling battle,Felix had loved Rose with a quiet intensity, a flame that burned in defiance of all boundaries—especially those drawn by birth and blood. She was a slave, he a noble, but in his heart, they were equals. He saw in her not chains, but freedom.

But Madam Sanctuary his mother saw only disgrace. To her, the union was a blemish on the family's legacy. Cold and calculating, she ordered Rose's removal—not by dismissal, but by death. Her command was swift, silent, and final.

When Rose vanished, Felix didn’t weep. He raged. And in that rage, he broke the law in pursuit of justice, only to find himself behind bars. It was his punishment—not for loving Rose, but for daring to defy the order that killed her. Justice was served.

But something else had happened.

Over time, Evelyn found herself drawn to the Chief Judge’s son. His quiet strength, his unwavering support—it all pulled her closer. When he asked for her hand in marriage, she found herself saying yes.

The city celebrated their wedding with joy. Laughter and music filled the air. But in the shadows, a lone figure watched.

Logan.

His hands clenched at his sides, his eyes burning.

Tears filled them—but none fell.

For a fleeting moment, their eyes met. The world seemed to pause, caught in the weight of unspoken words.

Then Evelyn turned, stepping into the light—away from him.

Logan’s voice was barely a whisper as he spoke to Jeff. “She is far more beautiful than I imagined.”

Jeff exhaled sharply. “I know. Who would have thought the filthy Evelyn from before would become this? Even her former mistress wouldn’t recognize her.”

Logan’s jaw tightened. “I’m done watching this. Let’s go.”

Jeff smirked. “If it hurts so much, why did you come?”

Logan turned and said. “To an artist even pain like this becomes a foundation for their art.”

Jeff chuckled. “Then let’s sprinkle some salt on that wound for the sake of art. Let’s get a good look at the groom.”

But as Jeff’s gaze settled on the man standing beside Evelyn, his breath hitched.

“What on earth…?” he murmured.

His shock deepened as he turned to Logan. “How… how can this be?”

Logan stiffened.

Jeff stared between the two men. “Were you twins?”

Logan’s voice was low, guarded. “He doesn’t look like me that much.”

Jeff shook his head. “No. He doesn’t resemble you… but you are exactly alike.” He swallowed. “I thought you had replicated yourself.”

Logan’s fingers curled into fists. Did she marry my lookalike… just not to forget about me?

A bitter chuckle escaped his lips. And why am I so hesitant to leave?

Jeff placed a hand on Logan’s shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Reluctantly, Logan allowed himself to be led away.

At the Chief Judge’s house, celebrations continued. The Chief Judge beamed with pride as he addressed Evelyn.

“Think of me as your father now,” he said warmly.

As night fell, Paul excused himself. “I’ll be back soon.”

Evelyn started to notice something strange. Every night, he left the house. He didn’t say where he was going, and he never stayed long. Just a quiet step outside, and he was gone into the dark. At first, she didn’t think much of it—but now, it was getting harder to ignore.

Evelyn later discovered he had gone to the School of Heart, a place where mistreated children were taught to fight for themselves secretly.

When he returned late that night, he thought Evelyn was asleep as he removed his shirt. But in the dim candlelight, Evelyn caught a glimpse of something that made her breath hitch.

A massive heart-shaped scar was etched into his back.

Her mind spun with questions.

But Paul simply met her gaze and said, “When I return in a few days, I’ll explain everything.”

Then he left again.

Meanwhile, in the city, a secret was being whispered between powerful men.

The Minister of Tourism sat across from the Minister of Human Resources, placing a large gold nugget on the table.

“Where did you find this?” the Minister of Human Resources asked, eyes gleaming.

The Minister of Tourism strode to the window, gesturing toward the distant mountains. “There. The land is filled with gold.”

That night, the Minister of Human Resources and his wife argued.

“You want to mine gold in secret and send half of it to him?” his wife hissed.

“If we don’t, we get nothing.”

“Do you not remember what happened last time?” she pressed. “We lost everything because of a minister’s downfall. Will you be used again?”

His patience snapped. “Used? I became a minister! And you became a woman who can sit and chat with Madam Sanctuary.”

She paled. “And what if the Chief Judge finds out? You’ll lose your position. Your life will be ruined.”

“Don’t mention this again,” he snapped.

But she saw the desperation in his eyes as he stormed away.

Meanwhile, Evelyn was working as a lawyer, fighting for the poor.

One evening while strolling around the market, she found a man gasping for air, struggling on the street. She rushed to him. “What happened?”

The man could barely speak.

Then she saw the paper clutched in his hands.

A slave sale document.

Her blood ran cold.

His child had been taken—all because he was illiterate and had unknowingly signed away his son.

The seal was forged.

As the man sobbed, begging her to save his sonEvelyn's resolve hardened.

She needed answers.She disguised herself as a man,she infiltrated the government offices, determined to confirm the seal’s authenticity.

What she found shook her to her core.

Beneath the government halls, **an underground network was operating. While leaving the government office she saw Paul and followed him to the School of Heart, her mind reeling.

That night, she hurried to the Chief Judge, detailing everything she had discovered.

As she spoke, the Chief Judge’s face darkened. Then, suddenly, a warning message** arrived.

You are being followed. They are trying to sell the children.

Evelyn’s breath caught. “Who sent this?”

The Chief Judge shook his head. “No time to find out. We need to act now.”

“I’ll help,” Evelyn declared.

“I’ll send my most trustworthy men to follow the merchant group,” the Chief Judge said.

But he was wrong to trust them.

---

That night, the traffickers struck again.

The Chief Judge and his men engaged them in battle. But they were outnumbered, overwhelmed. The traffickers prepared to kill him—

Until a masked warrior emerged from the shadows.

With unmatched skill He took down the enemies one by one.

Then, turning to the Chief Judge and Evelyn, he commanded:

“Leave. Now.”

And before they could question him—

He disappeared into the night

1629 Words

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