The Lady Nun Vows Revenge by Caroline Rowland

Chapter 1 Chapter 1 A sharp, mocking voice dripped through the dins chamber like poison. "Well, well, what's the matter, sis! Not gonna eat? Con, don't be shy now." Eliza Stonor lay sprawled across the cold stone floor, bloody and bruised, barely breathing from chains clinked softly as she shifted-every weak movement met with resistance.

They looped right around her neck and limbs, keeping her pinned like a caged beast, Across from her stood Sophie Stonor, dressed in cheerful buster-yellow gown that felt almost obscene in the gloomy room.

She held a bowl of dog food, swaying it lightly in her hands, grinning as if she were teasing a pet instead of tormenting her own sister, Sophie clicked her tongue in exaggerated disappointment, then turned to the maid behind her, "God, look at her. She can't even play dead right, let alone act like a proper mutt. And I'm feeding her myself-what more does she want?" The maid didn't hesitate. She stepped forward and landed a vicious kick to Eliza's side. A choked grunt slipped from Eliza's lips.

Sucking up, the maid added with a sneer, "My lady, don't waste your time. This bitch probably still thinks she's the Duke's precious little princess Dreaming of silks and titles while lying in her own filth" Sophie let out a cold bugh, the sound sharp enough to cut glass. "Eliza Stonor? Princess? Please. Even Father and the boys won't acknowledge her anymore. Being my dog is the best she'll ever be. She should be thanking me, "But no.

She e just doesn't know what's good for her Sophie ground her heel into Eliza's land. A sickening crack echoed in the room, followed by a muffled whimper. Sophie leaned down, voice low and deadly. "One last chance, Eliza. Hand over the pendant Eliza's vision blurred, but a faint, bitter smile rugged at her lips. "Sophie... in your dreams." That pendant was her mother's last gift her only tether to a love long gone. She'd die before letting Sophie lay a finger on it "You stubborn bitch!" Sophie snapped, eyes blazing. "You really wanna die that hadn' At that moment, the chamber door flew open with a thunderous slam. Several figures rushed in, their shadows slicing across the floor like blades.

Sophie spun around fast, panic flashing in her eyes. She shoved the bowl into the maid's arms, who quickly stashed it out of sight.

And just like that, Sophie's face morphed into a picture of innocence She bounced forward, voice syrupy sweet. "Father! Brothers! What are you all doing here?" The newcomers were none other than Gabriel Stonor, Duke of Mowbay of Bortenland, and his four sons.

The Duke-all, broad, and commanding-carried the air of a man used to being obeyed.

His sons, every one of them cut from the smold, were strikingly handsand carried themselves with an aristocratic ease that demanded.

tionL Slooked cold, sa bit wicked, but the moment Sophie called out in that soft, sugary voice, even the harshest among them softened, 1. their expressions warming as they looked at her.

Dylan Stonor, the second eldest, barely glanced at Eliza's crumpled form before turning to Sophie. "So, Sophie- did she give it back yet? pendant It wasn't stolen! I didn't steal it It's mEliza wanted to scream, but her lips wouldn't move.

Her voice, like everything else she once had, had been stripped away.

*Sophie let out a long, wrary sigh, ber voler soft but brimming with heartache.

THE Her eyes glistened as she whispered, "Eliza. She knew how much that pendant meant to mr-it's the only thing I have left from Mother. My only lly don't know what che in do...

begged her, over and over, but she just wouldn't give it back. I've tried everything. I really Her voice trembled at the end, catching in her throat. Tears threatened to spill, and the weight of her pain fell heavy over the room.

439 PM & Chapter1 Dylan clenched his fists. The sorrow in Sophie's voice hit him like a punch to the gut.

"Eliza Stonor," he said sharply, fury barely contained beneath the surface. "I can't even begin to describe how disappointed Lam in you? At the doorway, the third eldest, Matthew Stonor, narrowed his eyes, the shadows sharpening across In one swift, fluid motion, cold steel flashed in his hand as his blade slid free, "You've got sdamn nerve. You really think we're just gonna stand around and let you screw with us? "If you're not gonna talk, I'll start cutting. One hand for the first question. Still stubborn? Then the feet go next. You stole from Sophie-I wanna ser if your bones are as damn tough as your attitude." "That's enough." Benedict Stonor's voice cut clean through the tension, calm and authoritative. "Someone saw her. Right before she was dragged back, she panicked... and swallowed something" Eliza froze. A flicker of fear crossed her face, just for a moment-but it was enough. Her eyes darted to the side. She was caught Realization dawned across the brothers' face "You swallowed it?? Dylan shouted, eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you insane! You'd rather swallow the pendant than give it back to Sophie!!" Fliza let out a dry, manic laugh. Her eyes gleamed with a dangerous light, "Vest I am insane! What choice did I have! "Sophie ruined everything-my name, my future-and now she wants to take the last thing Mother left met Why shouldn't I lose it? She yanked hard against the iron chains around her wrists, the harsh clang echoing in the small chamber like a screams. "You want the pendant! Fine. You've got two choices: let it go... or cutopen and take it yourselves!" I shaken.

Silence fell Faces turned grim. Even Anthony Stonor, the fourth brother, usually cold as marble, looked: Slowly, all of them turned to face one man. Gabriel Stonor-their father. The Duke. The only one who could decide what cnext.

Sophie's voice broke the stillness, soft but aching "Father... I miss Mother" In that moment, Eliza saw it—a shift in Cabriel's expression, a crack in his composed facade. He hesitated. And just like that, she knew. She'd lost.

Gabriel closed his eyes, letting out a long, weary sigh. "Eliza... don't hold it against your brothers. If anyone's to blame, it's me." his throat. "T His voice dropped, rough with regret. "If there's a next life and you're born as my daughter again- "he paused, the words earching in his thre swear. Ei make it right. I won't fail you a second time." Eliza let out a bitter laugh, her lips curling into a twisted smile, tears and blood mingling as they ran down her cheeks.

"Never again" she hissed, voice raw with pain and defiance. "If there's a next life... Td rather be anyone-anyone- than your daughter" And as the cold blade sliced through her abdomen, her last breath left her in silence. The gendant-buried deep inside her-suddenly lit up, glowing with a berce, radiant light, as if her final breath had sparked something eternal within it The Kingdom of Bortenland, in the 76th year of its reign.

A warm breeze floated through the sprawling halls of the Duke of Moshay's estate, carrying with it the scent of jasmine and the faint buzz of cucilement.

wis daughters were to cel Today, the usually composed household was alive with activity. All of Haven City knew that the Duke's two daughters were to celebrate their coming-of-age ceremony-an event the capital had been whispering about for weeks. Far from the commotion, deep inside the inner chambers, a girl, barely fifteen, whimpered in her sleep. "No... please, don'...

Eliza twisted beneath the covers as if caught in the grip of a nightmare, her voice barely audible and laced with terme.

Suddenly, she shot upright with a gasp, terror riched across her face. "Wh-1" Anna wrapped tightly around herself, she sat frozen, waiting for the pain that had haunted her dreams. But nothing came. No sharp stab in ber stomach. No suffocating darkor. No chains Just... silence.

Te took her a long moment to breathe, to blink. Then, cautiously, she opened her eyes.

This wasn't that place. The cold, blood-slicked chamber was gone. Her father, her brother Benedict, her sister Sophie-nowhere to be seen Chapter 1

light The Insirad, the room around her was quiet and bathed in golden light. The furnishings, the curtains, the scent of camellias-it was all so familiar. And yet it felt oddly distant, like a memory the hadn't touched in years. She blinked again, heart racing. "This is my old room?" she murmured, her voice thin, almost childlike.

A bitterswert wave of remembrance hit her-days when she'd been the pampered heiress of the Stonor family, loved and sheltered.

"No," she whispered. "No, this can't be right."

Panic clawed its way into her throat.

m Eliza flung off the covers and staggered to her feet-but her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor. "What the hell is going on!! Her voice cracked. "Why am I back here!!" she crawled toward the door, fingers scrambling over polished wood. "I have to get out. I can't let them see me-not Father, not Benedict God knows what would happen! Knock, knock- A sharp rap on the door stopped her cold.

"Lady Eliza," ca brisk voice from the other side. A maid's tone-clipped and clearly unimpressed. "Are you planning to sleep through the whole day? "It's your coming-of-age ceremony today-yours and Lady Sophie's. Don't say I didn't warn you if you're late" Eliza's breath caught. Her hand, which had just reached for the door, recoiled like she'd touched fire.

The maid's words echoed in her ear She sat there on the cold floor, staring at nothing. "Coming-of-age!" she repeated, her voice hollow, her mind reeling