The Lady Nun Vows Revenge by Caroline Rowland

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

A coming-of-age ceremony? Seriously? The thought struck Eliza like a jolt. Didn't

I already go through that nightmare ages agoť'

She could still feel the sting of that day-sharp and cold, like a blade etched deep into her soul.

The mocking laughter of the guests. Her brother's venom-laced jabs. Her fiance's cold, merciless withdrawal. And worst of all, the crushing disappointment in her parents' eyes, their words like knives

She'd lived it. Bled from it. And died with the memory still burning in her bones

も

"So why the hell is it happening again? Her brows knitted, her chest tightening

with confusion. Is Sophie really trying to pull the same dirty trick? What-ruin me all over again, until I break for good!

Eliza's breath hitched, her whole body trembling as the panic rose. But then- something stopped her cold.

She blinked. Her hands... they were fine. Not a single scar. Not even a scratch Her heart pounded as she looked down. Her feet were meady, untouched.

Her face paled. No. No way. This... this can't be real"

Her tendons-every single one-had been cut. She remembered the pain, the screams, the hopelessness. There was no healing from that. None

Something was very wrong. She turned slowly, scanning the room with growing dread. And then recognition began to dawn.

The furniture. The curtains. The scent in the air. Everything matched a place she thought she'd never see again.

Her eyes landed on the old dressing table in the corner. Slowly, hesitantly, she walked toward it. Her reflection emerged in the bronze mirror- clearer with every step.

And what she saw made her breath catch in her throat. A young face. Smooth. Untouched. Not a trace of the disfigurement Sophie had left her with...

Her clothes, her hair-everything screamed innocence. This was her, before the fall. Before the disgrace. Before the pain.

No. It can't be. Did I come back? Did I really wake up an the day of my coming- of-age ceremony? The thought hit her like thunder.

Her breath came out shaky, almost a laugh. She covered her face with trembling hands, on the verge of hysteria

"That's right... I died." Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "I died by Matthew's blade"

And yet, here she was. Alive, Breathing. Not a ghost-but reborn into the same nightmare she thought she'd escaped.

“Well, ain't that just perfect, she thought with a bitter smile. "Heaven's got a twisted sense of humor

She had sworn-sworn on her grave-that she'd never have anything to do with the Stonors again. She was done with them. And now, fate had dragged her right back into their web.

Her teeth sank into her lower lip, hard enough to draw blood. The metallic taste snapped her back into clarity. Her gaze umed icy.

Maybe this was fate's way of screwing with her. But maybe this was her second shot..

She'd faced death before. Now, she was done being afraid.

Eliza used to be the most favored lady of the Duke's estate-the apple of everyone's eye

she could walk

the treasured little sister to her four older brothers, and the darling princess

never say

first fifteen years of her life, she lived like

all of that changed the year she turned fifteen, That was when her father returned with a strange little girl and made a shocking announcement this was his long-lost daughter,

her world began to

her grew cold, replaced with an obsession for Sophie. Her brothers, once her knights in shining armor, slowly pulled away from her and lavished their affections on the

that used to belong to her now belonged

439 PM &

Chapter 2

She tried everything- swallowed her pride, groveled, tried

enough. All it

much as teared up. Benedict would drag Eliza out

legs without blinking.

and smeared her narse until she couldn't even walk down the street without being spar

the records, and left her with just five cruel words

it took only three years to ruin

decided to leave Hasen City behind and

- sent men after

Right before she could leave, Sophie accused her of stealing a jade pendant.

and demanded she

some part of her still hoped-maybe

just a lide... She gambled her last

And low

breath, shutting her eyes, tight she

mine, she thought bitterly. Maybe I was just fooling myself all along. That's fine. I made the wrong choice in my last life

a soft clink echoed in the quiet room. Something had

and blinked in surprise-it was a familiar

knees and gently scooped it up, cradling it in her palm like it was the most precious thing

was broken.

symbol of unity, of love. But now, only half remained. She searched around

break was smooth,

fall.

just cracked," she murmured. "What if... it's supposed

along the edge of the

wave of dizziness overtook her, and when she

was no longer

vast, silent realm blanketed in white mist. The air

this place_?" she thought, eyes

ground. Grass. Cool and real beneath

be inside the pendant And my time

The space wasn't large. There was a field of soft grass, a crystal-clear stream trickling by, and a

It was empty and dustless.

caught her eye, making her pause in her tracks. The area was brimming with all kinds

her reyes widened in amazement. No, it wasn't just

golden root, St. John's

Chapter 2

one was a rare medicinal herb-priceless treasures in the hands

those were just the ones she recognized. There

wasn't the herbs themselves-but