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

moment she could walk

to her four older brothers, and the darling princess her

never say

of her life, she lived like a

when her father returned with a strange little girl and made a shocking announcement this was

on, her

an obsession for Sophie. Her brothers, once her knights

every bug, every kind word that used to

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Chapter 2

what she'd done wrong. She tried everything- swallowed her pride, groveled, tried harder to

no matter what she did, it was never enough.

much as teared up. Benedict would drag Eliza out

snapped her arms and legs without blinking. Mathew tortured her like the was

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

the family without hesitation, erased her from the records, and left her with just

took

the end, the had nothing left--no name, no home, no hope. She'd finally decided to leave

- sent men after

leave, Sophie accused her of stealing a jade

chains, and demanded she hand

then, some part of

lide... She gambled her

And low

a shaky breath, shutting her

bitterly. Maybe I was just fooling myself all along. That's fine. I made

clink echoed in the

was a familiar piece of

palm like it was the most precious thing in the world. Carefully, she brushed the

was broken.

of unity, of love. But now, only half remained. She searched around frantically but couldn't find the

returned to the pendant. The break was smooth, too clean to

fall.

she murmured. "What

along the edge of

of dizziness overtook her, and when

again, she was no longer in her

a vast, silent realm blanketed in white mist.

this place_?" she thought,

the ground. Grass. Cool and real beneath

'Could I be inside the pendant And my time travel-is this all

of soft grass, a crystal-clear

and dustless. Like no one

eye, making her pause in her tracks.

widened in amazement. No, it wasn't

before her, were rare and prized specimens, ginseng, golden root, St.

Chapter 2

rare medicinal herb-priceless treasures in the

she recognized. There were dozens more that she'd never even seen

the herbs themselves-but how they were