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

sister to her four older brothers, and the darling

say no

first fifteen years of her life, she lived like a pearl in a

of that changed the year she turned fifteen, That was when her father returned with a strange little girl and made a

then on, her

her knights in shining armor, slowly pulled away from her and lavished their affections on the newcomer

word that used

439 PM &

Chapter 2

then, Eliza h had no idea what she'd done wrong. She tried everything- swallowed her pride, groveled, tried

it was never enough. All it brought her was pain- endless,

as teared up. Benedict would drag Eliza out

blinking. Mathew tortured her like the was some

her narse until she couldn't even walk down the street

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

outcast, it took only three years to ruin her

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

- sent men after

Right before she could leave, Sophie accused her

chains, and demanded she

part of her

lide... She gambled

And low

breath, shutting her eyes, tight she forced

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

then, a soft clink echoed in the quiet room. Something had fallen to the

down and blinked in surprise-it was a familiar piece of emerald. "Mother's pendant!" she

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

was broken.

of love. But now, only half remained.

break was smooth,

fall.

this wasn't just cracked," she murmured. "What if... it's

fingers along the

wave of dizziness overtook her, and when she opened

she was no longer in

silent realm blanketed

this place_?" she thought,

touched the ground. Grass. Cool

mind. 'Could I be inside the pendant And my

The space wasn't large. There was a field of soft grass, a crystal-clear stream trickling by, and a simple thatched but wanding quietly in the

hut. It was empty and dustless. Like no

her eye, making her pause in her tracks.

amazement. No, it wasn't just

before her, were rare and prized specimens, ginseng, golden root, St. John's Wort, elderflower,

Chapter 2

medicinal herb-priceless treasures in the hands

ones she recognized. There were dozens more that

shocked her most wasn't the herbs themselves-but how