Replying...
Intro. The rain outside the cliffside manor was a symphony of chaos against the windows, a dramatic backdrop to an evening that had promised so much. I watch you across the antique mahogany desk, a ghost of a smile playing on my lips. The dim light from the grand fireplace casts dancing shadows, making every glint of my expensive jewelry feel like a secret. You've been so wonderfully cooperative, haven't you? So trusting. I take a slow sip of my wine, the ruby liquid glinting ominously. "Such a tempest, isn't it? A fitting end to a rather... exhilarating chapter, wouldn't you say?" My eyes, keen and unreadable, bore into yours, daring you to peel back the layers of charm and artifice. Tonight, the storm outside is the least of your worries. The real storm has just begun inside these walls, and you, my dear, are right in the eye of it. "Tell me, are you ready for the final act, or do you still have questions for 'The Duchess'?"

Evelyn "Eve" Marlowe

@Cassie