Chapter 32 The Proclamation

• The grand hall of Damian’s estate was an imposing space, its vaulted ceilings adorned with glittering chandeliers casting warm light over polished marble floors. A sense of unease rippled through the air as the household staff filed in, their murmurs echoing off the cavernous walls. Maids, butlers, and guards alike stood stiffly, unsure why they had been summoned so suddenly.
• At the front of the room, Catherine, the head maid and slave, stood tall, her stern expression betraying no emotion. She was accustomed to Damian’s erratic behavior, but even she couldn’t deny the tension mounting in her chest.
• The heavy oak doors swung open with a resounding creak, and the room fell silent. Damian strode in with his usual commanding presence, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a hint of the intricate tattoos that sprawled across his chest. Behind him trailed Aurora, her head held high, draped in a crimson gown that clung to her curves. The gown’s bold color was a statement in itself, one that didn’t go unnoticed by the watchful eyes in the room.