From Ruin She Rose novel Chapter 429

Chapter 429

St. Gabriel Reform Academy always secured compromising leverage before granting patronage-insurance against loose tongues. But Vincent had already lost his mind. Madness recognized no restraint. What secret remained sacred in delirium?

Rumors began spreading about St. Gabriel Reform Academy began to spread.

Though a madman’s ravings normally drew no notice, police connected them to missing persons cases and human trafficking cases. As a result, St. Gabriel Reform Academy came under police scrutiny.

Years of operating in shadows had honed the academy’s evasion tactics. But this time, their choreographed dance with investigators faltered-feints failed, misdirection crumbled.

Austin had shielded Emily from his scheming. Only when the men of St. Gabriel Reform Academy appeared at her door did she discover his Vincent gambit.

Emily knew it was still not the right time. Premature confrontation served no one. So she followed them to meet with that so-called teacher, Brady.

Brady seemed to think she was still easy to push around, and jumped straight in with an accusation. “You swore silence to the grave. Who did you tell?”

Emily’s pulse spiked. ‘had they uncovered something? Then she saw the trap in his probing stare. A fishing expedition. She furrowed her brow. “What’s happened?” No denial, only artful confusion-the portrait of ignorance.

Suspicion glinted in his eyes. “Vincent’s been babbling the academy’s secrets and got us on the cops’ radar. You knew nothing?”

Genuine shock flashed across her face. Austin had concealed it. After a brief pause, she shot him a cold smile. “Your guest. His broken mind. Why blame me for your failures?”

Brady dissected her micro-expressions. No tells. ‘Did we really get it wrong?’ he thought to himself.

In truth, they’d monitored Vincent closely, just in case he let something slip. After all, Vincent had lost his mind and knew their secrets.

But even with all that surveillance, the scandal still leaked out, and several of their cleanup operations had failed. Clearly, someone was manipulating events.

In decades of the academy’s operation, Emily alone escaped their control. She was their only living threat. That was why they’d sent someone to test her today. But at this point, it really looked like Emily had nothing to do with it after all.

Brady still wasn’t ready to give up. He layered verbal traps. Emily parried each with blank denials. Defeated, he turned to leave, pausing at the threshold. “That tongue stays silent,” he hissed. “Or we’ll cut it out.”

Emily didn’t respond. Not a muscle flickered. Only when his shadow vanished did she crumple, air rasping in her lungs like shrapnel. The academy’s brand still burned her psyche. Only its ashes would cauterize the wound.

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