Chapter 103: Shadows of Betrayal

The walk back to the palace was thick with silence, like a heavy storm cloud ready to burst but not yet willing to give. Raul and Olivera moved in the same direction but might as well have been worlds apart. Not a single word passed between them, and the tension was palpable. The palace loomed ahead, a symbol of Raul's power, but today, it felt oppressive to Olivera, like walking into a cage. Inside, Azeera waited, perched on one of the lavish sofas in the grand sitting room, her body poised with an elegance that only fueled Olivera's discomfort. The moment Raul stepped through the door, Azeera rose gracefully, making her way toward him with a smile that suggested she knew she was the queen of the room. Without hesitation, she draped her arms around Raul’s neck and pressed a kiss to his lips, completely indifferent to Olivera’s presence. Raul didn’t flinch. In fact, he leaned into the embrace, returning the affection with calculated enthusiasm. His lips found Azeera’s again, this tim