Chapter 1 08.23 ( 2 My funeral was grand , fitting for a duke's wife . As I lay in my coffin , guests whispered of my blessed life - a respected husband , devoted children , a lifetime of honor . No one knew the truth . No one knew I had been locked in the cellar and starved to death . My husband , Duke Alistair , leaned on my casket and sighed with false grief . " Don't blame me , Elara . You forced this marriage on me when I was ill . You stole the title from the woman I loved - condemning Liana to be a hidden mistress for decades . She is kind and gentle , " he continued venomously . " You bullied her for thirty years . Now I can finally make her my wife properly . Consider this your atonement . " On the seventh day of my wake , he moved Liana into my rooms with bells and celebration . I died bitter and full of hate . Then , I was reborn . This time , I took my dowry and prepared to leave - to let the tragic lovers have their miserable ending . But when I tried , Alistair tore our annulment papers to shreds and fell to his knees like a madman , begging me to return . I awoke on the night my daughter , Rosalie , planned to elope . I had just intercepted her , and she stood before me now , eyes red - rimmed and blazing with resentment as she pointed an accusing finger . " What do you know ? Leo is a brilliant man ! The only reason he hasn't found success is because lesser men are jealous of his talent ! " she spat . " We are in love ! You're just trying to ruin my happiness ! " In my last life , I had investigated this " brilliant " man , Leo . I discovered he already had a wife and children back in his village . Worse , he was a petty thief with the morals of an alley cat . When I presented Rosalie with this evidence , she broke off contact with him immediately . Six months later , I used half of my personal fortune as her dowry , securing her a marriage to the kingdom's most promising King's Scholar . She ascended the social ladder with him , becoming one of the most celebrated ladies in the capital . Years later , when my legs were paralyzed and I was imprisoned in that damp cellar , Rosalie appeared , draped in silks and jewels . I clutched at the hem of her gown , my voice a dry rasp . " Rosalie , please . I haven't eaten in three days . Can you just ... give me a piece of bread ? " Her response was a vicious kick that sent me sprawling . " You have the nerve to ask for food ? " she hissed . " If I hadn't listened to your lies and broken things off with Leo , he wouldn't have been so dest- itute he had to steal a wallet . He wouldn't have been beaten to death in the street ! " Tears of rage streamed down her perfect face . " Do you have any idea what you took from me ? He was the first man I ever loved . The King's Scholar can shower me with kindness , but he will never be him . " She didn't just resent me for ruining her first love ; she hated me for separating her from her " real " mother . After marrying Alistair , I suffered through nine stillbirths . The ordeal broke my body , leaving me barren . So , Alistair had his mistress Liana's two children legally registered as my own , for me to raise . Liana was a mere songstress . I was the only daughter of a powerful Duke , the Queen's own niece . Under my name , Rosalie's station was eleva- ted beyond her wildest dreams . 08:23 Chapter 1 08:23 And now , she glared at me as if I were her jailer . " If my real mother were here , she would never stop me from being with the man I love ! You just can't stand to see me happy ! " A memory of the cellar , of the gnawing hunger and her final , cruel kick , flashed through my mind . A slow , cold smile touched my lips . " You're right , " I said , my voice calm . " It was wrong of me to separate you from your mother . Since I've made you so unhappy , perhaps I should simply return you to Liana's care . It's the least I can do to honor your deep mother - daughter bond . " Rosalie's face froze . " No , " she blurted out , the word escaping before she could stop it . To do so would be to announce to the world that she , Rosalie , was not the granddaughter of a great Duke , but the bastard child of a common performer . Her status , the fawning admiration of the other noble daughters - it would all evaporate in an instant . " That's enough . " The sharp rebuke came from the doorway . Alistair entered , Liana clinging delicately to his arm . " What nonsense are you spout- ing now , Elara ? Rosalie is just a child . You can't hold a grudge against her . If you can't even command the respect of a child , perhaps you shou- Id reflect on your own failings as a matriarch . " I looked at Alistair's face , so much younger than I remembered it , and felt a wave of pure hatred wash over me . When he had been gravely ill , the old Duke , his father , heard a prophecy that only a union with a daughter of my House could save his son . He knelt before my own father and begged for my hand . Moved by his love for his child , I agreed . After our wedding , Alistair's health miraculously improved day by day . He was outwardly grateful , but secretly , he seethed with resentment , believing I had stolen his true love's rightful place . It wasn't until I was dying that I learned the truth about my nine pregnancies . They hadn't been stillbirths . Each time , I had delivered a healthy , living child . And each time , while I lay unconscious from the ordeal , Alistair himself had ordered the infant to be taken away and drowned . He did it so I would have no child of my own , so I would devote myself entirely to raising his and Liana's children . The moment Rosalie saw Liana , she crumpled , throwing herself into the woman's arms with a gut - wrenching sob as if she'd been mortally wounded . Liana embraced her , her own eyes misting over . " Oh , my darling . If only I had the right to decide for you , I would never let you suffer so . " They clung to each other , a portrait of tragic , maternal love . Alistair's heart visibly ached for them . He turned on me , his voice lashing out . " I should have known . You can't truly care for a child that isn't your own . I was a fool to think you would treat her well . " He gestured angrily at Rosalie's hand . " Look ! You've even injured her ! " The tiny scratch on Rosalie's hand was from when she had hurled a vase at my head moments earlier . The three of them stared at me with matching expressions of disgust , as if I were the villain who had torn their perfect family apart . I was too weary to explain . Instead , I looked at Rosalie and said evenly , " Since your birth parents feel so strongly , I will grant your wish . You have my permission to be with your Leo . " I remembered the fortune I'd spent , the favors I'd called in , all to secure her marriage to the brilliant King's Scholar in my past life . Rosalie didn't deserve the future I had built for her . Her eyes lit up with triumph , but the color drained from Liana's face . She had never approved of some penniless scholar she wouldn't normally spare a second glance for . She had only supported Rosalie's infatuation because she was certain I would forbid it , creating a rift between me and the girl . It was her favorite tactic . She never imagined I would simply agree . Liana's face was a mask of fury . She wanted to object , but couldn't find the words . Just then , a hulking shape barreled into the room and slammed into me , sending a sharp , radiating pain through my side . It was Liana's son , Gideon . He glared at me , his eyes burning with malice . " You're bullying my sister and my mother again ! You think this will make us call you ' Mother ' ? Dream on ! We will never accept you . " His voice rose to a childish shriek . " When I grow up , I'll make sure the whole city knows what a wicked , evil woman you are ! You stole us from our mother just so you could torture us every day ! " I frowned , almost failing to recognize the boy who now weighed nearly three hundred pounds . In the world of "Crimson Heiress" by CrushReel, business magnate Zelda falls victim to a treacherous plot orchestrated by her own brother and husband, unwittingly surrendering her empire to the cunning Yasmina. As Yasmina's sinister intentions unravel, Zelda meets a tragic fate. However, a twist of fate brings Zelda back to life, setting the stage for a riveting saga of betrayal, revenge, and redemption. Exploring themes of deceit, power struggles, and the complexities of relationships, "Crimson Heiress" delves into the intertwined lives of its characters against the backdrop of a captivating blend of CEO dynamics, time travel elements, and mysterious reincarnations. The narrative unfolds within the opulent setting of a grand mansion, where secrets are as abundant as the characters' ambitions. As Zelda navigates through her journey of transformation and retribution, readers are drawn into a web of drama that promises unexpected twists at every turn. What sets "Crimson Heiress" apart is its seamless fusion of suspenseful storytelling with elements of glow-up narratives and intricate character developments. With its gripping plotline and immersive exploration of vengeance and second chances, this ongoing tale captivates audiences seeking a compelling blend of mystery and drama. Discover the allure of "Crimson Heiress" for yourself; available to read online at CrushReel.