The Virgin's Lie
trap of fl
The rain hammered against the cracked window of the East End flat. Inside, the air was cold, smelling of damp wallpaper and the lingering scent of their father’s old pipe tobacco. Ursula sat on a rickety wooden chair, her body trembling.
Ursula(fl)
(Crying and sitting, clutching a crumpled eviction notice)
Ursula(fl)
Sister, please... let’s just go to the police. This is a crime. We’re going to lose everything if we get caught. (Sobs)
Uma(fl sister)
(Pacing the small room, her eyes red with fury, holding a sleek black dress)
Uma(fl sister)
The police? The police watched them throw Dad out into the street, Ursula! They did nothing while Valentin Vontaine signed the papers that stopped Dad’s heart.
Ursula(fl)
(Wiping her eyes, looking terrified)
Ursula(fl)
But Valentin... he’s powerful. He’s the face of the whole country. If we trick him, he won't just sue us. He’ll bury us.
Uma(fl sister)
(Stopping abruptly and kneeling in front of her, grabbing her shoulders)
Uma(fl sister)
He already buried us! Look at this place! Look at Dad’s grave! We have nothing left but our faces. You look like an angel, Ursa. That’s our weapon.
Ursula(fl)
To drug a man? To pretend I’m a rich heiress? Uma, this is madness!
Uma(fl sister)
It’s justice. Tonight is the Vontaine Gala. You’ll wear this dress. You’ll be ‘Uriel Udalov.’ You’ll get close to him, and you’ll make sure he ends up in that hotel suite with you.
Uma(fl sister)
And then we tell the world the great Valentin Vontaine took advantage of a high-society girl. We force a marriage. We get inside that mansion, find the evidence of the fraud, and we strip them of every penny they stole from Dad.
[Two Hours Later: The Mayfair Gala]
The ballroom was a sea of gold and silk. Ursula felt like a lamb walking into a wolf’s den. Her breath was shallow
Ursula(fl)
Walking stiffly, touching the fake diamonds at her neck)
Ursula(fl)
(Into her hidden earpiece) I can’t breathe, Uma. The security guards are staring at me.
Uma(fl sister)
Stay calm. You look like a million dollars. Look to your left. The devil has arrived.
Valentin Vontaine entered. He was tall, his dark suit tailored to perfection. Beside him walked his sister, Verity, looking bored, and his cousin, Vincent, who was already eyeing the bar. Behind them, the mastermind, Uncle Vander, smiled like a shark.
Ursula(fl)
He... he looks so different from the news. He looks like stone.
Uma(fl sister)
Don’t let the face fool you. He’s the one who signed the death warrant. Now, take the glass from the waiter with the blue tie. It’s ready
Ursula(fl)
(Approaching the waiter, her fingers trembling as she swaps the champagne)
Ursula(fl)
To herself) God, forgive me.
Ursula(fl)
(Walking toward Valentin, forcing a shy smile)
Ursula(fl)
Mr. Vontaine? I’ve heard so much about your "visionary" leadership.
Valentin(ml)
(Turning slowly, his icy blue eyes scanning her from head to toe)
Valentin(ml)
I don’t recognize you. Who invited you to my gala?
Ursula(fl)
(Heart racing, stepping closer so he can smell her perfume)
Ursula(fl)
Uriel Udalov. My family is... new to London. I wanted to thank the man who ruined—I mean, redefined—the East End market.
Valentin(ml)
The Udalovs. I recall the name from a trade report. You’re far from home, Miss Udalov.
Ursula(fl)
(Watching his lips touch the glass, her stomach turning)
Ursula(fl)
I’m exactly where I need to be, Mr. Vontaine.
Valentin(ml)
You’re shaking. Are you afraid of me?
Ursula(fl)
Everyone is afraid of you, Valentin. You’re a man who gets whatever he wants.
Valentin(ml)
True. And right now... the room is getting very loud. I find myself wanting some quiet.
Ursula(fl)
(Realizing the drug is working, her heart hammering)
Ursula(fl)
I have a suite upstairs. For my father’s business... perhaps we could talk there?
Valentin(ml)
(Leaning in, his scent of expensive cologne and cedarwood overwhelming her)
Valentin(ml)
Lead the way, Miss Udalov. Let’s see what you’re really selling.
[The Hotel Suite - 30 Minutes Later]
The room was dim. Valentin was sitting on the edge of the bed, his tie loosened, his eyes glassy and unfocused.
Valentin(ml)
What was in that drink...? I feel... strange.
Ursula(fl)
(Standing by the door, her hands shaking as she begins to unbutton her dress)
Ursula(fl)
It’s just the excitement, Valentin. You’ve had a long night.
Valentin(ml)
(Looking up at her, his expression shifting from confusion to a dark, hazy desire)
Valentin(ml)
You... you look different in this light.
Ursula(fl)
Don’t talk. Just... lay back.
Ursula(fl)
(Pushing him gently onto the pillows, her eyes filling with tears)
Ursula(fl)
(Whispering) This is for my father
Valentin(ml)
(Grabbing her wrist, his grip surprisingly strong even in his drugged state)
Valentin(ml)
Why are you crying... Uriel?
Ursula(fl)
Because tonight is the end of everything.
Ursula(fl)
Texting Ursula’s phone: Is he under? I’m calling the photographers in ten minutes. Make sure the bed looks messy. This is it.)
Ursula(fl)
(Looking at Valentin’s sleeping, handsome face)
[Next Morning]
Flashbulbs popped. The door to the suite was kicked open by "concerned" family members and hired press.
ml sister .Verity
Verity— Valentin! What have you done?
(Walking in with a grim expression, looking at Ursula who is huddled under the sheets)
ml uncle
This is a disaster. The Udalov heiress... in a state like this?
Ursula(fl)
He... he told me he loved me. He told me it was okay!
Valentin(ml)
I don’t... I don’t remember...
ml cousin .Vincent
Looks like you’re getting married, Cousin. Unless you want the Vontaine stock to hit zero by noon.
Ursula(fl)
(Whispering to herself) It started. The trap is shut.
Valentin(ml)
(Getting up, his voice like a blade as he looks at Ursula)
Valentin(ml)
You. I don’t know who you are. But I will make sure you regret the day you ever met a Vontaine.
Ursula(fl)
(Shivering, realizing the "mental torture" she feared was already beginning)
Ursula(fl)
(Sobs) I just wanted to be loved.
Valentin(ml)
(Leaning over her, his face inches from hers, his voice a deadly hiss)
Valentin(ml)
You wanted a crown. Now you’ll wear it. But don’t expect a throne. Expect a cage.
fixed
The Vontaine manor was a fortress of marble and cold judgment. The air inside felt heavy, thick with the scent of lilies and the suffocating pressure of a scandal that was already spreading through the London tabloids like wildfire.
In the grand drawing room, the two families sat across from one another. On one side, the Vontaines—powerful, stoic, and seething. On the other, the "Udalovs
Uma(fl sister)
(Bursting through the double doors, her eyes red, her hair artfully disheveled)
Uma(fl sister)
Where is he?! Where is the man who ruined my sister’s life?
...
Standing up, her face full of genuine concern)
...
Please, dear, calm down. I am Valentin’s mother. We are just as shocked as you are.
Uma(fl sister)
(Pointing a trembling finger at Valentin, who stood by the window)
Uma(fl sister)
Shocked? My sister is a princess! Our family name is spotless! And your son... he drugged her! He lured her into that room and took the one thing she was saving for her husband!
...
(A man hired by Uma, dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, standing up with a stern, heartbroken expression)
...
My daughter... my poor Uriel. I trusted the Vontaine reputation. I thought I was bringing her to a gala of elites, not a den of predators.
...
(Looking at Ursula, who was huddled on a velvet sofa, weeping silently)
...
We are deeply, deeply sorry. Ursula is a lovely girl. We’ve heard nothing but good things about the Udalov grace. We will not let this insult to her honor stand.
Valentin(ml)
I’ve told you already. I don't remember the night. Something is wrong here.
Uma(fl sister)
Something is wrong? My sister is traumatized, and you’re playing the victim? Look at her!
Uma(fl sister)
(Walking over to Ursula, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder)
Uma(fl sister)
She’s so delicate. Valentin, look at her. She’s a broken child because of your recklessness. We have always wanted a daughter like this—someone pure, someone with a heart. Not like the vultures you usually date.
Valentin(ml)
(Eyes flashing with anger)
Valentin(ml)
Mother, stay out of this.
...
No. The press is outside the gates. The Udalovs are a respected family. There is only one way to fix this. A marriage. Immediately.
Valentin(ml)
(A bitter laugh escaping his lips)
Valentin(ml)
Marriage? To a woman I met yesterday?
...
Do you think I want my daughter tied to a man like you? But her reputation is gone! Who will marry her now? You will take responsibility, Vontaine, or I will dismantle your company piece by piece in court!
Valentin’s eyes narrowed. He looked at the Fake Dad, then at the sobbing Ursula. He could sense something was off, but the pressure was a mountain on his chest.
Valentin(ml)
(Walking over to Ursula, grabbing her arm firmly but not roughly)
Valentin(ml)
Need to talk. In private. Now
Uma(fl sister)
Don’t you touch her!
Ursula(fl)
It’s okay, Uma. I’ll speak to him.
[The Library - Moments Later]
Valentin slammed the heavy oak door shut and pushed Ursula into a corner, his hands resting on the bookshelves on either side of her head, trapping her.
Ursula(fl)
(Keeping her head down, her body trembling)
Valentin(ml)
(Lifting her chin with his finger, forcing her to meet his icy gaze)
Valentin(ml)
You played this well. The dress, the tears, the "protective" sister. Tell me the truth. How much is your father asking for? Is this just a high-stakes shakedown?
Ursula(fl)
A fresh wave of tears hitting her eyes, this time born of pure guilt and fear)
Ursula(fl)
(Sobs) How can you say that? Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I enjoy being looked at like a fallen woman?
Valentin(ml)
(Leaning in closer, his scent of cedar and expensive whiskey clouding her mind)
Valentin(ml)
I don’t remember touching you. My mind is a blank.
Ursula(fl)
(Pushing against his chest, her voice cracking)
Ursula(fl)
That’s because you were drunk! You were... you were so aggressive! I told you to stop, Valentin! I told you I wasn't that kind of girl!
Valentin(ml)
(Flinching slightly, his expression flickering with a shadow of doubt)
Valentin(ml)
I have never... I have never forced a woman in my life.
Ursula(fl)
(Slumping against the wall, her voice a broken whisper)
Ursula(fl)
It was a mistake. A horrible, life-ruining mistake. You took my virginity, Valentin. You took the only thing I had that was truly mine. (Sobbing) I am a princess, yes. I have titles and money, but I am not someone who just gets into everyone’s bed! I was waiting! I wanted my first time to be with someone who loved me!
Valentin’s grip on the shelves loosened. He looked at her—really looked at her. Her eyes were swollen, her skin was pale, and she looked utterly destroyed. For the first time, the stone around his heart cracked. He felt a sickening wave of guilt.
Valentin(ml)
(His voice softening, though still guarded)
Valentin(ml)
You were... it was your first time?
Ursula(fl)
(Looking away, her lip trembling)
Ursula(fl)
Does it matter to you? To you, I’m just a PR nightmare. But to me... I can’t forget what happened in that room. I feel... I feel dirty.
Valentin(ml)
(Quietly, almost to himself)
He stepped back, running a hand through his dark hair. He had spent his whole life being the perfect CEO, the perfect son. The idea that he had hurt an innocent girl—a girl his mother already seemed to love—nauseated him.
Valentin(ml)
Wiping her cheeks, looking up at him with wide, watery eyes)
Ursula(fl)
Just let me go. Tell your father you won't do it. I’ll go back home and hide. I’ll live with the shame. Just... don't look at me like I'm a criminal.
Valentin(ml)
(Looking at her, his heart heavy with a strange, sudden sadness)
Valentin(ml)
You can’t go back. Not with the press waiting. If you leave now, you’ll be hunted by every tabloid in Europe.
Ursula(fl)
Then what do we do?
Valentin(ml)
(Closing his eyes for a second, then opening them with a look of grim determination)
Valentin(ml)
My parents want this. Your "father" wants this. And if what you say is true... if I really did that to you... then I owe you a debt I can’t pay with money.
Valentin(ml)
(Walking back to the door, his voice cold again, but the edge was gone)
Valentin(ml)
We’ll marry. But don't expect a fairy tale. You’ll have the Vontaine name, and you’ll have my protection. But until I can trust you... that is all you will have.
Ursula(fl)
(Watching him leave, her hand trembling against her mouth)
Ursula(fl)
(Thinking: He’s innocent. He’s actually a good man... and I’m destroying him.)
[Back in the Drawing Room]
Valentin walked in, his face a mask of iron.
Valentin(ml)
Fine. Prepare the papers. I’ll marry her.
...
(Crying with joy, rushing to hug Ursula)
...
Oh, thank heavens! You’ll see, Ursula, you belong with us.
Uma(fl sister)
Smirking secretly at the Fake Dad while pretending to comfort Ursula)
Uma(fl sister)
(Whispering to Ursula) We’re in. The lion is in the cage.
Ursula(fl)
(Looking at Valentin, who refused to look back at her)
Ursula(fl)
(Whispering) God help me.
disaster wedding
The "Wedding of the Century" was not held in a church. It was held in the cold, cavernous ballroom of the Vontaine estate, shielded from the rain by thick stone walls and guarded by a small army of security. To the public, it was a whirlwind romance between two powerful dynasties. To the people inside the room, it was a funeral.
Ursula(fl)
(Standing before a floor-to-ceiling mirror, draped in white lace that cost more than her father’s bakery)
Ursula(fl)
(Whispering to her reflection) I look like a bride. Why do I feel like a sacrificial lamb?
Uma(fl sister)
(Adjusting Ursula’s veil with clinical precision, her eyes cold)
Uma(fl sister)
Stop it. You look like a winner. Today, we move into the heart of the enemy. Once the rings are on, Valentin can’t kick us out without a massive scandal.
Ursula(fl)
Did you see him this morning, Uma? He looked like he hadn't slept. He looked... broken.
Uma(fl sister)
Good! Let him be broken. He didn't care when Dad was broken. Now, go out there and finish this.
[The Ceremony]
The air in the ballroom was thick with the scent of white roses and the silent judgment of the Vontaine inner circle. Verity sat in the front row, her arms crossed, looking at Ursula with pure venom. Uncle Vander stood in the corner, a predatory smile on his face as he watched his nephew walk into a trap he didn't even set.
Valentin(ml)
(Standing at the altar, his black tuxedo making his pale skin look like marble)
Valentin(ml)
(Watching Ursula walk down the aisle, his expression unreadable)
...
She’s so beautiful. This is exactly what Valentin needs—a girl with a pure soul to soften him.
The "Fake Dad" led Ursula to the altar, his performance flawless as he "tearfully" handed her over to Valentin. When Valentin took her hand, his skin felt like ice.
...
Valentin Vontaine, do you take this woman to be your wedded wife?
Valentin(ml)
(A long silence follows, the tension in the room stretching until it threatens to snap)
Valentin(ml)
(Voice low and hollow) I do.
...
And do you, Uriel Udalov, take this man...?
Ursula(fl)
(Looking into Valentin’s eyes, seeing the pain and the silent warning buried there)
Ursula(fl)
(Voice barely a whisper) I do.
...
I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.
Valentin didn't hesitate, but there was no passion. He leaned in, his lips barely brushing hers—a cold, mechanical touch.
Valentin(ml)
(Whispering against her lips so only she could hear)
Valentin(ml)
Welcome to your cage, little bird.
[The Reception - Two Hours Later]
The celebration was a blur of champagne and fake laughter. Ursula was paraded around like a trophy. Finally, Valentin dragged her away toward the grand staircase.
Valentin(ml)
Excuse us. My bride is tired.
The moment the bedroom door clicked shut, the silence became deafening. This was the master suite—a room of dark wood, navy silks, and a bed that felt like a battlefield.
Valentin(ml)
(Ripping off his tie and tossing it on a chair, his back to her)
Valentin(ml)
Don't think for a second that because there’s a ring on your finger, anything has changed.
Ursula(fl)
(Standing by the door, clutching her bouquet)
Ursula(fl)
I know. I don't expect... I don't expect anything from you.
Valentin(ml)
Then why are you still standing there? You played the part of the 'ruined princess' to get here. Isn't this what you wanted? The Vontaine name? The Vontaine bed?
Ursula(fl)
No... Valentin, I told you, that night was a mistake! I’m not... I’m not ready for...
Valentin(ml)
Not ready? You were ready enough to trap me into a marriage in front of the whole world. You made sure my parents loved you. You made sure I had no choice.
Ursula(fl)
I just want to rest. Please.
Valentin(ml)
You’ll rest when I say so. You want to be my wife? Then play the role. Or are you going to tell me you’re 'innocent' again tonight?
Ursula(fl)
Valentin, stop! You’re scaring me!
Valentin(ml)
You should be scared. You’ve entered a den of vipers, Ursula. And the biggest one is standing right in front of you.
Valentin(ml)
He suddenly let her go, stepping back with a look of disgust.
Valentin(ml)
Sleep there. I won’t touch a woman who looks at me like I’m a monster. But tomorrow, the performance continues. We have a charity brunch with my family. If you slip up once... if you let my mother see those fake tears... I will make you wish you’d stayed a beggar.
Ursula(fl)
(Curling up on the sofa, still in her wedding dress, shivering)
Ursula(fl)
(Whispering) Why won't you just let me go?
Valentin(ml)
Because a Vontaine never lets go of what he’s paid for. And I paid for you with my freedom.
[The Next Morning]
Ursula woke up to the sound of someone humming. She opened her eyes to see Verity Vontaine (ML's Sister) standing in the middle of the room, looking at her with a sharp, mocking smile.
ml sister .Verity
Morning, Sister-in-law. Quite a wedding night, wasn't it? You’re sleeping on the sofa?
Ursula(fl)
I... I just... Valentin didn't want to wake me.
ml sister .Verity
Save the lies for my mother. I know a gold-digger when I see one. I don't know what you and that 'father' of yours are planning, but I'm watching you.
Ursula(fl)
I don't know what you're talking about.
ml sister .Verity
Don't you? My uncle Vander says you’re 'special.' I think you’re just a clever little thief. Be careful, Ursula. In this house, people who steal from us usually end up disappearing.
Verity turned and walked out, leaving the door wide open. Ursula sat there, trembling. She was inside the mansion, but she wasn't the hunter anymore. She was the prey.
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play
