39. Venesa

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed discussion of Chapter 43 of Hexed. If you haven’t read up to this point, proceed with caution.

Chapter Summary

Venesa wakes in the opulent suite Enzo provided at the Marino hotel, simultaneously awed by the luxury and uneasy about the night before. She regrets sleeping with him without confessing the truth, yet she cannot deny the comfort of safety and indulgence. Alone with her thoughts, she cycles through bitter realizations: Uncle T never valued her loyalty, she has almost no money left, and her entire life feels like a hollow sacrifice. Hunger gnaws at her until she digs out her last few hundred dollars, despising the thought that her worth was never recognized.

A knock interrupts her rumination. Room service arrives even though she ordered nothing, and her street instincts flare to life. She grips a heavy golden globe as a makeshift weapon and scrutinises the young hotel employee. He pushes in a cart overflowing with pancakes, bacon, eggs, fruit, toast, and coffee—the entire breakfast menu, sent by Mr. Marino. Relieved and suddenly grateful, she allows herself a genuine smile and sits down to eat, savouring the moment as a small mercy.

Just as she begins her meal, a second knock sounds. Without checking, she swings open the door to find Bastien. He scolds her for her carelessness and walks inside, commenting on the luxurious suite. Venesa demands an explanation. Bastien admits he is here under the guise of tracking her for Uncle T, but his true purpose is to stand by her. She shares her pancakes, and the frost between them thaws. Bastien then delivers a devastating disclosure: Uncle T did not simply murder her mother—he stole the entire Kingston empire. Percius Kingston had left an irrevocable trust to Venesa’s mother, but Uncle T paid off judges and lawyers, and likely killed his own father, to burn the evidence and seize control. Bastien reveals he has found something hidden inside the family painting, and he tells Venesa plainly that the empire is rightfully hers.

Key Events

Venesa wakes in a Marino hotel suite, conflicted about her night with Enzo and feeling worthless after years of unrewarded loyalty.
She counts her meagre savings and feels physically ill from hunger.
A suspicious room-service delivery from Enzo arrives; she initially arms herself but accepts the lavish breakfast with gratitude.
Bastien appears at the door, catching her off guard; he reveals he is acting as a double agent for Uncle T while secretly helping her.
Over shared chocolate-chip pancakes, Bastien tells her Uncle T murdered his own father and destroyed the trust documentation.
He confirms that the inheritance should be hers and hints that he uncovered proof hidden in the family painting.

Character Development

Venesa: Her internal monologue in this chapter lays bare the wounds of familial betrayal and self-doubt. She swings between feeling like garbage and recognising her own worth. The breakfast becomes a turning point—she allows herself to accept kindness, and her hunger symbolises both her material need and her craving for justice. The revelation about the stolen empire reignites her determination to dismantle Uncle T.

Bastien: His arrival transforms him from a potential threat into a confirmed ally. He openly admits his dual role and willingly relinquishes control by offering Venesa the proof she needs. His confession that he found something in the painting cements his commitment to her cause, not her uncle’s.

Enzo (off-page): Even absent, Enzo’s gesture of the elaborate breakfast reinforces his role as a protective force. It mirrors the earlier suite offer and deepens Venesa’s conflicted feelings about their intimacy.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Stolen Legacies and Hidden Truths: The revelation that the Kingston empire was stolen through murder and forgery shifts Venesa’s mission from personal revenge to reclaiming her birthright.
Hunger and Gratitude: Venesa’s physical hunger parallels her emotional starvation for belonging and respect. The unasked-for feast stands as a moment of grace, prompting her to pause and give thanks.
Weapons as Defence and Doubt: The golden globe she wields underscores her constant vigilance. It also visually contrasts the luxury around her with the violence that has shaped her life.
Double Identities: Bastien’s double-agent act echoes the larger theme of façades—people are never exactly what they seem, be it Uncle T’s avuncular mask or Venesa’s own guarded heart.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 43 marks a seismic shift in Venesa’s understanding of her past. Up to this point, her vendetta against Uncle T was personal but somewhat abstract. Now she learns she is the rightful heir to the entire Kingston empire. This knowledge legally and morally validates her quest, raising the stakes far beyond simple vengeance. Bastien’s return as a secret ally also arms her with both emotional support and physical evidence. The chapter closes the door on any lingering doubt about Uncle T’s monstrosity and sets Venesa on a path to seize what is legally hers.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Venesa initially regret her intimacy with Enzo? She slept with him while he was drunk and before telling him the full truth about her past. She fears his reaction once he learns everything, and her unease reflects her own conflicted identity—she does not want to build a connection on an incomplete foundation.
What does Bastien reveal about the Kingston inheritance, and how does this change Venesa’s mission? He explains that Percius Kingston left an irrevocable trust to Venesa’s mother, which Uncle T destroyed after murdering his own father and paying off legal officials. Venesa now understands she is not merely an outcast seeking revenge but the legitimate heir to a stolen empire. This transforms her goal from personal retribution to rightful reclamation.
How does Venesa’s reaction to the room-service delivery highlight her state of mind? She instinctively arms herself with a heavy globe, demonstrating that even in a safe hotel room, she cannot lower her guard. Her suspicion softens only when she sees the absurd spread of food sent by Enzo, and her quick pivot to genuine gratitude shows that underneath her toughness, she is starved for care and recognition.