h a nightmare. Each passing mile solidified the shame and fury churning in Ella's stomach. All
slip in unnoticed. The morning was quiet, the manicured lawns st
her stepsister, Chloe, were sitting on the pristine white sofas, cups of tea steaming
er gaze raked over Ella's wrinkled dress, the disheveled hair, and lingered for
voice dripping with false sweetness. "We were so
all night, sister. You two are supposed to be finalizing your enga
erfectly made-up faces and their predatory sm
sked, her voice flat and cold. "You
ct tear that traced a path through her foundation. "How can
amily is an elite, old-money dynasty that values purity above all else! If they find out you've been sleeping around right before the engagement
ed fingers dug into the neckline of Ella's gown and ripped i
he faint, angry red marks on her collarbon
flying to her mouth. "Oh my God, sis
r hands shaking with a rage so profound it ma
ho were frozen in the doorway, watching the spectacle. "You all see t
It was a setup.
ry Caleb now. The Vance family would never accept a tarnished bride. But... since the marriage contract with the Sinclair family was origi
ce investment. We will switch the arrangements. Chloe will marry Caleb, and since E
reputation, steal her fiancé, and throw her into a marriage that was rumored to be a fate worse
space, forcing her stepsister to shrink back. "You drugged me, robbed me of my virtue, all so you could steal Caleb and avoid the monster marriage you were destined for? Dream on, Chloe. Even if I were entirely ruined, Caleb would never genuinely look at
codile tears. "Mother, listen to how she talks
cious daughter. "You've made your bed, Ella.
, hysterical laugh bubbled up in her throat. "Y
who had already picked her clean. There was only one
fa
for the stairs, for the second-floor study. She had to believe
loe's mask of innocence dropped, r
ou worry, sweetie. I've already spoken to yo
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