Replacement Bride

avel. Celeste's letter had ignited a fire inside her - a desperate

ragile quiet, Aurelia crept through the dimly lit hallw

cient ledger hidden behind a false panel in

ames, dates, transactions that hinted at power plays and betrayals b

e never expected - a name that linked Da

shadow loome

an be danger

as quiet, but ed

already in danger. I m

ore. "There are parts of me you don't see -

me, the wall bet

to ask, "The

s, the truth kill

ce. "I don't care if it kills m

ike she was both a t

e not so differe

n them remained - a chasm filled with mis

es, carrying promises of war - both within

not spoken openly about what lingered beneath their uneasy truce, but their glances carr

tudy, poring over old documents by the glow of a single

lved in this," Damian s

ping closer. "If there's a war inside this

t's not one enemy-it's many. Greed, betr

stern-faced people standing around a massi

," Damian said. "They built this empire

the tension in the stiff smiles.

say she was the heart of the family, but the truth is, she

"And Celeste? How does

l memory. "She tried to break free. B

shadow slipped inside-a man wi

irl's rebellion?" the stranger a

ia te

d quietly. "My uncle. The re

on Aurelia like a pr

s, girl. Don't forget

ut flinching. "I'm not jus

y. "We'll see how lo

brushed against Aurelia's-a brief touc

" Damian said quietly. "This family wil

ed, her reso

e fight