Chapter 4 — The Engagement Announcement

“You’re smiling far too much for someone who is supposedly traumatized.”

Amelia’s smile disappeared at once.

She turned sharply toward the bedroom doorway, where Evelyn stood holding a glass of water, her posture steady but her gaze unyielding.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. The tension between them stretched taut, as if it had taken on a life of its own, filling the space with a quiet, watchful hostility.

Amelia recovered first.

Her expression softened into practiced innocence, her features rearranging themselves with effortless precision. “You shouldn’t sneak up on people,” she said lightly.

Evelyn stepped further into the room, her voice calm but edged with quiet accusation. “And you shouldn’t fake panic attacks.”

The air seemed to freeze around them.

Outside the tall windows, thunder rolled across the darkened sky, and the steady rain cast the city in a dull, oppressive gray. Amelia sat poised in her wheelchair near the vanity, wrapped in a silk robe that spoke of wealth and indulgence.

Even while pretending to be fragile, she looked flawless.

Evelyn hated that she noticed.

“You’re getting careless,” Evelyn continued, lowering the glass onto the table without breaking eye contact. “All it takes is one mistake, and Charlie will start paying attention to the wrong details.”

Amelia’s lips curved slightly, as though the warning amused her. “You really think you matter enough to influence Charlie?” she asked.

The words struck deeper than Evelyn expected. She had told herself she no longer cared, yet the sting remained, sharp and undeniable.

Because the worst part had never been her family choosing Amelia, it was Charlie choosing her too every single time.

Amelia turned back toward the mirror and adjusted her earring with slow, deliberate movements. “Do you know what your biggest problem is?” she asked.

Evelyn didn’t respond.

“You still expect fairness.”

A quiet, humorless laugh almost escaped Evelyn. The idea of fairness felt naïve now, like something she should have outgrown long ago. “He’s starting to question things,” Evelyn said instead.

That made Amelia pause. Only for a fraction of a second, but it was enough, Evelyn noticed.

“He asked about the river,” she added carefully.

Amelia’s fingers tightened around the earring before she forced them to relax. “You told him?” she asked.

“No.”

“Good.”

The word came out sharper than intended, and there it was again.

For the first time since the accident, Evelyn saw it clearly: Amelia was not as secure in Charlie’s love as she pretended to be. If she were, she wouldn’t be trying this hard to maintain control.

“You’re afraid,” Evelyn said quietly.

Amelia turned toward her slowly, and the softness in her expression vanished entirely. “Let me make something very clear,” she said, her voice dropping into something colder. “Charlie belongs to me.”

Evelyn forced herself to remain still. “He was never yours to begin with.”

Amelia’s smile returned, but this time it carried no warmth. “And he will never be yours either.”

Before Evelyn could respond, the door opened behind them. Both sisters turned.

Charlie stepped inside.

The transformation in Amelia was immediate and almost seamless. Her shoulders slumped, her eyes softened, and vulnerability flooded her expression as though it had been summoned on command.

Evelyn watched it happen in real time, and the precision of it was almost frightening.

Charlie noticed Evelyn first.

His expression hardened instinctively. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

“She brought me water,” Amelia answered before Evelyn could speak.

Charlie’s gaze flicked briefly to the untouched glass, then returned to Amelia. “You should rest,” he said gently.

That tone again, Careful. Protective and Reserved only for Amelia.

Evelyn felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. “I’ll leave you two alone,” she murmured.

As she moved past him, Charlie reached out and caught her wrist unexpectedly. The contact stopped her in her tracks. For a moment, both of them seemed caught off guard.

His grip tightened slightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to keep her from walking away.

Evelyn glanced down at his hand, confusion flickering across her face. Charlie looked almost as surprised as she felt, as though the gesture had been instinctive rather than intentional.

Then his expression closed off again. “There’s a family dinner tonight,” he said flatly. “My parents are coming.”

Evelyn frowned faintly. “And?”

“You’ll be there.”

Before she could question him further, he released her and walked past, his attention already shifting back to Amelia. Dismissed. As always.

Yet as Evelyn stepped into the hallway, an uneasy feeling settled in her chest.

Something about his tone had been off. Too measured. Too controlled, Charlie Warren was always at his most dangerous when he sounded calm.

That evening, the Warren family arrived precisely at seven.

A line of sleek black cars filled the driveway while security moved discreetly across the estate. Everything about the Warrens spoke of power, the kind built over generations and reinforced through influence, connections, and wealth.

Evelyn stood near the staircase in a simple black dress while the staff prepared dinner below. No one had spoken to her all day, but she had expected as much.

From the dining room, Amelia’s soft laughter drifted upward.

The entire atmosphere shifted whenever Amelia was present. People were drawn to her warmth, to the effortless charm she projected.

Evelyn, by contrast, felt like something intangible, visible, yet never truly seen. “You look nervous.”

She turned.

Charlie stood behind her, composed as ever in a perfectly tailored suit, his expression unreadable. “I’m not nervous,” she replied.

He studied her more closely than usual, his gaze lingering in a way that unsettled her. “You’ve barely looked at me these past few days,” he said.

Evelyn blinked, caught off guard by the comment. “You hate me,” she said simply.

His jaw tightened. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

Before she could respond, laughter rose again from below.

Amelia.

Charlie’s attention shifted toward the sound without hesitation. Evelyn noticed that, strangely, it didn’t hurt as much this time, perhaps because she was finally beginning to understand the truth.

He would always choose Amelia, no matter what. “Your family is waiting,” she said quietly.

Charlie lingered for a second longer, then turned and walked away. But just before he disappeared down the stairs, he glanced back. Dinner felt suffocating.

Crystal glasses reflected the chandelier light while soft music played in the background, creating an illusion of elegance that barely masked the tension beneath.

Evelyn sat near the end of the long table, silent as the Warren family discussed business and social engagements. Besides Charlie, Amelia performed her role flawlessly, embodying everything they expected: graceful, gentle, and delicately fragile. “We missed you at the gala,” Mrs. Warren said warmly.

Amelia smiled with quiet sadness. “My condition made it difficult.”

Charlie placed his hand over hers at once.

Evelyn looked away.

Then Mr. Warren spoke, his tone casual but deliberate. “So, when are you announcing the engagement?”

The room fell silent.

Evelyn’s fork slipped from her fingers and struck the plate with a sharp sound. No one acknowledged it. No one except Charlie. For a brief, strange moment, their eyes met.

Then Amelia answered with a shy smile. “We haven’t decided yet.”

Mrs. Hart beamed. “That’s wonderful news.”

Evelyn’s chest tightened painfully. Marriage had always been inevitable. She felt foolish for ever reacting as though it weren’t.

Charlie remained unusually quiet.

His father noticed. “You’re hesitating?”

Charlie leaned back slightly. “No.”

There was a pause before the word. Small but not invisible.

Both Evelyn and Amelia noticed.

The shift in the atmosphere was immediate.

Amelia reached for Charlie’s hand beneath the table. “There’s no need to rush,” she said softly.

Charlie looked at her, then nodded. “We’ll announce it soon.”

The table erupted into celebration. Evelyn excused herself before anyone could stop her. No one tried.

Rain poured heavily across the balcony as Evelyn gripped the cold railing, struggling to steady her breathing. This shouldn’t have affected her.

Charlie had never been hers, so why did it feel like losing something real? “You’re crying over him?”

Evelyn stiffened.

Amelia stood at the doorway, watching her.  “I’m not crying,” Evelyn said, wiping her face quickly.

Amelia smiled faintly. “You always lose with dignity. I admire that.”

Evelyn turned sharply. “What do you want?”

“To warn you.”

The softness vanished from Amelia’s tone. “Charlie has started asking questions.”

Evelyn’s heartbeat slowed. “About what?”

“The river. The accident.”

A heavy silence settled between them. “And that worries you?” Evelyn asked.

Amelia moved closer, her gaze sharpening. “He can never know the truth.”

“Why?”

For the first time, Amelia’s composure cracked. Real fear surfaced. “Because if Charlie finds out you were the one who saved him…” she said quietly, “…he might start looking at you the way he looks at me.”

Evelyn froze.

Not because of the confession itself but because of what it revealed.

Amelia wasn’t just manipulative. She was afraid of being replaced, and that made her far more dangerous. “He loves an illusion,” Evelyn said softly.

“Yes,” Amelia replied.

Her expression hardened again. “And I intend to keep it that way.”

Footsteps approached. Charlie.

Amelia reacted instantly.

By the time he stepped onto the balcony, tears already filled her eyes. “Amelia?” he asked.

She looked shaken. “I just wanted to apologize,” she whispered, “but Evelyn said she wished I had died.”

Evelyn stared at her in disbelief. The lie came effortlessly.

Charlie’s expression turned cold. “What?”

“I never said that.”

Amelia flinched.

Charlie moved between them without hesitation, placing himself firmly at Amelia’s side. “You need to stop,” he said.

Rage surged through Evelyn. “I am tired of your blindness!”

“And I am tired of your obsession with hurting her,” Charlie replied.

The words struck deeper than anything else. Obsession, but no, it had never been obsession. It had been love, and that had always been the problem.

As she stood there in the rain, watching him shield Amelia without question, Evelyn finally understood how hopeless that love had always been.

Then Charlie spoke again, his voice steady and final. “The engagement party is next month.”

Evelyn went still. “And you will publicly apologize to Amelia.”

Thunder rolled overhead. “No,” Evelyn said.

“You don’t have a choice.”

For the first time since she had known him, Evelyn looked directly into Charlie’s eyes and felt something she never thought she would.