Chapter 5: Veil of truth

Sophia’s POV

The week had been exhausting. I spent days preparing for the family ball, making sure every detail of the menu, both food and drinks, was perfect. By the time the evening arrived, I already felt worn out. Although the heart estate felt too huge for me, it was also more than a home to me; it was a place where expectations ruled. Tonight, it was my job to ensure the family ball was perfect.

I looked at the tall candelabras and the carefully arranged flowers in the dining hall, but no matter how I tried, my thoughts kept returning to Ethan. Even though I had just seen him come back, I couldn’t shake my doubts or trust him. Was he really my brother? I had watched him, questioned him, and tested him in ways the rest of the family never would, but still, part of me wanted to believe it was him.

As the night grew, the family ball began. I adjusted the hem of my dress, a soft golden fabric that hugged my figure just right, and sighed. Attendance mattered tonight more than excitement. I had learnt to separate my emotions from duty, to carry out my responsibilities perfectly as if I were a machine built for perfection. And so, I prepared myself, tucking away every shred of doubt, every flicker of unease. The ball was about appearances, after all, so I had to be perfect.

Edward’s POV

I knew everyone would be present at the ball, so I spent hours in my study, thinking about who I needed to impress and who I needed on my side; if I wanted to be the next in line of the Hart Diamond business, I had to build influence, earn trust and loyalty, and look like I was in control.

And then there was Ethan.

He came into the family and changed everything we had built. I still doubted him and suspected he was a fraud, but I had no proof of any sort. There was nothing solid I could use against him without making people suspicious. Still, he was a real threat to me in the family because I'm not their real son; I'm just a substitute who was brought in to replace him. I couldn’t just let him take what I had worked for. It wasn't even about whether he was the real son, but it was about my hard work and how much I've invested in the company.

As I walked down the stairs, I saw Sophia greeting the guests. Even with all the estate’s grandeur, she stood out in the hall with her golden dress. Her curls framed her face, and her blue eyes were bright and focused. I paused, caught up in the moment, but reminded myself to stay focused. She couldn’t know how I felt. If she did, it might push her away. I couldn’t risk losing both her and her trust, especially with the return of Ethan.

Ethan’s POV

I had been waiting for this day to meet the extended family, and seeing all their faces, I had only pictured it in my mind, but it felt unreal. As I walked down the grand staircase, I saw Sophia standing alone, not sure why, because a moment ago she was greeting the guests. For a moment, I thought about reminding her of our childhood, but seeing that she didn't trust me yet, I decided not to go.

Before I could greet the guest, I noticed that a distant cousin began harassing her, making rude comments about marriage, trying to sway her into marrying him. I felt protective right away. “You should know your place,” I said to him, keeping my voice low but yet strict. Sophia looked surprised and a little annoyed, but she brushed me off calmly. She never needed me to fight her battles, and I knew that, so I let it go and stepped aside with a quiet smile.

Sophia’s POV

The guests arrived in sparkling gowns and nice tuxes. They brought gifts for Ethan, and he received them all as part of the usual welcome. Vivian, as always, began her tantrum as she always did, asking Edward why he hadn’t brought anything for Ethan and pointing out the supposed jealousy Edward had for Ethan.

Before a scene was about to be created, someone handed Ethan a gift box. My eyes widened as he opened it and found a gun inside. My stomach dropped. The room erupted into chaos. Edward and Ethan argued. “Why did you act surprised? You know how to handle this,” Edward said, his voice cold. Ethan, pointing the gun at him, “yet you send it as a present”, said Ethan.

“Enough!” Have you men forgotten the reason we are all here? Simon’s voice rang out, strong and commanding. The room went quiet as drinks and food were served. The immediate threat was gone, but the tension between the two brothers was still there.

As dinner went on, a cousin of ours stood up and yelled. “Stop drinking the orange juice, Ethan,” he said. People looked around, confused. Ethan’s eyes narrowed, and he tensed up. My heart dropped.

He explained, in a calm voice, that when he and Ethan were little, they had sneaked into the kitchen as kids to steal orange juice. But they didn't know he'd have a bad allergic reaction to it. “Minutes later, I saw Ethan with hives all over his neck and chest”, he said. We had to lie back then, saying it was bee stings, not to get punished for stealing. This made everyone stare at Ethan to see if what my cousin actually said was true. Now, as everyone watched, the hives reappeared, clear for all to see.

Vivian stood up, her voice full of accusation. “Who is responsible for this?” she demanded. I stepped forward, shaking as I was the one who was in charge of both food and drinks, and took the blame. She yelled at me and hit me. Father just stood there watching. I didn’t know if father ever-loved me, cause he always stood a blind eye to Vivian's cruelty. Edward tried to protect me, but I stopped him. I wouldn’t let him take the blame for my mistake. My father stayed silent through it all, and that only made me more resentful. He cared more about the business than about me.

With the scene that was created, everyone had to go home. A few minutes later, Dr. Sebastian stepped out of Ethan's room and told everyone that he would be okay. Tears ran down my face as I whispered, “I couldn’t even protect him. I couldn’t even protect him from this.”

I went to check on Ethan. I felt relieved when I saw he was stable. I whispered apologies, feeling bad that I hadn’t known about his allergy and that I had failed to protect him. Then I heard Edward’s voice, quiet but steady, calling me out of his room: “It was I. I orchestrated the test, along with our cousin, to verify if he was truly your brother.”

I felt a rush of shock and anger. “Did you mean to hurt him? Were you trying to take the family business?” I asked. Edward’s face was hard to read, but I sensed a hint of softness and a purpose I didn’t yet understand.

I looked at him, my heart racing and my mind full of mixed feelings. The room, the ball, the family, they all faded as I realized the night had shown us more than just secrets about allergies and gifts. It had exposed the delicate web of loyalty, suspicion, and hidden feelings that connected us.

Edward’s steady presence made me even angrier as I wondered why he would do such a thing.

As Edward stepped back, looking disappointed but calm, I felt the weight of the evening settle on me. Questions remained. If he actually wanted to find out the truth about him or to secure his place in Diamond Harts. The truth was only starting to come out