All Chapters of Brian's Poisoned Vow – Forced to Wed, Determined to Kill : Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

He was on his feet before he had even fully processed the motion. The dark cloud that had settled over him during his father's call scattered under the sheer force of her presence."Shana," he said, her name a soft exhale of genuine relief on his lips.He moved to meet her, his steps quick and purposeful. Her dark hair, which had been tied back from her travels, now cascaded over her shoulders in soft, loose waves that caught the light, framing her face with a touch of effortless grace. It was the final, perfect detail."You found us," he continued, his voice low and meant only for her. He didn't stop at a polite nod. Instead, he gently pulled out the chair beside his own. "I'm glad you're here."As she moved to take the seat, his hand rested lightly on the high back of the chair. For a moment, he simply looked at her, the bright dress, the smiling eyes, the dark hair that completed the portrait of the 'sugar in the plum'. The gilded cage was still there, but for now, it held only swe

Miller Family House Edward arrived earlier and began to inspect the work of the funeral home. He was pleased with the roomy tent. He remembered the old house and the tyrant Magdalene, who ran the house with unpredictable terror. He could not help but laugh within him.Where could she be? He thought. Mrs. Adam, seeing that as her opportunity to honor her friend for the last time, had gotten involved by assisting the funeral home. On seeing Edward, she walked to him and said, "You are here."He was startled by her voice and turned swiftly. "Oh!" He exclaimed. "Yes. Good day, Mrs. Adam.""Good day, Young man."Everything is set," she said, her eyes lingering on the tents."I can see," he responded as his eyes spread over the scene with approval.Inside, the spacious canopy was beautifully decorated. Strings of soft, white fairy lights were draped from the center pole, twinkling like captured stars against the cream-colored fabric. Bunches of white roses and lilies, Priscilla’s favorite

Leonard watched the graceful line of her neck as she bowed her head in prayer, and the sight anchored him.The service of songs was a tide of quiet reverence and shared memory. Hymns, soft and soaring, filled the tent, their familiar melodies a comfort to the gathered community. Between songs, friends and family stood to offer brief, heartfelt tributes to Priscilla - simple stories of her kindness, her resilience, her love. One of them was Joan, her beautiful face beautifying the cameras. Through it all, Paschal sat flanked by his children, their presence a steady anchor. Valerie’s composure only wavered once, a single tear traced a path down her cheek during her mother’s favorite song. Brian did not relent in comforting her. His son, who was sitting on his lap, was quiet as though he knew what the occasion was.Leonard’s attention remained divided between the solemnity of the service and the quiet presence of Shana.It was not a grand event, but a fitting one - a collective embrace

King Solomon HavenThe good thing about the errand for the team was that it had come with an unexpected perk - a dinner of such exquisite quality that the guests would not want to leave, reluctant for the events to end.As the car stopped and the soft clicks of unfastening seatbelts filled the interior, Leonard turned to Shana. "You'll help with the orders before you enter your room," he said, his voice cutting through the quiet hum of the idling engine. His tone was casual, but his eyes held a request that felt more personal than professional - a subtle invitation to remain at his side, and at the center of the evening's activity, for just a little while longer."It's all right," Shana agreed, her voice bright.They stepped out of the car, thanking him for the ride. After dinner, Leonard made his announcement. "I will meet you all in the morning.""Do you need to?" Mrs. Zhang inquired, glancing at the others for support. "We can manage on our own.""Yes," Mrs. Parker concurred. "You

"Good evening, Mr. Hart," he said, his voice a calm counterpoint to the static tension in the room.The voice on the other end was sharp, bypassing all pleasantries. "Brian. Put my son on the phone." "I'm afraid he's indisposed at the moment," Brian replied smoothly, his eyes meeting Leonard's across the room. Leonard had leaned back, a look of grim satisfaction on his face. "He asked me to let you know he's safe and will be staying here tonight."There was a heavy, disbelieving silence. "Indisposed?" Leonard's father repeated the word, dripping with scorn. "Tell him I said he should come home."Brian’s grip on the phone tightened slightly, but his voice remained placid. "With all due respect, Sir, he's a grown man. He's made his decision. I can assure you he's in good hands.""His decision?" The older man's voice rose, a crack of thunder through the receiver. "This is not about his decisions! This is about respect! This is about him disregarding his mother's worries! Now, you will h