All Chapters of Forced To Marry My Dead Fiance's Brother : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The bridesmaids were a whirlwind of color and laughter around me, their voices bouncing off the walls of the bridal suite like joyful music. I stood frozen in front of the full-length mirror, my hands gently smoothing over the soft ivory silk that clung to my body. The dress was everything I never thought I could wear. It hugged my curves with intention instead of apology. The neckline was elegant, the waist nipped just right, and the skirt flowed in a way that made me feel seen. Alex had worked with Eleanor on the design for weeks, insisting on every detail. “I want you walking down that aisle knowing exactly how stunning you are to me,” he had said one night, his eyes soft as he sketched ideas on a napkin.Sarah, my best friend since college, stepped behind me and adjusted my veil with careful fingers. “Lila, you’re glowing. Seriously. Alex is going to forget how to speak when he sees you.”I let out a nervous laugh, my stomach still doing anxious flips despite the warm compliments.

I paid the driver and stepped out, the cool night air brushing against my skin. The mansion stood large and intimidating, all glass and stone with perfectly manicured gardens. It felt like another world compared to my small apartment. My legs felt heavy as I walked up the wide steps. Before I could knock, the door opened. A middle-aged woman perhaps the nanny looked relieved to see me. “Thank you for coming,” she said quickly. “Mia has been asking for you. She is having one of her episodes again.” I followed her inside, my heels clicking on the marble floor. The house was beautiful but cold, filled with expensive art and furniture that probably cost more than everything I owned. We hurried up the grand staircase to the second floor. Mia’s room was softly lit. The little girl sat up in her big bed, clutching her stuffed rabbit, her small chest rising and falling too quickly. Tears streaked her cheeks. When she saw me, her face lit up just a little. “Lila,” she whispered, reaching o

I stared at the message for a long time. The screen glowed in the dark of my apartment, those simple words feeling heavier than they should. My fingers hovered over the keyboard. Part of me wanted to ignore it, to crawl back into bed and pretend none of this was happening. But Mia’s face kept flashing in my mind. Her small hands reaching for me. The way her breathing steadied only when I held her. I typed back a short reply.Okay. I’m coming.The taxi ride back to the mansion was quiet. The city lights blurred past the window as I leaned my head against the glass. My coat still smelled faintly of the night air from earlier. I had not even changed out of the clothes I wore when I left the first time. Everything felt rushed, like life was pushing me forward before I was ready.When I arrived, the nanny let me in without a word. She pointed toward the study and disappeared upstairs. The house was mostly dark except for a single lamp glowing from the open study door. I walked in slowly.

I watched Mia chase a piece of strawberry across her high chair tray, her small giggles filling the kitchen. Damian sat across from me, his eyes fixed on his tablet as he took a slow sip of his black coffee. The tension between us from the night before after I had overheard him crying in his study still hung heavily in the air, but looking at Mia’s bright, flushed face, I knew I had to stay strong. "More juice, Lila?" Mia asked, holding up her tiny plastic cup. "Of course, sweetheart," I said, reaching for the pitcher. Damian’s phone suddenly buzzed on the table. It didn't just ring once; it began vibrating continuously, lighting up with back-to-back notifications. He frowned, setting his coffee cup down with a soft click. He swiped the screen, and I watched the color completely drain from his face. His jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles in his cheek twitched. "What is it?" I asked, my hand pausing over Mia's cup. Damian didn't answer me. He stood up so fast his chair scra

"Get back," Damian rasped, his hand flying out to grip my wrist before I could even take a step back. His palm was ice-cold against my skin as his eyes struggled to locate me in the dark. I didn't pull away. "You were having a nightmare. You were shouting for Sophia." He released my wrist instantly, pushing himself back against the sofa. He ran his hands through his hair, his breathing still shallow. In the faint light coming through the window, I could see the sweat glistening on his forehead. "I am fine," he said, his voice dropping back into that familiar, guarded tone. "Go back to bed." "You don't look fine," I said, staying right where I was. "I do not need your pity, Lila," he snapped, though the edge in his voice was ruined by how out of breath he was. "We have a long day tomorrow. The PR team is sending a journalist here at eight. Go back to sleep." He lay back down, turning his back to me and pulling the heavy wool blanket up to his shoulders. I stood there for a few se