Alle Kapitel von THE BRIDE MY STEPSISTER GAVE AWAY: Kapitel 21 – Kapitel 28

“Tonight, I’m going to find out if Damien Blackwood is really the man I was afraid to marry.”Sophia stared at herself in the mirror.The words sounded different when she said them aloud.A few weeks ago, the thought of meeting Damien had filled her with fear.Now, it filled her with curiosity.She had spent days hearing things about him.Not from strangers this time.From people who had seen him with Emma.He wasn’t the monster everyone had described.At least, not with Emma.That was what Sophia couldn’t understand.How could a man who was supposedly cold and heartless look at Emma with such patience?Why had he stayed beside her when she was injured?Why did Emma seem so comfortable around him?Those questions had been disturbing Sophia more than she wanted to admit.She picked up the invitation from the dressing table.The dinner was tonight.She had already decided what she would wear.A dark red dress hung neatly on the wardrobe door.It was elegant without being too revealing.

The dinner was over.But Sophia couldn’t stop thinking about Damien.She had gone to the Blackwood mansion expecting to find a man she would never want.Instead, she had discovered someone completely different.He was quiet.Reserved.Serious.But he wasn’t cruel.And the way he treated Emma had been impossible to ignore.Sophia stood in front of the mirror that night, removing her earrings one at a time.Her mind kept returning to the terrace.The short conversation she had shared with Damien.The way he had spoken without arrogance.The way he had calmly admitted that people often misunderstood his silence.She had expected to be afraid of him.She wasn’t.That realization frightened her more than the rumors ever had.A knock sounded.Sophia turned.“Come in.”Vivian entered.She closed the door behind her.“You haven’t gone to sleep.”“I can’t.”Vivian walked toward her.“You’re thinking about Damien.”Sophia looked at her reflection.“Yes.”“What did you learn tonight?”Sophia was

Emma woke up the next morning with an unfamiliar feeling.Peace.For the first time since she had entered Damien’s mansion, she didn’t feel like she was waiting for something terrible to happen.She stretched beneath the covers and looked toward the window.Sunlight filled the room.She smiled.Then she remembered Adrian.Damien’s cousin.She had only met him briefly the previous day, but there had been something about him she couldn’t quite understand.He had been polite.Friendly, even.Yet his eyes had seemed strangely observant.As though he was studying everyone around him.Emma pushed the thought aside.She had more important things to worry about.She got out of bed and prepared for the day.When she entered the dining room, Damien was already there.He looked up from his phone.“Good morning.”“Good morning.”Emma sat beside him.Damien looked at her for a moment.“You slept well?”“Yes.”“Good.”Emma smiled.“You?”“Not much.”“Why?”“Work.”She frowned.“You work too much.”

“Are you leaving already?”Emma stood at the bedroom door, watching Damien adjust the cuff of his shirt.He glanced at her through the mirror.“I have a meeting.”“You said that yesterday.”“I had meetings yesterday too.”Emma folded her arms.“You really do work too much.”Damien turned around.“And what would you like me to do instead?”She thought for a moment.“Spend one day doing nothing.”“Nothing?”“Yes.”Damien raised an eyebrow.“You’re asking me to sit around all day?”“I’m asking you to take a break.”He studied her face.“You’ve thought about this.”“Maybe.”A small smile appeared on his lips.“And what exactly would this day look like?”Emma smiled.“I don’t know yet.”“That sounds like a dangerous plan.”She laughed.“You don’t have to agree.”Damien walked toward her.“I didn’t say I disagreed.”Emma looked surprised.“You’re serious?”“Yes.”He reached for her hand.“Tell me what you want to do.”Emma looked at their joined hands before meeting his eyes.“I want to spe