Todos os capítulos de Forced to Wear My Sister's Wedding Dress: Capítulo 31 - Capítulo 40

Damien's gift arrived first.It was wrapped so badly that even the servants exchanged glances."You didn't even try," Beatrice said, looking at the crooked folds of paper with open disapproval.Presentation isn't the point." Damien set the small box in front of Grandmother Isabella. "Open it.She peeled back the paper with patient hands. The moment the lid lifted, she stopped.Nestled inside was an old brass compass, its surface worn smooth with age.Grandmother Isabella's fingers rested on it for a long moment."Your grandfather's," she said quietly.Damien rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking far less confident than usual."I found it in a little antique shop in Lisbon. It took months to trace where it ended up after the estate sale." He gave a small shrug. "I thought you'd rather have this than another crystal vase."Grandmother Isabella closed her hand around it and said nothing at all, which told Eva more about the gift's value than any words could have.The rest followe

The party had reached that perfect hour where everything seemed to be working exactly as planned, and Eva had almost let herself believe the worst was behind her.A waiter stumbled near the terrace doors, tray tipping dangerously. She caught it before they could fall, steadying the silver tray with one hand.The waiter let out the breath he'd been holding.Thank you, Mrs. Castellan.""It's all right," Eva said with a small smile. "Just slow down."She had barely taken another step when an elderly woman approached her, looking more embarrassed than confused."My dear," she said softly, "I seem to have misplaced my table."Eva smiled. "You haven't. Come with me."She didn't need to check the seating chart.She still remembered exactly where every guest had been placed.. She personally walked the old lady to her seat."She has better instincts," Helena murmured to Grandmother Isabella, watching from across the room, "than most women born into this family."Grandmother Isabella said noth

Beatrice removed her earrings in front of the mirror, each motion sharp enough to betray the fury she'd held back all evening.Then She dropped one earring harder than she intended. It skidded across the polished wood."You embarrassed me," she said.Victor said nothing."No." Beatrice turned, eyes blazing. "You embarrassed this family."He began removing his jacket, unhurried, refusing to match her energy."Your Nephew challenged your judgment," she continued. "In front of ministers. Judges. Business partners. And what did you do?"Victor continued folding his jacket."You lowered your head."Victor finally looked at her. "Because you were wrong."Beatrice laughed, sharp and disbelieving, like the words physically couldn't have come from him. "So now you're taking Julian's side?""I'm taking the side that keeps this family standing.""Weak," she said, stepping closer. "That's what you've become."Victor didn't argue. "Maybe. Or maybe I've lived long enough to know the difference betw

Eva woke to the sound of helicopters.She frowned, climbed out of bed, and walked to the window.The moment she pulled the curtains aside, her breath caught.The crowd outside the Castellan estate had doubled overnight.Satellite vans line the street in both directions, a helicopter circling somewhere overhead, its rotors a distant, persistent thrum. Security barriers strained against a wall of bodies and cameras that had turned overnight from a handful of curious reporters into something closer to a siege.This wasn't gossip anymore. This was national news.---By the time Eva reached the drawing room, it had filled with people she'd never seen before — Men and women in sharp suits stood around the table, tablets in hand, speaking over one another as papers were passed around."Mrs. Castellan shouldn't make any public appearance," a woman said, introducing herself as the head of corporate communications. "The attention will only get worse."A lawyer shook his head. "If she hides now,

"Get ready," Julian said, already dressed and waiting at the bottom of the stairs when Eva came down that morning.She blinked. "Where are we going?""The hospital."Eva felt something loosen in her chest for the first time in days. "You read my mind.""Were you going to ask?""I wanted to," she admitted. "But I don't know which hospital. The one my parents mentioned..." She shook her head, I don't even know how true that was. Julian's expression didn't shift with surprise. Don't worry, "I've already looked into it."---How did you know the key belonged to a hospital?" Eva asked once they were in the car.Julian turned the small silver key over in his fingers before answering. "I don't know for certain," he said. "I'm making the most reasonable guess."Eva frowned."I've seen keys like this before. They're usually for old storage lockers."He glanced at the tag."Locker 214.""It isn't a bank. Banks don't label lockers like this anymore. "And it isn't a train station. Whoever sent