Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 10

The wedding march filled the cathedral, each note echoing beneath the towering stained-glass ceiling.Every guest rose to their feet.Ava Carter tightened her grip on the bouquet of ivory roses as the heavy doors swung open.For a heartbeat, everything disappeared—the cameras, the whispers, the hundreds of strangers watching.Only Ethan remained.He stood at the altar in a tailored black tuxedo, handsome enough to make magazine covers, his smile calm and composed.The man she had loved for four years.The man she had imagined growing old with."Smile," her stepmother whispered as she adjusted Ava's veil. "The cameras are on you."Ava forced a smile.This was supposed to be the happiest day of her life.Her father escorted her down the aisle, but something about him felt... different.He wouldn't meet her eyes."You okay, Dad?" she asked softly."I'm fine."His answer came too quickly.When she glanced toward the front rows, she caught Chloe's gaze.Her stepsister was smiling.Not the

The camera flashes were relentless."Mr. Blackwood! Is this your fiancée?""When did you start dating?""Is she the woman from today's wedding scandal?"Questions crashed over Ava like waves.She instinctively lowered her head, but Damien's voice stopped her."Don't."She looked at him."If you hide now," he said quietly, "they'll think you're ashamed."His hand remained firmly around her waist—not possessive, but protective."For the cameras," he murmured.Ava lifted her chin.For the first time since her world had fallen apart, she met the reporters' eyes instead of running from them.The crowd fell silent.One reporter stepped forward."Mr. Blackwood, are the rumors true? Is this your future wife?"Damien didn't hesitate."Yes."A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.Another reporter raised a microphone."Miss Carter, only two hours ago you were supposed to marry Ethan Lawson. How did you become engaged to Mr. Blackwood so quickly?"Ava froze.She hadn't prepared for this.Da

The boardroom fell into stunned silence.Every pair of eyes shifted to Ava.She could feel their judgment before a single word was spoken.Lucas carefully slid the document across the polished conference table."Miss Carter...""I think you should see this yourself."Ava's fingers trembled as she picked it up.At the bottom of the agreement was a signature.Ava Carter.It was unmistakably hers.The elegant curve of the "A."The sharp stroke beneath her surname.Every detail matched the way she had signed her name since college."No..." she whispered."This isn't possible."She looked up, panic filling her eyes."I've never seen this document before."One of the board members scoffed."Then how did your signature end up there?""I don't know!"The elderly director folded his arms."Mr. Blackwood, this is exactly why we advised against rushing into another engagement."Several executives nodded."The media is already questioning your judgment.""This scandal could damage Blackwood Group

The rain had stopped.Only the sound of tires cutting through wet pavement filled the silence inside Damien's Rolls-Royce.Ava glanced sideways.Damien hadn't spoken since they left the estate.His jaw was tight.His fingers rested on the steering wheel, but she noticed the slight tension in them.He was worried.Not about the media.Not about the lawsuit.About what they were about to discover."Can I ask you something?" Ava broke the silence.Damien nodded."How much did your grandfather tell you about me?"He kept his eyes on the road."Nothing.""Nothing?""I only remember seeing your name once.""When?""I was twelve."She frowned."My grandfather kept a locked safe in his study.""I opened it by accident.""There was a file.""Your name was written on it."Ava felt a knot form in her stomach."And he never explained?""He only said..."Damien's voice grew quieter."...that some promises take years to fulfill."Neither of them spoke again.---Blackwood Manor stood atop a cliff o

 The words echoed through Damien's office. "They stole his coffin." For a moment, no one spoke. Ava searched Damien's face. The color had drained from it. "Are you sure?" Damien asked, his voice dangerously calm. On the other end of the line, Harris answered shakily. "I saw it myself, sir. The crypt has been broken into. The police are already here." "We're on our way." Damien ended the call and grabbed his car keys. Lucas was already reaching for his phone. "I'll alert our security team." "No," Damien said sharply. "No one outside this room knows about the file. If this is connected, we keep it that way." Ava followed them out. "Why would anyone steal a coffin?" Damien didn't answ