The wedding of revenge

It was agonizing to stand beside the man she once believed would be her forever, watching him vow his life to another woman—her own sister, Evelyn. As the maid of honor, Kaira was painfully close, each vow and whispered promise a knife twisting deeper. She could feel her heart splintering with each passing moment, a suffocating ache in her chest as if her entire world had fractured beyond repair.Kaira had known heartbreak before, but discovering that Julian had been unfaithful was an agony she hadn’t anticipated. She had trusted him, seen him as the one stable, loving force in her life. The betrayal alone had been devastating, but to learn it was with her own sister—the sister who had taken so much from her—was a torment that left her feeling stripped bare, like her very identity had been torn away.Finding out through a wedding invitation was a new level of humiliation. It was a double blow, the kind that left her questioning everything she thought she knew about loyalty and love. H

As Kaira entered the house, she was met with a hard slap across the cheek from her stepmother, Claudia. The stinging pain snapped her back to the harsh reality of her life here. She’d been foolish to decline the food offered to her that morning; the slap reminded her that she’d likely be starved today as punishment. Across the room, her sister Evelyn was watching the scene with obvious satisfaction, a smug grin playing on her lips. Julian, her former lover and now Evelyn’s husband, sat beside her, his expression unreadable but his gaze fixed on Kaira.“What was that stunt you pulled at the wedding yesterday, huh?” Claudia’s voice was shrill with anger as she practically shouted into Kaira’s ear. She threw two newspapers onto the coffee table, and Kaira’s eyes widened slightly when she saw the headlines. It was the first time she’d ever made it into the news—she, the forgotten daughter, had actually captured the public’s attention, and on two front pages, no less. *Wow, I’m quite the c

Kaira sat at the bar on the edge of the party her father had insisted she attend. He claimed it would seem suspicious if she didn’t make an appearance, so here she was, with a glass of wine in hand, enjoying one of the few indulgences she allowed herself. She noticed the servants casting judgmental glances her way as she munched on a cookie, but she couldn’t care less about their opinions tonight.Her gaze drifted to her father, Mathias, along with Evelyn and Julian, laughing together over something their business partner was saying. So much for “making an appearance,” she thought, shaking her head. Her stepmother was nearby, deep in conversation with a law firm owner. Kaira knew well enough that this party was just a network of favors, disguised as a celebration. A soft melody played in the background, briefly drawing everyone's attention to the father and daughter on the dance floor.Evelyn and Mathias were the first to dance. Evelyn was skilled, and her movements impressed the gues

Kaira woke up to an empty bed, feeling surprisingly well-rested. She couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of Sebastian’s warmth, which had enveloped her throughout the night. Without lingering, she got up, freshened herself, and headed downstairs, her senses immediately captivated by the aroma of freshly prepared dishes. “Miss Blackwood,”The staffs greeted her with respect as she passed. Their respect felt unwarranted, and she couldn’t help but wonder why they treated her with such reverence. “You’re awake, Princess,” Sebastian’s deep voice called from the dining room. He was seated at the head of the table, his presence as commanding as ever. He gestured for her to join him, and, knowing his persistence, she complied without protest. Over the days spent in his company, Kaira had learned that refusing him never yielded results. “Did you sleep well, Princess?” he asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he looked up from his plate. “Yes, I did,” She replied, her focus fir

Kaira exhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling as she tried to steady her breath, her gaze locked on the mirror for what felt like the hundredth time. Sebastian’s warm hands trailed over her bare skin, sending a shiver through her body. His lips pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her shoulder, making her inhale sharply. It had only been a week since she’d moved in with him, but Kaira was already familiar with how affectionate and touchy Sebastian could be. Not that she minded—she secretly loved it. She also adored the way he spoiled her with gifts and refreshed her wardrobe with elegant, more refined dresses. “You’re going to be just fine, princess,” Sebastian said, his voice a soothing rumble from behind her. “I’m sure my grandfather will love you.” Kaira bit her lip, her nerves still refusing to settle. Meeting the elder Mr. Ashford, along with Sebastian’s uncles and aunts, felt like stepping into a lion’s den. The Ashford family was known for their dignified, almost intimi