remained befor

household, the other into a powerful up-and-coming family. Practically overnight, the Marshall family

uing instructions and checking arrangements, while Iris lingered clo

alone seemed untou

h stacks of research notes, carefully piecing together

ing when the Shaw family delivered everything she would need-an immaculate set of ce

each detail flaunting the stagg

wedding dress shimmered beneath the lights, its surface

aid dress suddenly looked dull

s, her lips curling into a thin, mocking smile. "Oh, Eliana, the Shaw family really rolled out the red carpe

haw had always been extravagantly g

toward Iris-not out of love or any intention to marry, but purely

wered coolly, "Naturally-unless you're planning to leave the

r composure cracking as anger flashed across

ened and Phyllis stepped inside, the ma

ssion, her lips curving into a practiced,

head with her makeup first? I still wan

h approval as she glanced at Iris. Casting Eliana a faintly irritated

haracteristic restraint. Shadows gathered in her eyes as

r face, the servants carefully carried in the weddi

the crown to try it on-only to pause abruptly, her fingers hovering as her sharp g

e existed on a gown crafted fo

it closely and quickly noticed the altered stitching along th

t flickered in her eyes

y like this, she decided, then she

.

had finished their makeup, their r

her to a sprawling, palace-like hotel packed with more than a thousand distinguished guests. Yet when she arrived, the groo

family's overwhelming prestige, but her groom stayed close at her side, at

ity's ever-watchful crowd couldn't d

action curled thr

w dazzling Eliana looked wrapped in wealth and splend

ris lifted her chin and ste

every last ceremony, Evan

elf with the poised elega

om, leaving no one daring to mock her. What was meant to be a wedding missing its groom somehow tur

ass of water to her lips, the Shaw family swiftly e

Shaw Estate and then sen

once she learned where the bedroom was, she gathered her heavy dres

ical whir broke the silence-the unmistak

und Evan already there above her, leaning slightly