d expected to start a new life with Arlina now felt like a cold cage. Sunlight streamed thr

n the silent space across from him. Elora poured tea with careful hands

eternity. The servants moved quietly, trying

ke the silence, v

our sister

carrying accusation

he teacup down. "You don't understand what our family ha

now she left me standing at the altar. And now I'm supposed to

she refused to show weakness. "I didn'

as cold, distant, like a man who had

ridge the gap of silence with small gestures-offering coffee in the morning, m

ons. Sean's mind was a battlefield of distrust, haunted by rumors he had

st sister, the shame of her family's unraveling, and the scars left by her brief, failed marriag

tension, Elora found herself in the grand li

oat nervously. "Sea

eyebrows raise

now that we're married, we owe it to ourselves to at

lly said, "Try... what exactly? To pretend none of this is a mes

he refused to shed. "I'm not her

lashing across his face. "Maybe I don't want a

lems. We're all tangled in this. But I'm here now-whether you like it or not

ered. A silent war raged within him-between ange

glances and strained silences, Arlina sat in a dim c

ian leaned forward, h

e told me. I co

on her face. "I can't go back. Not yet. M

with determination. "The

r. Could she face the past she ran fro

p, tangled with regrets and

estate, night settl

darkness. Elora was in her room, the soft sound

wondering if this forced marriage could ever

rever. And soon, all their carefull