The Unseen Heiress
As the illegitimate daughter in a household that scorns her, Emilia has learned to endure a life of cruel whispers and cold glares. But her fate takes an unexpected turn when her spoiled half-sister disappears on the eve of her arranged marriage. The family forces Emilia to wed the rumored crippled and disfigured groom in her sister's place—an ominous task they hope will rid them of her for good. Yet, when Emilia meets her new husband, Damien Blackwood, she is stunned. This mysterious man is neither crippled nor disfigured. Instead, he’s handsome, powerful, and hiding secrets as dark as her own. With the Blackwood family’s treacherous history looming over them, Emilia realizes she has entered a world far more dangerous than her own home—a world where alliances are built on lies and love can turn into a weapon. As she delves deeper, Emilia uncovers shocking secrets that link her family’s downfall to Damien’s ruthless kin. Now, torn between the man she’s come to trust and the whispers of betrayal around every corner, Emilia must decide: will she seek revenge on those who’ve wronged her or fight alongside Damien to claim her rightful legacy? In a game where love, power, and loyalty are tested, Emilia must face her past to shape her future… even if it means risking her life.
Chapter 48: Damien’s Dilemma
The room felt suffocating as I stared down at the letter in my hands, my mind struggling to grasp what Mrs. Finch had just revealed. The walls of the mansion, the home I had spent so many years in, suddenly felt like they were closing in on me. I had always believed my family—my father, in particular—stood for something greater than just power. He was a man of principle, a man I admired. But now, everything had been called into question.
I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I thought of Emilia. The look in her eyes when she had learned the truth—her mother, forced to leave, betrayed by the man she loved. And then, to learn that my father, the man I had once considered a beacon of strength and respectability, had played a part in destroying her mother's life? It was impossible to wrap my head around.