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 31: Ghosts of the Past
The mansion was unusually quiet, the kind of silence that seemed alive, pressing against the walls, thick and suffocating. I found myself walking through the corridors aimlessly, my thoughts tangled in a web of doubt. After the visit from my stepmother and half-sister, my mind refused to rest. Their words, so deliberately sharp, kept echoing: "Damien isn't the man you think he is."
I tried to shake it off, telling myself it was just another attempt to unsettle me. Yet, their insinuations had cracked something inside me. I hated it—hated that they had managed to plant seeds of doubt in a heart that was already fragile.