Chapter 108 108
EMILY
I stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back at me.
For a moment, I just stared.
Like if I looked long enough, I would find something familiar in her.
But I didn’t.
Diamonds.
They were everywhere.
Around my neck, resting cold against my skin. Around my wrists, stacked in delicate layers. My ears carried the weight of them, subtle but impossible to ignore. Even woven subtly into my hair, catching the light with every small movement I made.
They shimmered.
Soft.
Beautiful.
Expensive.
Every slight shift made them glow again, reminding me of exactly where I was… and who I had suddenly become.
Or who I was expected to be.
It still didn’t feel real.
“I think it’s too much,” I murmured, adjusting one of the bracelets on my wrist.
My voice sounded small.
Behind me, the door opened quietly.
I didn’t turn immediately.
But I saw her reflection.
Hazel walked in.
She stopped the moment she saw me.
“Wow.”
I turned slightly, watching her through the mirror, searching her expression for honesty.
“What?” I asked, a little self-conscious now. “It’s too much, right?”
For a second, she didn’t answer.
She just kept looking at me.
Her eyes softened, but there was something deeper in them. Something almost… emotional.
Like she was seeing more than just the dress.
More than just the diamonds.
Then she walked closer.
Slowly.
“No,” she said quietly. “It’s not too much.”
She reached me, her fingers brushing lightly against my collarbone as she adjusted the necklace.
The touch was gentle.
Careful.
“You’re perfect,” she added. “You’re Vivian Cavendish’s granddaughter. Diamonds can never be too much on you.”
Something in my chest tightened at that.
I turned to face her fully, my eyes stinging unexpectedly.
It still felt strange hearing things like that.
“I still can’t believe all of this,” I admitted softly. “I didn’t expect… any of this. Not the family. Not you. Not—”
I let out a small breath, my shoulders dropping slightly.
“Not feeling like I belong somewhere.”
The words came out more honestly than I expected.
Hazel’s expression softened immediately.
Without thinking, I stepped forward and pulled her into a hug.
“I’m really glad I found you,” I whispered.
For a second, she held me just as tightly.
And in that moment, everything felt… right.
Then I felt it.
A shift.
Subtle.
But there.
Like something had changed in her.
She pulled back slightly, her hands still resting on my arms.
Her expression was different now.
More serious.
“Emily… I need to tell you something.”
Her tone changed completely.
My brows pulled together slightly.
“What is it?”
She hesitated.
“I should have told you before,” she started, her voice lower now. “But I didn’t know how and now with everything happening, I just—”
A knock interrupted her.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Perfectly timed.
Hazel went quiet instantly.
Like the words had been cut off.
The door opened before either of us could respond.
Mom walked in.
Her eyes landed on us, and within seconds, they filled with tears.
“My beautiful girls,” she whispered.
Her voice broke slightly, filled with emotion she didn’t try to hide.
Hazel stepped back quickly.
Too quickly.
Like nothing had happened.
Like she hadn’t almost said something important.
I glanced at her, confused.
But she shook her head… just slightly.
Not now.
Mom didn’t notice.
Or maybe she did and chose not to say anything.
She pulled both of us into a hug, holding us tightly like she was afraid we might disappear again.
Her arms wrapped around us, warm and firm.
For a moment, everything else faded.
The past.
The confusion.
The unanswered question still hanging in the air.
Everything.
We stayed like that for a few seconds longer than necessary.
But no one pulled away.
“Are you both ready?” she asked softly after pulling back.
I nodded.
Hazel nodded too.
And just like that, the moment was gone.
Whatever Hazel wanted to say—
It stayed unsaid.
We were escorted downstairs like royalty.
Staff lined the hallway, standing neatly on either side, heads slightly bowed in respect as we passed.
No one spoke.
No one moved unnecessarily.
Everything felt… good.
Outside, luxury cars were already waiting.
Engines running quietly.
Doors opened the moment we stepped out.
Everything felt beautiful.
I held Zara closer against me as we stepped out into the night.
Her small body rested against mine, warm and peaceful.
She stirred slightly in my arms but didn’t wake.
Lucky her. She has been sleeping almost every minute now.
She didn’t have to feel the weight of tonight.
The drive to the main event hall within the estate was short.
Too short.
Because my heart refused to stay calm.
It kept racing.
Faster with every passing second.
My thoughts wouldn’t settle.
We arrived just as everything was about to begin.
Perfect timing.
Of course.
The entrance doors opened, and immediately, all eyes turned toward us.
Or rather—
Toward her.
Grandma.
She stood tall beside us, elegance and authority wrapped around her like a second skin.
Even without speaking, her presence commanded the entire room.
It was effortless.
Natural.
Untouchable.
“Stay close,” she murmured.
I did.
We all did.
And together, we walked in.
Like a family.
Like we had always been one.
The room was massive.
Filled with people dressed in wealth and power.
The air itself felt different.
Heavy.
Expensive.
Conversations quieted as we passed.
Eyes followed.
Judged.
Calculated.
I felt it all.
Every stare.
Every whisper.
Every silent question.
But I kept walking.
I didn’t stop.
I didn’t look away.
After the grand entrance, the music softened.
The room shifted.
The energy changed.
Grandma stepped forward.
And just like that, silence fell.
Complete silence.
“I want to make an announcement,” she said.
Her voice was calm.
Controlled.
But it carried through the entire room effortlessly.
No microphone needed.
No effort required.
My fingers tightened slightly around Zara.
“I have spent years building, protecting, and preserving my family,” she continued.
Her tone didn’t change.
Steady.
Measured.
“And tonight… I am honored to say that something very precious to me has been returned.”
A pause.
Long enough for anticipation to build.
Then—
“My granddaughter… who was taken from us… has finally come home.”
A ripple moved through the crowd.
Whispers.
Shock.
Curiosity.
I felt every single eye turn toward me.
It was instant.
Heavy.
My chest tightened.
My heart started pounding.
Loud.
Fast.
This was real.
This was happening.
There was no hiding now.
No going back.
Grandma turned slightly, her gaze settling on me.
“Emily.”
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay still.
To breathe.
To not react.
Then she continued—
“And soon… her place in this family will be fully secured.”
Something about her tone made my stomach drop.
Cold.
Unsettling.
I didn’t like the way that sounded.
Not at all.
“And her marriage,” she added calmly, “will be announced soon.”
Silence.
Complete silence.
Everything stopped.
My heartbeat—
Stopped.
Then slammed back harder.
Louder.
Faster.
Marriage?
My fingers tightened instinctively around Zara.
What?
My mind went blank.
I hadn’t agreed to anything like that.
I hadn’t even—
A sharp sound cut through the air.
Glass.
Shattering.
Loud.
Violent.
The sound echoed across the room, breaking through the silence like something snapping.
The entire room froze.
Every head turned at once.
My breath caught in my throat.
My body went still.
Slowly—
I lifted my head.
And looked up.
Is that… is that Ryan?