Novels by lilygeret

"Withdraw your wife from the Whitmore Gala."The words landed before the meeting had properly begun.Around the polished table, no one spoke.Julian finished signing the document in front of him before placing his pen aside."Say that again."One of the directors cleared his throat."One public mistake is all it takes. The restaurant incident has already done enough damage, and Lady Ashworth's table is the worst place to send someone inexperienced."Another director slid a printed report across the table."Let Beatrice represent the group instead. She knows the room. Mrs. Castellan doesn't."Julian glanced at the report but made no move to pick it up."Mrs. Castellan will attend."The answer was so calm that, for a moment, no one replied."Julian—"He rose from his chair, fastening his jacket with practiced ease."If anyone here would like to inform Lady Ashworth that the Castellan family is declining her invitation..." His gaze swept across the room. "You're welcome to do it yourselv

Stand up."Eva looked up from the guest list spread across her desk.Grandmother Isabella stood in the doorway, one hand resting on her cane, her expression as unreadable as ever."I beg your pardon?""You'll never survive the Whitmore Gala sitting down."Isabella stepped inside and quietly closed the door behind her.Her gaze shifted to the maid arranging dresses by the wardrobe."Give us a moment."The maid lowered her head and slipped out.Only when the door clicked shut did Isabella turn back to Eva."Stand."Eva rose slowly.Isabella circled her once, saying nothing.The silence lasted just long enough to make Eva wonder what the older woman had already noticed."Julian taught you names," Isabella said at last. "That's a good start."She stopped in front of Eva."Names won't matter if you walk into that ballroom asking permission to belong."Grandmother Isabella tapped the floor lightly with her cane."Straighten your shoulders."Eva did."Better.""Now walk to the window."Eva d

"The board moved tomorrow's emergency meeting to this afternoon."Leo stopped just inside the study, waiting until Julian finished signing the page in front of him.Only then did Julian speak."Why?""They've requested an immediate vote."The pen paused.Leo swallowed before continuing."Some of the directors believe your marriage is becoming a liability to Castellan Group."Silence settled over the room.Julian closed the file, set the pen aside, and finally looked up."What time?""Three o'clock.""Inform them I'll attend.""Sir... if the vote goes against you—""Then they can say it to my face."---Beatrice waited until breakfast was nearly over.Then she placed an ivory invitation beside Julian's coffee cup."The Whitmore Charity Gala is next week."No one reached for the invitation."The guest list is... selective," Beatrice continued. "Politicians, business leaders, old families. The Ashworth family personally requested our presence this year."Her gaze settled on Eva."I think

Julian opened the passenger door without a word.Eva remained rooted to the pavement. Cameras were still pointed at her from every angle, flashes bursting as strangers recorded, whispered, and turned her worst moment into tomorrow's headlines."Get in."His voice was quiet, but it sliced through the noise. There was no impatience, no anger—just certainty. The kind that left no room to argue.Eva glanced once at the sea of phones surrounding them.Then she slipped into the passenger seat.The door closed, shutting out the shouting outside.----The first few minutes passed in silence. Nothing but the soft tap of rain against the windshield and the steady hum of the engine.Eva stared out the window, her arms wrapped around herself. Sophie's voice wouldn't leave her alone.Congratulations on stealing my husband.Julian didn't ask why she'd left. He didn't mention the scandal already spreading online or question how she'd slipped past his security."Did she hit you?"Eva turned to him, ca

Beatrice didn't raise her voice.She never had to."Mrs. Castellan seems to have forgotten she's a guest in this family." She folded her hands in her lap, her gaze settling on the housekeeper waiting with her head bowed."Should I speak to her, ma'am?" the woman asked cautiously."No." Beatrice smiled, calm enough to make the answer worse. "Since she's so determined to defend the staff, perhaps it's time she learned how this house really works."The housekeeper hesitated, expecting another instruction.None came.Only that elegant smile that never reached Beatrice's eyes.The housekeeper curtsied and quietly left.---Eva couldn't stop thinking about the withdrawal slip.By mid-morning, she'd talked her way past the estate gates and climbed into a taxi. The address on the bank's letterhead was folded tightly in her hand.She needed answers.The bank manager welcomed her with a polite smile, but it disappeared the moment she explained why she'd come.He checked his computer before look

"Your marriage is becoming a liability."The words landed like a stone in still water.Nobody spoke.Julian didn't react. He kept his eyes on the report in front of him, turning a page as though nothing important had just been said. Around the table, however, every pair of eyes stayed fixed on him, waiting for the smallest crack."Explain," he said at last.His voice was calm. The board member cleared his throat. He was older, silver-haired, and carried himself with the quiet confidence of a man who had spent years waiting for the perfect chance to challenge a Castellan.He slid a folder across the polished table.Several newspaper clippings spilled out.Eva's face stared back from nearly every page.Replacement Bride.Run - away bride.Wedding Scandal.Headline after headline, stacked together like evidence waiting for a guilty verdict."Our shareholders have started asking questions," the man said, About the company's stability."Julian finally looked up."Is there a point," he aske