All Chapters of Becoming Mrs. Blackwood: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

~ LENA ~I stood in front of the mirror, studying my reflection for what felt like the tenth time.Late afternoon sunlight spilled into the bedroom. Outside the tall windows, the sky had begun its slow shift toward evening. The room was quiet, and for a moment I stared at myself.The dress Nathan had helped me choose earlier lay smoothly against my skin, the white silk flowing down my body in soft, elegant lines. It was simple in a way that somehow made it look even more beautiful. The fabric skimmed over my hips and fell all the way to my ankles, catching the light every time I moved.The straps were what had first caught my attention when I saw it. They weren’t made of fabric. They were tiny pearls. Two delicate strands of pearls resting lightly on my shoulders, glimmering faintly each time the light touched them. Against the warm tone of my skin, the pale silk and pearls stood out sharply. The contrast was very flattering.I turned slightly to the side, studying the way the dress f

~ LENA ~Nathan set me down quickly.As my feet touched the floor, my heart was still racing, my body still caught in the moment we had just left behind. The feel of his hands, his lips, the warmth of him still clinging to my skin.But Deborah’s voice—the way it had sounded—sent a chill through me as I wondered what could be wrong. “Ashley!”By the time the scream came again, Nathan was already moving, already rushing to the door.I hurried after him, my heart beating so fast, my thoughts scattered as we rushed down the hallway toward the guest wing.I couldn’t even begin to guess what the problem was, but a heavy and ominous feeling had already begun to settle deep in my chest. And I just kept praying—silently, desperately—that it shouldn’t be anything terrible.Deborah’s voice didn’t stop. It guided us to where she was. It was loud, panicked, desperate—the kind of sound you only made when something was truly wrong.It was clear that Ashley was in trouble. I just didn’t know what so

~ LENA ~ “What do you mean?” The question slipped out of me immediately in a voice edged with confusion.Julian realized I’d heard him. He blinked, as though he was pulling himself back from wherever his thoughts had gone, then let out a sigh.“Ashley…” he began, his tone slower now, careful. “She used to have this condition when she was younger. Something with her heart. It caused irregular—”He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze shifting past me. I turned to look, and I saw Nathan walking towards us from the doctor’s office.Everything in me stilled. I held my breath, searching his face, but it gave nothing away. He looked calm, like he had forced everything back into place before stepping out here.“Nathan—” I took a step toward him.As he reached us, he took the hand I held out and held it warmly. His eyes moved quickly over my face, then shifted to Julian, acknowledging him silently before moving back to me again.“She’s stable now,”

~ LENA ~Was Ashley in love with her brother?I couldn’t get that out of my mind. And it wasn’t the first time I’d wondered along those lines.The thought unsettled me. Disgusted me. But at the same time… it explained too much.The question lingered in the back of my mind for the rest of the afternoon.By the time Ashley finally returned from the hospital, the sun had already begun disappearing behind the trees surrounding the Blackwood estate.Rosa hurried toward the front door the moment the familiar sound of tires crunching over gravel filled the quiet evening air. I followed closely behind her, my heart beating fast. Perhaps it was because I had grown accustomed to the silence around the house these past few days. Or maybe because I realized I was nervous about Ashley and Deborah coming back, since their stay had just been extended.The front door opened as Nathan stepped out of the black SUV. Cool evening air swept briefly into the mansion. Rosa and I moved to welcome them.Debor

~ LENA ~The next morning, I awoke to the faint sound of movement inside the bedroom.For a few seconds, I remained still beneath the sheets, blinking sleepily against the soft morning light spilling in through the curtains.Then my eyes drifted to the clock, and a shocked gasp flew from my lips.“Oh, my God.”My fingers curled tightly around the sheets as I stared at the time in horror. Nathan was resuming work this morning. How could I have overslept?It felt almost criminal to still be in bed this late. Especially when the man I’d married had clearly been awake for hours already.Nathan stood near the large window overlooking the gardens, fastening his wristwatch. He looked incredibly handsome in a dark grey suit, navy tie and crisp white shirt. His hair was still slightly damp from the shower, and the rich, clean scent of his cologne lingered in the air.Hearing me move, he glanced toward the bed and smiled immediately.“Morning, beautiful.”The endearment made my heart flutter. T