All Chapters of The Stolen Bridal Carriage: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

I stared at the diagnosis my brother had just shoved into my hands. The hospital's name was smudged past reading, and the corner bore a crooked, obviously forged stamp.How many times was this now, Lena getting sick? Stomach cancer last year. Bone cancer the year before that. Before that, it had been heart disease, leukemia, and depression.Even I could tell it was fake at a glance. I refused to believe our parents couldn't see it too.The drums and instruments of celebration rattled through the banquet hall, stabbing straight through my eardrums and into my chest.Megan Hayes stood beside me in the pale pink bridesmaid's dress I'd picked out for her with my own hands. Her voice was clipped with impatience."Take my advice and don't make a scene. You're from a small town, remember—marrying Nathan was already reaching above your station. If you humiliate him in front of everyone, don't be surprised when he really doesn't want you anymore."She glanced past me, into the hall."And

The crack of the slap sent my face snapping to one side, and a stinging heat spread fast across my cheek.I stared at Lena in disbelief.She struck a righteous pose. "Hazel, you can bully me all you like in private, but how could you talk to Mom and Dad like that?"My parents still had my hands pinned. I didn't even have the chance to dodge.The second slap landed just as hard as the first."That one was for Nathan. How could you humiliate him in front of all these people, with no regard for his reputation at all?"My cheek throbbed until it went numb, but the sting wasn't what got to me—it was how absurd the whole thing felt.I wrenched myself free of my parents' grip. Before I could even find my footing, Nathan's mother stormed over, her face twisted with disgust."Enough! Do you know what kind of occasion this is? You had to make a scene like this, with absolutely no sense of restraint. As if you were ever good enough to marry into the Sinclairs."The moment she turned to L

Once Lena's name was entered into the family Bible, tradition called for the whole family to return to the Bennett estate in Millbrook to pay their respects at the family cemetery.Just as everyone was getting ready to leave, my father frowned. "Where's Hazel?"The living room went quiet for a beat.Ryan glanced around. "Didn't she storm off in a mood this morning? She's still not back?"My mother set down what she was holding, frowning. "She's probably sulking in her room. Someone go get her—we need to leave."A member of the household staff went to check, then came back shaking her head. "Miss Hazel isn't in her room."Ryan's frown deepened. He pulled out his phone and called me.A flat, automated voice answered. "The number you have dialed is switched off."Once. Twice. A third time. Always the same.His expression darkened. "What's she playing at? Throwing a tantrum like a spoiled kid? Getting more disobedient the older she gets. She was better behaved as a child."My mot

Ryan stopped dead, his pupils shrinking."Lena?"He frowned and, without quite deciding to, followed after her.The exam room door wasn't shut all the way. Inside, Lena's voice came through, sharp with impatience."Hurry up and write me another note. Just say I'm about to die."The doctor had gone pale, sweat beading on his forehead. "Miss Bennett, I really can't write you another one. I've already forged that many records for you over the years—bone cancer, leukemia, depression. Every single one of them fake. If this ever comes out, my career is finished."Lena's expression darkened. "Fine, don't write it. Then I'll go report you myself, right now."The color drained from the doctor's face entirely.She smiled coldly. "Worst case for me, my family yells at me for a while. As for you, I can't promise the whole world won't hear about it. We'll see which hospital still wants you after that."His hand shook with fury, but he didn't dare call her bluff. After a long moment, he san

I only smiled a little."There's no need."Those few simple words drained the color from every one of their faces at once."What's done is done. I'm doing just fine now, so please, stop intruding on my life."My mother swayed on her feet and lunged forward to hug me. My father and Ryan both stepped closer too.That's when a figure moved between us.It was Daniel.Susan came right after him, pulling me tight against her side.My father's brow furrowed. "This is our family's business. What right do you two have to interfere?"Daniel's voice came out sharp and unyielding. "You wanted to make it up to her—you had your chance ten years ago. Did you take it? If we'd known you'd care this little about her, we never should have let her go with you in the first place!"Susan's temper, held back for so long, finally broke loose."We raised her, treasured her like the gem she is. We didn't hand her back to you so you could throw her away all over again!"Her voice rose higher with eve