The bride he never choose のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 20

SECRETS THAT REFUSE TO STAY BURIEDI couldn't breathe.The room was so quiet that I could hear the soft clink of a champagne glass somewhere behind me."And your mother sends her regards."Vivian's words echoed in my head.My mother?I frowned."What did you just say?"Before Vivian could answer, Damian stepped between us."That's enough."His voice was cold.Colder than I'd ever heard it.Vivian smiled, completely unfazed."Still trying to protect people, Damian?""I'm warning you.""And I'm not afraid of your warnings anymore."I looked from one of them to the other."What is going on?"Neither of them answered.The silence was unbearable."Damian," I said firmly. "Who is she?"He closed his eyes for a second before opening them again."Someone from my past."Vivian laughed."Just your past?"She folded her arms."That's an interesting way to describe the woman who almost became your wife."My heart stopped.Almost......his wife?I turned slowly to Damian.He didn't deny it.He sim

Behind the Locked DoorThe doorknob stopped moving.I held my breath.My heart pounded so loudly I was certain whoever was outside could hear it.Then—Bang!Something slammed against the door.I stumbled backward.Another hit.The solid wooden door groaned under the impact."Damian!" I whispered, though I knew he couldn't hear me.A third blow shook the entire room.Whoever was outside wasn't trying to knock.They were trying to break in.My eyes darted around the study, searching for anything I could use to defend myself.A heavy bronze statue sat on a bookshelf.I grabbed it with both hands.The footsteps outside stopped.Silence.A terrifying silence.Then a man's voice came through the door."Miss Angela."I froze."We're not here to hurt you."I didn't answer."If Mr. Carter told you to hide, then he's lying to you."My grip tightened on the statue."We only want to ask you a few questions.""Liar!" I shouted.The man chuckled."Very brave."His footsteps faded away.I waited.O

Chapter 15: The Enemy Behind the Curtain My mind raced. "They're after revenge." Vivian's words echoed through the room. I stared at her. "Who are they?" She hesitated. "For years, Damian's father believed he had destroyed every person who stood against him. He was wrong." David folded his arms. "Stop speaking in riddles." Vivian sighed. "The man you're looking for is named Victor Hale." The name meant nothing to me. But the moment Vivian said it, David's face turned pale. "No..." Vivian nodded. "Yes." "He was supposed to be dead." "So was I." Silence filled the room. I looked between them. "Will someone please tell me what's happening?" Vivian turned to me. "Twenty years ago, Victor Hale and Damian's father built Carter Holdings together. They were partners... until greed tore them apart." "What happened?" "Damian's father wanted complete control." "And Victor?" "He refused to sell." "So?" Vivian lowered her eyes. "Victor's wife died in what was called a

Chapter 17: Between Life and Death The ambulance doors slammed shut. "Pulse is dropping!" The paramedic pushed me gently aside as they surrounded Damian. "Sir, can you hear me?" No response. The monitor let out a sharp, rhythmic beep. I stood frozen, my hands stained with his blood. Blood. So much blood. "Miss, we need room to work," one of the paramedics said. I nodded, but my feet refused to move. Damian looked so still. Nothing like the confident man who had always seemed untouchable. --- The hospital corridors blurred as the stretcher disappeared through the emergency room doors. A nurse stopped me. "You can't go any farther." "But—" "I'm sorry." The doors swung shut. The red EMERGENCY SURGERY light flickered on. I sank into one of the waiting room chairs, unable to stop staring at the blood on my hands. It should have been me. He took that bullet because of me. David sat beside me without saying a word. Minutes later, Vivian arrived. For once, the fearl

Chapter 18: A Stranger in His Eyes "Who are you?" The words shattered me. For a moment, I couldn't breathe. I searched Damian's face, hoping this was some kind of joke. It wasn't. His eyes were empty. They looked at me the way you look at a complete stranger. The doctor gently guided me away from the bed. "Miss Angela, please give us a moment." I shook my head. "He knows me. He has to know me." The doctor sighed. "Head trauma and severe blood loss can sometimes cause temporary memory loss." "Temporary?" "We won't know until we run more tests." I watched as the nurses examined Damian. He answered every question correctly. His full name. His birthday. The date. But whenever they asked about the last few months... He frowned. "It's all blank." The doctor scribbled something in his chart. "Mr. Carter, do you remember being kidnapped?" "No." "Do you remember being shot?" "No." He glanced toward me again. "And I don't know who she is." Those words hurt more th