Semua Bab The bride he never choose: Bab 41 - Bab 50

Chapter 41: The Wedding DressThe mansion was silent.No one knew what to say.Victor had given us twenty-four hours.Twenty-four hours to choose between my best friend's life...And my future.I stood alone on the balcony.The cold night air couldn't calm the storm inside me."I knew I'd find you here."I didn't turn around.Damian."You should be resting."He walked beside me."I can't.""Neither can I."For a long moment, neither of us spoke.Then I whispered the words I had been afraid to say."What if I have to do it?"His head snapped toward me."No.""Damian—""No."His voice broke."I just got you back."I looked down."If marrying Lucien saves Benedicta—"He gently grabbed my shoulders."Look at me."I did.His eyes were filled with fear.Real fear.Not for himself.For me."You are not a sacrifice.""Do you hear me?""You are not a bargaining chip."Tears filled my eyes."But Benedicta—""We'll save her.""And if we fail?"He closed his eyes for a moment.Then he opened them

Chapter 43: Mine to Protect The room fell into a suffocating silence. Damian read the note again. His fingers slowly crushed the paper into a ball. David spoke first. "Victor knows exactly how to get under your skin." Damian's voice was ice cold. "He just made the biggest mistake of his life." I reached for his hand. "Damian..." He turned to me, and the anger in his eyes softened immediately. "I'm sorry." "You don't need to apologize." "I promised I'd protect you." "You are." He shook his head. "Not enough." He stepped closer until only a breath separated us. "From now on, no one gets near you unless I say so." I smiled. "You're being overprotective." "I know." "And you're not denying it?" "No." He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm completely possessive of the woman I love." My cheeks flushed. "Damian..." "I almost lost you." His voice dropped. "I'm never giving fate another chance." --- Lucien watched from acros

Chapter 41: The Wedding Dress The mansion was silent. No one knew what to say. Victor had given us twenty-four hours. Twenty-four hours to choose between my best friend's life... And my future. I stood alone on the balcony. The cold night air couldn't calm the storm inside me. "I knew I'd find you here." I didn't turn around. Damian. "You should be resting." He walked beside me. "I can't." "Neither can I." For a long moment, neither of us spoke. Then I whispered the words I had been afraid to say. "What if I have to do it?" His head snapped toward me. "No." "Damian—" "No." His voice broke. "I just got you back." I looked down. "If marrying Lucien saves Benedicta—" He gently grabbed my shoulders. "Look at me." I did. His eyes were filled with fear. Real fear. Not for himself. For me. "You are not a sacrifice." "Do you hear me?" "You are not a bargaining chip." Tears filled my eyes. "But Benedicta—" "We'll save

Chapter 47: Face to Face "So... it was you." My voice barely rose above a whisper. The man standing at the altar smiled calmly. He couldn't have been older than Damian. His charcoal-gray suit was perfectly tailored, and his piercing blue eyes held a confidence that was almost unsettling. Damian stepped in front of me immediately, shielding me with his body. His hand slid behind him until it found mine. He squeezed it firmly. A silent promise. I'm here. The stranger chuckled. "So protective." Damian's expression remained cold. "Who are you?" The man bowed slightly. "My name is Adrian Blackwood." "I work for Victor Hale." Victor laughed from beside the altar. "Work?" "Don't be modest, Adrian." "Tell them who you really are." Adrian's smile widened. "I'm the man who will inherit everything after Victor." Lucien frowned. "I've never heard of you." "You weren't supposed to." Adrian looked directly at Damian. "I've spent years cleaning up Victor's problems." "An

Chapter 49: Hold On to Me "Benedicta... what have you done?" Victor's voice cracked for the first time. Benedicta slowly raised her head. The fear in her eyes was gone. Instead, she smiled. "You always thought I was just Angela's best friend." She lifted her bound hands. A small silver key slipped from between her fingers. "While your men were busy watching Angela..." "...I unlocked my restraints." Victor's face darkened. "You little—" Before he could finish, Benedicta kicked the chair backward. It crashed into one of the armed men, throwing him off balance. "David!" she shouted. "Now!" Gunfire erupted. David's team burst through the side entrance while Richard's guards stormed in from the underground tunnel. The cathedral exploded into chaos. --- "Angela!" Damian's voice cut through the noise. I turned just in time to see Victor's men rushing toward me. Without thinking, Damian broke free from the guard holding him. Ignoring the pain from his injuries, he ran