Chapter 1

My sister and I were set to marry on the same day, but a mix-up in the wedding procession led her to my fiancé's home instead of me. I, however, was delivered to a mansion shrouded in eerie tales—where three brides met untimely fates.

The next morning, my fiancé, Chris, arrived with my sister, Aurora, hanging on his arm. His voice was cold as he declared, 'I overdid it last night. What’s done is done; you’ll just have to accept it.' Aurora flaunted the marks on her shoulder and whined, 'I know you must hate me, sister... But it’s destiny, you see. And though Izaiah might be older, not your typical charming prince, and rumored to be cursed, perhaps it’s fate that you’re paired, given your blindness.'

I remained silent.

Grandpa had reasons to believe Aurora should wed that notorious prince with the vanished wives—she accepted without hesitation. Little did she know, it was I who was prepared for the ordeal.

...

Post-wedding, my family hosted a reception to thank the guests. While I was in my hotel room, getting ready, Chris barged in and snatched the pearl bracelet from my wrist.

'What are you doing?' I confronted him.

He retorted with frustration, 'You’re so dull; such a stunning bracelet shouldn’t be wasted on you. Aurora deserves it more.'

I reached to reclaim it, but he evaded, causing me to tumble. He didn’t even glance my way, just carefully placed the bracelet on Aurora’s wrist.

Chris, orphaned during my grandfather’s wartime, was taken in by my family at ten. We grew up together, and all presumed he’d be my future husband. That was until my father introduced Aurora, his illegitimate child, into our lives.

From then on, Chris changed, always around Aurora, treating me with cold indifference and biting sarcasm. He accused me of being naive to life’s harshness, claiming only Aurora understood the pain of 'living under someone else’s roof.'

Before Grandpa passed, Chris coldly refused to visit. When I urged him to think again, he snapped, 'Do I owe him? Just because he raised me, am I to be eternally grateful? I’m nobody’s pet!'

Indeed, some pets never learn loyalty.

Now, my bespoke gown was worn by Aurora, and the jewels intended for me were hers. Chris tossed a dress at me, 'Wear this; it’s more your style.' It was worn and faded, with a broken zipper.

Aurora offered to help me dress, pretending to struggle with the zipper, 'Sister, have you put on weight? The zipper won’t budge...'

I stood in silence.

I knew resisting would provoke a scene, accusing me of pushing her. Seeing I wouldn’t engage, she halted her act and stood by, uneasy.

Calmly, I rose and stepped out in the tattered dress.

The hotel ballroom was aglow with chatter. Upon my entrance, silence briefly fell before whispers began:

'Is that Nellie Jenkins? Looking like that?'

'Shh, isn’t she blind? Why isn’t anyone assisting her?'

'Her husband is Chris Gray, right? But Mr. Gray wed the younger sister...'

'Well, it makes sense. One’s a disaster, the other young and lovely; I’d choose the younger one too.'

Chris approached with a glass of wine, glanced at me, and remarked, 'Blind girl can’t find her way; better not wander, or you might break something, and no one’s paying for it.'

His tone made it clear the Jenkins family was under his control.

As I was about to reply, Aurora appeared, weeping. Her dress was torn.

She clung to Chris’s sleeve, crying, 'Sister just ruined my dress...'

Chris’s face darkened as he shoved me roughly.

'What’s your problem? Because there was a mix-up at the wedding, you want to disgrace her?'

'I was going to spare your dignity and call you Mrs. Gray in front of everyone. Now, forget it.'

'Just because you’ve had a cushy life, and now you face hardship, you want to bring her down? Aurora has always lived in your shadow; what has she ever done to you?'

Living in my shadow?

I couldn’t help but laugh.