6.

I entered my penthouse, the exhaustion from the day weighing heavily on my shoulders. The constant tasks of the past few days had drained me, and I was ready to escape into the soothing warmth of a long shower.

My sister’s wedding was tomorrow, and though I had given her all the jewelry she had demanded, I couldn't shake the restlessness in me. It had been like this for days. The constant reminders from my parents, the never-ending phone calls that didn’t seem to have any real meaning behind them.

I had grown used to it, but that didn’t stop the anxiety from creeping in every time my phone buzzed with another reminder of my place in this family.

I stepped into the bathroom, feeling the coolness of the tiles under my feet as the hot water hit my skin. The steady flow of water helped to ease my nerves, but the knot in my stomach refused to loosen.

As I washed off the lingering tension from my day, I couldn't stop thinking about Daniel.

He was about to marry Evelyn. My older sister. And here I was, trying so desperately to move on from the feelings I had for him. But it wasn’t easy.

Every time I saw him, my heart betrayed me. I hated that I still felt this way, especially now when it seemed like he was always around. But I had to deal with it. That’s what I told myself anyway.

Once I was finished in the shower, I stepped out, the steam swirling around the bathroom as I wrapped myself in a towel.

I stared at myself in the mirror, trying to find some semblance of confidence before facing the world outside this room. I pulled on some loose, comfortable clothes, hoping it would help to calm my nerves.

Then, my phone buzzed. The screen lit up with the caller ID showing my mother.

I frowned. That was odd. My parents never called me directly. It was always their assistant, or some other family member reminding me about things. But this was different.

I let it ring for a moment before I declined the call. It wasn’t like they ever actually wanted to talk.

They just wanted me to be there, to fulfill my role as the dutiful daughter. It was always about appearances.

But no sooner had I put my phone down than it buzzed again. This time, it was my father.

I sighed and declined that call as well. I wasn’t in the mood for their sudden interest. Not today.

I sat down on the couch, pulling a cushion to my chest, trying to settle my racing thoughts.

Evelyn’s wedding was tomorrow, and the weight of it all was crushing. I couldn’t help but think about the past few years—how everything had led to this moment.

Just as I was starting to lose myself in thought, there was a knock on the door.

It was sharp and insistent. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so I got up, my mind still foggy from my thoughts. I looked through the peephole and froze.

Daniel Hart stood on the other side of the door.

I didn’t know why he was here, but I wasn’t prepared for it. I wasn’t prepared to face him, not with everything that had been swirling in my mind. But before I could think any further, I opened the door.

He stood there, looking as cold and composed as always. There was a noticeable tension in the air, something different about him tonight. His eyes flickered over me before settling on my face, and his voice came out low.

“Is Evelyn here with you?”

I blinked, confused. “No, she isn’t,” I replied, my voice steady, though I felt the knot in my stomach tighten.

Daniel's expression darkened, just a little, but enough for me to notice.

“Try to locate her. I couldn’t find her anywhere.” He paused, his jaw tightening. “That’s why your parents were calling you. They’re concerned.”

I frowned. This was strange. Evelyn was always the one in control of her life, always doing her own thing, never letting anyone dictate her actions.

“She must be out with her friends,” I said, trying to shrug it off.

"Maybe at her bachelor party or something. You know how she is—she never listens to anyone. Always going over the top with everything.”

Daniel’s expression remained unchanged, but his eyes were harder now.

"No. She was here with me just yesterday. She’s gone now, and I can’t find her. Something’s not right, Vera.”

I shook my head, not buying into the panic in his voice, I knew Eveline, she couldn't have losen this marriage contract by any chance.

“Nothing could have happened to Evelyn. She’s smarter than you think. She’s more cunning than anyone realizes.”

Daniel’s eyes narrowed, the icy coolness of his stare unwavering. “You can’t just say no. You don’t know that for sure.” He stepped closer to me, his voice firm.

“She’s my fiancée, Vera. I need to know where she is.”

I stiffened at his words, the knot in my chest tightening even more.

"Oh, shut up. I know Evelyn more than you do,” I snapped, frustrated with his concern that felt more like an accusation.

“I’ve known her from the time I was born. You’re the one who’s coming after her now. I’ve been with her every step of the way. You’ve only known her for a few years. She’s fine, trust me.”

There was a brief pause where Daniel studied me, his eyes searching mine as if trying to read me. But I didn’t care. I knew my sister better than anyone.

He opened his mouth to speak again, but before he could, I cut him off. “You don’t get it, do you? You’ve been swept up in all this wedding nonsense, but Evelyn is not someone who just disappears. She’s always in control. Always.”

Daniel seemed to hesitate for a moment before speaking again, his voice softer this time. “I just want to make sure she’s okay.”

I crossed my arms, feeling a pang of irritation, my mood sourred, “She’s fine. You don’t need to worry about her. I know my sister, and if she doesn’t want to be found, she won’t be.”