His Other Bride

Eva Sinclair knew she had made a mistake the moment she stepped into the ballroom . The sound reached her first . Music from a live orchestra flowed through the air while voices overlapped in polished laughter and rehearsed politeness . Crystal chandeliers hung above the crowd like frozen stars . The light from them reflected against polished marble floors and glass walls that overlooked the dark river beyond the estate . Everywhere Eva looked she saw silk dresses, tailored suits, and people who belonged to a world she never trusted . Her heels slowed as she moved forward through the entrance hall . A waiter passed by carrying silver trays filled with champagne glasses . Another guest brushed against her shoulder while greeting someone loudly across the room . None of them noticed her discomfort . None of them cared . “ Eva . ” Rebecca’s voice came from behind her . Eva turned slightly as her younger sister caught up beside her, cheeks glowing with excitement and nervous energy . Rebecca Sinclair looked like she belonged in the room . Her soft brown hair had been styled into gentle waves that framed her face . The pale blue gown she wore shimmered under the chandelier lights . She looked happy . That alone explained why Eva had agreed to come tonight . “ You are already judging everyone . I can see it on your face , ” Rebecca said quietly . Eva glanced toward the ballroom again . “ I am observing . There is a difference . ” Rebecca laughed softly . “ That is the polite way of saying you do not like them . ” Eva did not answer immediately . Her gray eyes moved slowly across the crowd again . Groups of powerful families stood in small circles discussing business, politics, and influence . Everything about the event felt calculated . “ These people smile too easily , ” Eva said at last . “ Nobody here means half the things they say . ” Rebecca nudged her arm gently . “ That is how social events work . Not everyone is suspicious like you . ” Eva allowed herself a small smile at that . Rebecca had always been the softer one between them . Kind . Trusting . Hopeful about people . Eva had learned long ago not to share that optimism . “ Come on , ” Rebecca said . “ Mom and Dad are already inside . They want us to greet the hosts . ” Eva sighed quietly but followed her sister deeper into the ballroom . The event had been advertised as a charity gala hosted by the Castle family . Everyone in the region knew the name . The Castle family owned companies that stretched across industries . Finance . Construction . Shipping . Influence followed them everywhere . Eva had never met any of them before tonight . She hoped to keep it that way but fate rarely listened to quiet wishes . Across the ballroom the large doors opened again . The room shifted instantly . It was subtle at first . A quiet ripple moved through the conversations . Voices softened . Several heads turned toward the entrance at the same time . Rebecca noticed it too . “ I think the hosts just arrived , ” she whispered . Eva followed the direction of the crowd’s attention . Three figures stepped through the doorway . An elegant older woman led the group with controlled confidence . Her dark hair had been styled perfectly and every movement carried authority . Behind her walked a tall man whose presence silenced half the room without effort . Lucian Castle . Eva did not know his name yet . But she knew immediately he was the reason the room had changed . He moved through the crowd with calm precision . His black suit fit perfectly against his broad shoulders . Dark hair rested neatly above sharp features that looked carved from stone . People greeted him with respect that bordered on caution . He acknowledged them with brief nods and polite words . Nothing about him looked warm . Rebecca leaned slightly closer to Eva . “ That must be Lucian Castle , ” she murmured . Eva studied him quietly . Power surrounded him the same way expensive cologne surrounded the other guests . Invisible but impossible to ignore . Lucian paused beside his mother while several influential guests greeted them . His posture remained relaxed yet distant as if he had seen hundreds of events like this and grown bored of them all . Then his gaze moved across the room . For a brief moment his eyes met Eva’s , she felt the contact immediately . There was no recognition in his expression . Only quiet assessment . Eva held his gaze without flinching , she refused to look away first . A few seconds passed before Lucian turned his attention back to the guests speaking with him . Rebecca exhaled softly beside her . “ He looks intimidating . ” Eva crossed her arms lightly . “ He looks arrogant . ” Rebecca rolled her eyes . “ You have not even spoken to him yet . ” Eva looked toward the crowd again . “ I do not need to . ” Their parents appeared beside them a moment later . “ Girls , there you are , ” their mother said with relief . “ We are going to greet the Castle family . Stay close . ” Eva almost protested . Rebecca was already moving forward . The Sinclair family joined the flow of guests approaching the hosts near the center of the ballroom . Lucian stood beside his mother while she spoke with various families . His expression remained polite but distant . Rebecca’s nervous excitement grew more visible with each step . Eva noticed . “ You look like you are about to meet a king , ” Eva whispered . Rebecca smiled . “ Maybe I am meeting my future . ” Eva raised an eyebrow at that but said nothing more . Their parents reached Lucian’s mother first . Pleasantries were exchanged . Names introduced . Hands shaken . Eva listened quietly while her parents spoke about the charity foundation and their long admiration for the Castle family’s work . Then Lucian’s mother turned her attention toward the daughters . Her eyes settled on Rebecca first . “ And these must be your daughters , ” she said smoothly . Rebecca stepped forward . “ Rebecca Sinclair . It is an honor to meet you . ” Lucian’s mother studied her for a moment before smiling . “ A pleasure , Rebecca . ” Her gaze then shifted to Eva . “ And you are ? ” “ Eva Sinclair . ” The older woman nodded slowly . “ Lovely to meet you both . ” Lucian finally spoke . “ Good evening . ” His voice carried quiet authority . Calm . Controlled . Rebecca looked slightly flustered under his attention but Eva remained still . Lucian’s eyes lingered on her a moment longer than expected . Then he spoke again . “ You seem uncomfortable here , Miss Sinclair . ” Eva tilted her head slightly . “ Observant . ” Lucian’s expression did not change . “ Most people enjoy these events . ” “ Most people enjoy pretending , ” Eva replied calmly . Rebecca shifted nervously beside her . Lucian studied Eva again . A faint hint of amusement touched his eyes . “ And what do you believe people are pretending about tonight ? ” Eva glanced briefly around the ballroom . “ Generosity . Friendship . Interest in charity . ” Several guests nearby fell silent . Lucian’s mother looked displeased . Lucian remained calm . “ That is a cynical view . ” “ That is an honest one . ” The silence between them stretched slightly longer this time . Finally Lucian spoke again . “ Interesting . ” Rebecca gently touched Eva’s arm . “ Eva , maybe we should get some air . ” Eva nodded once and stepped away with her sister . They walked toward the balcony doors at the far end of the ballroom . Cool night air greeted them outside . Rebecca sighed . “ You could try being polite for five minutes . ” Eva leaned against the balcony railing . “ I was polite . ” Rebecca laughed quietly . “ Not by normal standards . ” Inside the ballroom Lucian Castle watched the balcony doors close behind the two sisters . His mother spoke beside him but he barely heard her words . His attention remained on the woman who had challenged him without hesitation . Few people spoke to him that way . Almost none looked at him without admiration or caution . Eva Sinclair had done both . Lucian turned slightly toward his mother . “ Who are the Sinclairs ? ” She glanced toward the balcony briefly . “ Respectable family . Why ? ” Lucian looked back toward the doors again . “ No reason . ” Across the balcony Eva felt a strange sensation . The feeling of being watched . She turned slowly toward the ballroom doors . Lucian Castle stood inside the room , his gaze fixed directly on her through the glass . Eva did not look away neither did he . Several seconds passed before he began walking toward the balcony . Rebecca noticed too . “ He is coming out here . ” Eva straightened slightly . The doors opened . Lucian stepped onto the balcony . The music from the ballroom softened behind him . For a moment the three of them stood in silence under the cool night sky . Then Lucian looked directly at Eva . His voice calm . Measured . “ Miss Sinclair , I believe we started our conversation badly earlier . ” Eva crossed her arms lightly . “ I believe we did not start one at all . ” Lucian’s eyes held hers steadily . “ Then let us begin properly . ” He paused a moment before continuing . “ I have already formed an opinion about you tonight . ” Rebecca glanced nervously between them . Eva’s expression remained calm . “ And what opinion would that be ? ” Lucian’s answer came without hesitation . “ I do not like you . ” The quiet certainty in his voice carried through the night air . Rebecca looked shocked but Eva stared at him for a long moment . Then she smiled slowly . And said the words that would begin everything . “ Good . Because the feeling is mutual . ” Behind them inside the ballroom Lucian’s mother stepped onto the small stage prepared for announcements . Her voice echoed through the hall . “ Ladies and gentlemen , may I have your attention for an important announcement regarding the future of the Castle family . ” Eva turned toward the doors . Lucian’s expression remained unreadable . Then his mother spoke the next words loudly enough for the entire room to hear . “ Tonight we celebrate the beginning of a new alliance between the Castle family and the Sinclair family . ” Eva’s breath caught slightly . Rebecca stepped closer to the balcony doors . Lucian watched Eva carefully . Inside the ballroom his mother continued . “ My son Lucian Castle has chosen the woman who will become his future bride . ” The room fell silent . Rebecca’s hand trembled slightly as she reached for the door handle . Eva turned slowly toward Lucian again , his eyes remained fixed on her and for a brief second she felt the strange certainty that something had already gone terribly wrong . Behind them the ballroom doors opened . Rebecca stepped inside to hear the announcement clearly . Eva followed one step behind her . The entire crowd watched the stage . Lucian’s mother raised her hand toward the Sinclair family then she spoke the name of the woman Lucian Castle would marry . And Eva felt the ground shift beneath her feet as the crowd erupted in applause .