His Other Bride

Chapter2

The applause began slowly .

Then it spread across the ballroom like a wave crashing against polished marble .

People clapped politely at first . Then louder . Smiles appeared across faces that looked eager to witness something important .

Eva stood near the balcony doors with Rebecca beside her . The sound echoed through the room while Lucian’s mother remained standing on the small stage .

Rebecca looked stunned .

“ Did she say my name ? ” she whispered .

Eva had heard it clearly .

Rebecca Sinclair .

The future bride of Lucian Castle .

The room filled with congratulations before Rebecca even moved . Guests began turning toward her with excited expressions . Several women whispered among themselves while others raised glasses in celebration .

Rebecca’s breath quickened .

“ Eva , I did not know about this . I swear I did not know . ”

Eva believed her .

Rebecca never hid anything important from her . Still , the speed of the announcement unsettled her . This had been planned long before tonight .

Lucian’s mother stepped down from the stage while guests surrounded her with praise . Her smile carried the satisfaction of someone whose plans had unfolded perfectly .

Across the ballroom Lucian Castle stood near the stage . He had not joined the applause . His eyes moved through the crowd until they landed on Eva again .

The moment stretched quietly between them . Eva felt the same strange tension she had felt earlier on the balcony .

He did not look happy .

He did not look surprised either .

He looked like a man watching a game whose outcome had already been decided .

Rebecca suddenly grabbed Eva’s hand .

“ They are looking at me . ”

Several guests had begun approaching them already . Eva squeezed her sister’s hand gently .

“ Then breathe and smile . It will calm them down . ”

Rebecca tried .

Her smile appeared nervous but sincere as people began congratulating her one after another .

“ What wonderful news . ”

“ The Castle family has excellent taste . ”

“ You will make a beautiful bride . ”

Eva stepped slightly back while Rebecca answered their greetings . Her eyes moved across the room again . Lucian had started walking toward them .

Guests parted instinctively to allow him through . His presence carried quiet authority that required no announcement .

Rebecca saw him coming .

Her nervous excitement returned immediately .

“ Oh no . He is coming here . ”

Eva leaned closer .

“ Of course he is . You are his future wife now . ”

Rebecca swallowed .

“ You stay with me . ”

Eva almost laughed .

“ Why would I stay for that conversation ? ”

Rebecca tightened her grip on Eva’s wrist .

“ Because I might faint if you leave me alone . ”

Eva sighed softly but remained beside her . Lucian reached them a moment later his gaze moved from Rebecca to Eva before settling on Rebecca again .

“ Miss Sinclair , ” he said calmly .

Rebecca nodded quickly .

“ Mr Castle . ”

Lucian glanced briefly toward the stage where his mother still spoke with guests .

Then he looked back at Rebecca .

“ I assume tonight’s announcement surprised you . ”

Rebecca laughed nervously .

“ That is one way to describe it . ”

Lucian studied her expression carefully .

“ Are you uncomfortable with the arrangement ? ”

Rebecca shook her head quickly .

“ No . I am only surprised . ”

Lucian nodded once .

“ Good . ”

His tone remained neutral .

Not warm . Not distant .

Just controlled .

Rebecca seemed too overwhelmed to notice . Eva noticed everything . Lucian turned slightly then .

His gaze settled on Eva again .

“ Miss Sinclair . ”

“ Mr Castle . ”

Their voices carried the same calm tension from the balcony conversation earlier .

Rebecca looked between them .

“ You two already met earlier tonight , right ? ”

Lucian answered first .

“ Briefly . ”

Eva nodded once .

“ Briefly . ”

Rebecca smiled with visible relief .

“ That is good . I was worried you two might not get along . ”

Lucian’s eyes remained on Eva .

“ I believe we understand each other well enough . ”

Eva raised one eyebrow slightly .

“ That depends on your definition of understanding . ”

Rebecca laughed nervously again .

“ Well , I hope you two become friends eventually . ”

Lucian did not answer immediately .

Instead he said something that made the tension between them shift again .

“ Friendship is not always necessary for family connections . ”

Eva heard the hidden meaning instantly but Rebecca just did not .

Rebecca looked toward the stage again where Lucian’s mother began calling several families forward to celebrate the engagement .

“ I think they want us over there , ” she said softly .

Lucian followed her gaze .

“ Yes . ”

Rebecca took a small step toward the stage but hesitated . She turned back toward Eva .

“ Come with me . ”

Eva shook her head .

“ This moment belongs to you . ”

Rebecca squeezed her hand again .

“ Please . ”

Eva hesitated .

Crowds and celebrations were never her favorite environments . But Rebecca’s hopeful expression made refusal difficult .

“ Fine , ” Eva said quietly .

They moved together toward the stage where Lucian’s mother waited . Guests continued congratulating Rebecca along the way . Several photographers positioned themselves nearby to capture the announcement for society pages .

Lucian walked beside Rebecca while Eva followed half a step behind .

Lucian’s mother greeted them with a proud smile .

“ Rebecca , my dear . Tonight marks the beginning of something wonderful . ”

Rebecca tried to appear confident .

“ Thank you , Mrs Castle . ”

The older woman turned briefly toward Eva . Her expression remained polite but distant .

“ And you must be the older sister . ”

Eva nodded .

“ Eva Sinclair . ”

“ Yes , of course . ”

Her tone suggested the conversation held little interest for her . Her attention quickly returned to Rebecca .

“ The engagement celebration will continue tonight , but we will begin wedding preparations immediately . ”

Rebecca blinked .

“ Immediately ? ”

Lucian’s mother smiled calmly .

“ A union between our families deserves careful planning . ”

Lucian remained silent beside them . Eva noticed his stillness . His posture looked relaxed . His eyes looked distant .

Rebecca laughed nervously again .

“ I suppose I will need some time to understand everything . ”

Lucian’s mother placed a gentle hand on Rebecca’s shoulder .

“ You will adjust quickly . ”

Then her gaze shifted toward Lucian .

“ Won’t she ? ”

Lucian looked down at Rebecca .

“ I believe she will . ”

The photographers asked them to stand closer together . Rebecca moved beside Lucian while cameras flashed repeatedly .

Eva stepped back into the crowd again watching from a distance felt easier . Lucian’s attention returned to her almost immediately .

Even while standing beside Rebecca .

Even while posing for photographs .

Eva felt his gaze from across the room . The same quiet awareness passed between them again . Moments later Rebecca finished the photographs and returned to Eva .

Her excitement had finally replaced her earlier shock .

“ Can you believe this ? ” she whispered .

Eva studied her sister’s glowing expression .

“ It seems the entire room believes it . ”

Rebecca laughed .

“ This is crazy . I came tonight expecting nothing and suddenly I am engaged to one of the most powerful men in the city . ”

Eva watched Lucian across the ballroom again . He stood speaking with several guests his expression looked exactly the same as before .

Controlled .

Detached .

Rebecca followed Eva’s gaze .

“ He seems quiet , ” she said softly .

“ He always seems quiet , ” Eva replied .

Rebecca looked thoughtful for a moment .

“ Do you think he is unhappy about the engagement ? ”

Eva considered the question carefully .

“ I think he is used to making decisions that benefit his family . ”

Rebecca frowned slightly .

“ That does not answer the question . ”

Eva turned back toward her sister .

“ Does it matter right now ? ”

Rebecca hesitated , then she smiled again .

“ I suppose not . ”

Music from the orchestra changed to a softer melody . Guests resumed conversations while waiters carried trays of drinks through the crowd .

The engagement celebration had begun .

Rebecca moved away to speak with their parents again . Eva remained near the edge of the ballroom . She preferred watching .

Across the room Lucian ended his conversation with a group of businessmen then he began walking toward her again .

Eva noticed immediately . She stayed where she was .

Lucian stopped a few feet away .

For several seconds neither of them spoke . Finally he said quietly ,

“ Congratulations to your sister . ”

Eva crossed her arms lightly .

“ I will pass the message along . ”

Lucian studied her face .

“ You do not seem pleased about the engagement . ”

Eva met his gaze calmly .

“ My feelings about the engagement are irrelevant . ”

“ I disagree . ”

Eva tilted her head slightly .

“ Why would my opinion matter to you ? ”

Lucian answered without hesitation .

“ Because you are the only person in this room who is not pretending tonight . ”

Eva almost smiled .

“ That still does not explain why it matters . ”

Lucian stepped slightly closer .

The distance between them shrank enough for Eva to notice the faint scent of his cologne .

“ I prefer honesty , ” he said quietly .

Eva’s voice remained calm .

“ Then here is honesty . I think this engagement will become complicated . ”

Lucian’s eyes darkened slightly .

“ Complicated how ? ”

Eva glanced toward Rebecca across the ballroom .

Her sister laughed happily while speaking with their parents .

Then Eva looked back at Lucian .

“ Because neither of you look like people who know each other well enough to marry . ”

Lucian held her gaze for several seconds .

Then he said something that made Eva’s stomach tighten slightly .

“ You are observant . ”

Eva waited . Lucian continued quietly .

“ But you made one mistake in your observation . ”

“ Which one ? ”

His voice lowered .

“ I know exactly what kind of woman I am marrying . ”

Eva’s eyes narrowed slightly .

“ And what kind of woman is that ? ”

Lucian’s answer came slowly .

Carefully .

“ Not the one I am standing in front of right now . ”

The meaning settled between them .

Eva’s expression hardened .

“ Then you should stop standing here . ”

Lucian did not move . Instead he said something that changed the air between them again .

“ Because tonight I realized something unexpected . ”

Eva waited .

Lucian’s voice remained calm .

“ I dislike you more than anyone I have met in a long time . ”

Eva almost laughed .

“ The feeling is mutual . ”

Lucian nodded slightly .

Then he added the sentence that made Eva’s pulse slow for a moment .

“ And yet you are the only person in this room I want to keep talking to . ”

Eva stared at him .

Before she could answer Rebecca’s voice suddenly called from across the ballroom .

“ Eva ! ”

Both of them turned .

Rebecca stood near the stage again beside Lucian’s mother . She waved excitedly .

“ They want to show me the engagement ring ! Come here ! ”

Eva exhaled slowly . Lucian stepped back .

“ Your sister is waiting . ”

Eva nodded once .

She walked toward Rebecca .

Behind her Lucian remained standing exactly where he was watching her go .

Eva reached the stage a moment later .

Lucian’s mother opened a small velvet box in front of Rebecca .

Inside rested a diamond ring that sparkled under the chandelier lights . Rebecca gasped softly .

“ It is beautiful . ”

Lucian’s mother smiled proudly .

“ A Castle bride deserves nothing less . ”

Rebecca looked overwhelmed .

“ May I try it ? ”

“ Of course . ”

Lucian’s mother placed the ring carefully on Rebecca’s finger .

The diamond caught the light brilliantly . Guests nearby applauded again .

Rebecca laughed with excitement .

“ Eva look at this ! ”

Eva stepped closer . The ring looked expensive enough to purchase a house .

Rebecca admired it happily .

“ I cannot believe this is real . ”

Eva forced a small smile .

“ It suits you . ”

Rebecca hugged her quickly .

“ Thank you for staying tonight . I know you hate events like this . ”

Eva returned the hug gently .

“ For you , I can survive one evening . ”

Rebecca laughed again .

Across the room Lucian still watched them . Andalia Castle stood beside him now , she had been observing the entire evening quietly . Her sharp eyes moved between Lucian and Eva .

Then she said something that made Lucian glance at her .

“ That woman will become a problem . ”

Lucian did not look away from Eva .

“ Which one ? ”

Andalia smiled slightly .

“ You already know the answer to that question . ”

Lucian remained silent .

Across the ballroom Eva felt the same strange sensation again . The feeling that something had already begun moving beneath the surface of this engagement .

Something quiet .

Something dangerous .

And she had the unsettling feeling that she had already become part of it .