The next morning dawned clear and bright, the golden sunlight streaming through my windows as I sat at the small vanity, brushing my hair. The day stretched ahead of me, promising more rituals, more duties, and more of the suffocating attention I had grown to loathe. I barely had time to breathe before a knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts.
“Come in,” I called, trying to calm my raging nerves.
The door opened to reveal a young woman with vibrant hazel eyes and a mischievous smile. Stefano’s sister, Claudia, stepped into the room, her presence immediately charging attention. She was dressed in a flowing gown that seemed too casual yet effortlessly elegant, her auburn hair surging in soft waves down her back.
“Good morning, future sister-in-law,” Claudia chirped, her tone light an
