The dining hall had grown eerily quiet after Emma’s grandfather laid out the weight of her inheritance. The wine glasses shimmered under the soft glow of the chandelier, but Emma hardly noticed. She sat frozen, staring at her grandfather while trying to process his words. Next in line. Duchess. Title. Her mind was a whirlpool of confusion and disbelief.
She finally found her voice, though it came out shaky. “I know you said you wanted me to live a normal life, but why now? Why did no one tell me about this until now? I’m 18—I’ve lived my entire life thinking I was just…normal.”
Her mother sighed, her elegant composure faltering slightly. “Emma, it wasn’t an easy decision to keep this from you. Yes, your father and I wanted you to have a normal upbringing, away from the pressures and expe
