CHAPTER 5
620 Words
In the days that followed, I was so angry with my parents that I refused to speak to them.
I couldn’t understand how they had allowed something like this to happen.
Two months after the agreement between our families, I gathered my friends—Camille and Stephan—in my room.
And for the first time… I told them everything.
Camille looked at me, unable to hold back her tears.
And I held her… as if she were the one who needed comfort.
Stephan, on the other hand, remained more composed.
Though he couldn’t stop himself from throwing a few insults at that i***t, Elijah… for the humiliation he had put me through.
Then Camille asked the question of the century:
—Hey… I can’t help but wonder, why did Mr. Hall decide to marry you to Elijah and not Elliot? Wouldn’t that make more sense? He’s the oldest.
I thought about it for a moment.
—Maybe… because Elijah is my age. Elliot is two years older than me.
But Stephan shook his head.
—That’s not it —he said firmly—. There’s something else.
And then… he told us what he knew.
Elliot was indeed the eldest son… but he had never been the favorite.
His parents, Amelia and Emmet, had been married for years before he was born. But Amelia’s pregnancy weakened their relationship. She was a fragile, sickly woman… and Emmet was not the kind of man who would stay and take care of her.
So he sought attention elsewhere.
With Rebecca.
By the time Elliot was born, his father was already completely focused on another woman.
And it stayed that way… until Amelia found out.
With her pride shattered, she left everything behind.
She moved abroad with her son before he turned one.
Some time later, Emmet married Rebecca…
and Elijah was born.
The favorite.
The center of everything.
Meanwhile, Amelia struggled for a while… until she married a widower named Adolf Lodbrok. He had children from his previous marriage, but they still welcomed Amelia and Elliot.
They weren’t rich… but they lived comfortably.
A quiet life.
Very different from the Halls.
But years later, pressured by his parents, Emmet went to look for Elliot.
He wanted him back.
To give him a better education.
To make him part of the family.
That’s how Elliot left Silveridge.
But his life… didn’t get any better.
The only real affection he receives comes from his grandparents, Theodore and Alice.
Because for Emmet and Rebecca…
only Elijah exists.
—So if they were going to arrange a strategic marriage —Stephan concluded—, it would never be for the inconvenient son… but for their treasure.
I remained silent.
—Right now, Elliot only has one advantage —he continued—: the affection of the old Halls. But his future… he’ll have to build it on his own.
He paused before adding:
—He has a difficult personality, sure… but with the life he’s had, that’s the least of it.
Stephan smirked with quiet confidence.
And Camille threw a pillow at him.
—Where do you even get all this information?
He shrugged.
—If there’s one thing I learned from my father… it’s that information is power. You have to know every detail about the important families in this circle. The more secrets, scandals, or hidden shame they have… the more leverage you gain.
Then he looked straight at me.
—You should learn that, Soph.
Especially if you have no choice but to get involved with that family.
Camille hugged me tightly.
—It’s okay… you’re not alone.
Stephan took my hand, trying to reassure me.
Or at least… that’s what I thought.
- Writer
