After my encounter with Derek Stone, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was sinking deeper into a game far more intricate than I had anticipated. This wasn't just about my arranged marriage anymore—it was about ancient alliances, rivalries, and hidden contracts. The more I learned, the more I realized I was nothing but a pawn, a piece to be moved across the board.
As I wandered through the corridors of the mansion, I found myself drawn toward the family's reception room. The door was slightly ajar, and I heard the low murmur of voices from within. Quietly, I approached and peeked through the gap. There, standing in the dimly lit room, was a familiar figure—**Sophia Carter**, my cousin.
Sophia had been distant since I arrived, cold and unwelcoming, her eyes always watching me with a strange intensity. Now, as I watched her speak in hushed tones with a man I didn't recognize, my suspicions grew. She exuded confidence, but beneath it, I could sense the simmering jealousy and anger she had kept hidden.
"Do you really think she can outshine me?" I heard **Sophia** say, her voice sharp with contempt. "Emma doesn't deserve to be the heir of this family. This was always supposed to be mine, and she's nothing but an intruder."
My heart tightened in my chest. Her words cut through me like a blade. I had known from the start that my presence here was unwanted, but hearing **Sophia** speak so openly of her hatred for me brought a cold sense of reality crashing down.
"Don't worry, Sophia," the man's voice was smooth, calculated. "We already have a plan in place. She won't last long. The Carter family's inheritance will still be yours, no one can take that from you."
Fear and disbelief washed over me. This wasn't just a rivalry between cousins—**Sophia** was plotting against me. Whoever this man was, he and **Sophia** had joined forces to undermine me and take back the position she believed was rightfully hers.
"And what about Derek Stone?" **Sophia** asked, her tone laced with suspicion. "His arrival complicates things. I'm not sure where his loyalties lie."
The mention of **Derek** made my pulse quicken. Of course, he was involved too. His sudden appearance, the cryptic warnings, everything about him had felt like a puzzle I couldn't quite solve. And now, it seemed even **Sophia** didn't trust him.
"Don't concern yourself with **Derek**," the man replied, his voice darkening with a hint of amusement. "He's playing his own game, but he's only using **Emma** as a pawn. He won't interfere with our plans."
My stomach churned, my mind spinning. Was **Derek** really using me? The man had spoken as though **Derek** had his own agenda, but it was becoming impossible to tell what was real and what was part of a larger manipulation. Every word **Derek** had said to me now felt suspect, every look, every warning. Was I truly nothing more than a tool for him, just as **Sophia** and this man believed?
I had heard enough. Slowly, I backed away from the door, careful not to make a sound. My mind was reeling with confusion and dread. I had known there would be opposition from the family, but I hadn't expected **Sophia** to be at the center of it. Nor had I anticipated that even **Derek**, who had seemed to offer me some semblance of truth, might be just another player in this deadly game.
I made my way back to my room, my steps heavy with the weight of what I'd overheard. My heart pounded in my chest, my thoughts racing. **Sophia** wasn't just a jealous cousin—she was actively plotting to sabotage me, and she wasn't alone. She had allies, plans, and a clear desire to reclaim what she believed was hers. And now, I had to wonder—who else could I trust? Could I even trust **Derek**?
Sitting on the edge of my bed, I stared out the window, the night closing in around the mansion. Everything I thought I understood was crumbling beneath me. My family was full of secrets, and I was caught in the middle of a battle I wasn't prepared for. **Sophia**'s words echoed in my mind, her venomous disdain for me feeding the fire of my growing anxiety.
But I couldn't let her win. I couldn't let her or this mysterious man—whoever he was—manipulate the situation to push me out. If I was to survive in this family, I needed to be stronger, smarter. I needed to uncover the truth of what was happening before it consumed me.
**Sophia** wasn't as harmless as she pretended to be. She had her own plans, and she was willing to go to any lengths to take back her position as the heir of the Carter family. And now, I had no choice but to become her enemy.
This family feud was far from over. It had only just begun.