Dn didn''t show up downstairs until the evening of the fourth day.


    The house staff rushed to bring him something to eat, but he barely touched it. After a few bites, he just sat there, staring out the window,pletely lost in thought. No one really knew what to say to him, so everyone just kept quiet and tiptoed around, trying not to disturb him.


    Later, he rolled his wheelchair out to thewn, stopping at a spot where the grass was patchy and uneven. ra used to y here-she''d tug at the grass, pulling it out without even realizing. Dn stared at that bare patch for ages, his mind somewhere far away, until he heard footsteps behind him.


    It was Aiden.


    Aiden sounded a little unsure. "Mr. Petersen, Mrs. Ferguson heard about ra going missing. She wants you to go to Tara''s wee party tonight."


    The Warren family had postponed everything after Ada''s funeral, but now the party was back on-right when ra was missing. To the families, the timing almost felt too convenient.


    Dn just gave a quiet, "Okay," his facepletely unreadable.


    Aiden followed him inside, then hesitated before saying, "You should try to eat a little more. If you pass out at the party, everyone in the Capital will be talking."


    People were already gossiping about his marriage to ra. He''d posted something on social media, but Mrs. Ferguson had brushed it off in public, calling it a joke. Everyone was watching tonight. Tara was definitely the star of the show.


    Dn waited until seven to finally head over to the Warren estate. By then, the ce was already lively and packed with guests.


    Tara herself came out to greet him.


    Her eyes lit up when she saw him. She leaned in, saying something softly, and they walked into the grand hall together. To everyone there, they looked like the perfect couple.


    Mrs. Warren watched them, clearly pleased. She gave Richard a pat on the back. "You and Dn are so close. Talk to him when you get a chance, will you? This marriage is practically a done deal—no need to make things difficult for anyone."


    Richard just smiled politely, swirling his wine. "I try, but he''s not a kid anymore. He should get to decide who he marries."


    He nced over at Dn.


    Dn looked pale that night, but with so many Warren elders around, he had to y along, epting drinks and making small talk. The family hierarchy was obvious. Tara stayed close to him, and when she saw how unwell he looked, she stepped in and took the drinks for him.


    "Dn hasn''t been feeling welltely. I''ll drink this one for him," she said smoothly.


    Someone nearby joked, "You''re not even married yet and you''re already taking his side!"


    Tara justughed easily, though she kept ncing at Dn out of the corner of her eye.


    Dn stayed quiet. After greeting the elders, he turned to Tara and asked, "Did I ever give you anything before?"


    Tara''s eyes sparkled with surprise. She stood behind his wheelchair and gently pushed him toward the elevator.


    "Oh, you gave me quite a few things. I thought you''d forgotten. If you''d like, I can show you."


    They got into the elevator together, leaving the crowd behind.


    The elders watched them go, smiling to themselves. In their minds, this marriage was already set in stone.


    Tara wheeled Dn into her room. The space was wide and carefully decorated. She opened a cab, rummaged around, and pulled out a few small boxes. "These are all from you," she said.


    Inside, each piece of paper had been folded into the shape of a ring-six in total.


    Dn picked up the box, but suddenly he didn''t want to look inside. It felt like a heavy weight pressing on his chest.


    Tara crouched down beside him. "Dn, you''ve been distant with me ever since you got sick, but I don''t me you. I was there once, when you lost control. I''ve never told


    anyone. I''ve kept your secret all this time."


    She had seen him at his worst-his


    eyes


    and fierce, like he''de


    back some dark ce,


    theoverme


    She''d known then that he was


    strugglin


    with something serious,


    something no heir was supposed to have. If anyone ever found out, it would be the end for him.


    But she never told.


    She''d been raised to never do anything that could hurt Dn.


    In her mind, she was the only one truly fit to be his wife.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!