?Chapter 1261:


    Nina’s lips twisted into a cutting smile, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. “Well, isn’t this lovely? My dear cousin, the blushing bride of tomorrow. Happiness truly does wonders for one’s skin. That glow of yours—Marc must be doing a fine job looking after you.”


    She drew out Marc’s name with deliberate sharpness, each sybleced with venom. Her gaze raked over Ste like a de. “You’ve really found your happy ending, haven’t you? Ready to dive headfirst into it without hesitation. That kind of optimism is something I could never imitate.”


    Every word dripped with malice and hidden thorns, yet she trod carefully, never once bringing up William.


    That name was a sealed curse. If uttered, chaos would follow, tearing through Ste’s wedding ns and inviting Arlo’s fury—something Nina didn’t dare risk.


    Nina could only release her bitterness through those thinly veiled jabs.


    Startled by the bite in her cousin’s voice, Ste furrowed her brows in puzzled silence.


    Ste couldn’tprehend the reason behind her cousin’s hostility. They had barely met, yet the disdain in Nina’s eyes was unmistakable.


    Was it jealousy over the wedding? Or was Nina simply the kind of person who found fault in others’ happiness?


    Determined to stay polite, Ste steadied her voice, though the warmth in it had cooled. “Thank you for your concern, cousin. Marc and I made this decision after careful consideration. We’re truly grateful to have found each other.”


    Seeing Ste’s bright, carefree smile made something twist in Nina—it grated on her nerves until it hurt. She was about to fire back with something cruel, but Lance’s irritated cough cut her off.


    “Nina, you’ve only juste back. That’s enough for now. Ste needs to rest—she has an early day tomorrow.”


    The authority in Lance’s voice left no room for defiance. Though he clearly recognized who had stirred the tension, he masked it behind calm restraint, unwilling to expose Nina in front of Ste.


    Fresh updates loaded gα?ησν????s?c?m


    Nina bit down on her lower lip, her re cutting sharply toward Ste before she swallowed the words burning on her tongue. With a cold, dismissive snort, she seized her suitcase and marched upstairs.


    Her retreat left behind a trail of frost that lingered in the air.


    Ste watched her go, unsettled by the bitterness radiating from her cousin’s back.


    She couldn’t make sense of Nina’s hostility. Was Nina afraid she might steal attention now that she’d returned? But that seemed absurd—after all, she was marrying soon and would no longer be part of the Carter family.


    As Nina’s figure vanished at the top of the stairs, Ste’s confusion slowly gave way to the warmth of excitement. The thought of tomorrow’s wedding brightened her heart again.


    Turning toward Karson and Lance, she offered a reassuring smile. “Nina must be tired from the trip. Maybe that’s why she seemed upset. Don’t worry, I didn’t take it personally.”


    She resumed her seat beside her grandfather, her tone lively as she spoke of theing ceremony—the order of events, the decorations, and what needed attention at each stage.


    Her mind was already lost in the sweetness of her imagined future, unaware that everything she cherished was nothing but a carefully woven lie—and that Marc’s affection was built entirely on deceit.


    .


    .


    .