Chapter 1 — Prologue: A Promise Sealed

Third Person

The late afternoon sun bathed the Stone Estate in a golden haze, its sprawling gardens and marble fountains shimmering with an almost ethereal glow. The estate, a monument to wealth and power, had never looked so beautiful—or so suffocating. The air carried the faint scent of roses mingled with freshly mown grass, though the sterile polish of the grand estate lingered underneath, a reminder of its cold perfection.

Amelia stood alone in the bride’s suite, a stately room with high, vaulted ceilings and gilded mirrors reflecting every detail of her transformation—an ordinary girl turned into a vision of elegance. Her auburn hair had been swept into an intricate chignon, though a stubborn curl had escaped to rest against her temple. The diamond earrings Callum had gifted her sparkled against her skin, their brilliance dazzling even in the soft light. She reached up to touch them, her fingertips brushing over their flawless surface. They were extravagant, far beyond anything she could have imagined owning before she met him, and their weight felt heavy—not just physically, but with expectation.

Her fingers instinctively moved to her mother’s locket hanging around her neck, the tarnished silver cool against her skin. The contrast between the earrings and the locket was striking—one a symbol of her new, glittering world, the other a tether to the life she had always known. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if she could truly belong in both places or if one would inevitably consume her.

The soft murmur of voices and the melodic hum of a string quartet drifted through the air, blending with the faint clink of champagne glasses from the reception below. Amelia closed her eyes briefly, allowing the sounds to settle around her, though they brought little peace. Instead, they underscored the surreal nature of her surroundings, a world she had stepped into but didn’t fully understand.

A knock at the door broke her reverie, and she turned, her heart quickening. A moment later, her younger brother, Harry, poked his head inside. His sandy brown hair was slightly tousled, as though he’d been running a hand through it nervously.

“Amelia,” he said softly, stepping into the room. “You look... stunning.”

Amelia felt her throat tighten as she took in the sight of him. Harry, in his crisp suit and tie, looked every bit the supportive brother, though she noticed how his shoulders carried a tension that hadn’t been there before. His green eyes, always so warm, were clouded with something unspoken as they flicked around the luxurious room and finally settled on her.

“Thank you,” she whispered, smoothing the front of her dress. “How is everything downstairs?”

“Chaotic,” Harry replied with a chuckle, though the sound was hollow, lacking its usual mirth. He hesitated, his hands fidgeting with his cufflink, before he added in a quieter tone, “You sure about this, Amelia?”

Her breath caught at the question, though she had anticipated it. Harry had never been entirely comfortable with her relationship with Callum. It wasn’t that he didn’t like him—Callum had a way of charming everyone, after all—but the world he came from, the wealth, the perfection, the coldness—it felt foreign, even alien, to both of them.

“I love him,” Amelia began softly, her voice steady but quiet.

Harry nodded faintly, though his expression remained clouded. He glanced briefly at her locket, his lips pressing together as though weighing his next words carefully. “I just don’t want this life to change who you are,” he said, his voice low but steady. “You’ve always been the one to hold us together, Amelia. Don’t let all of this...” He gestured vaguely at the room around them. “Don’t let it take that away.”

Amelia’s chest tightened, and she stepped forward, taking his hand in hers. His fingers were cool, and she squeezed them tightly. “I’ll always be your sister,” she said firmly, her hazel eyes locking onto his. “Nothing—not Callum, not this life—is going to change that.” She reached for the locket around her neck, her fingers brushing the tarnished silver. “Family is forever, remember?”

Harry’s lips quirked into a faint, reluctant smile, though the worry in his eyes didn’t entirely fade. His gaze dropped to the locket, and his voice softened. “Just don’t let them forget it.”

Before Amelia could respond, another knock startled them both. This time, the door opened to reveal Rose, Callum’s sister. Her platinum blond hair was swept into a perfect twist, her designer gown shimmering faintly in the light. Her icy blue eyes flicked over Amelia, a smile playing on her lips that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Everything is on schedule,” Rose announced, her tone clipped as her gaze lingered on Amelia’s locket for just a moment too long. “You must be thrilled, Amelia. It’s not every day someone gets to trade up like this.”

Amelia stiffened but forced a polite smile to her lips. “Thank you for letting me know, Rose.”

Rose’s gaze shifted to Harry, her smile sharpening. “Harry, you look very dashing. Callum will be so pleased everything has come together so perfectly.” She let her words hang in the air as her perfume—a sharp, overwhelming floral—lingered long after she swept out of the room.

Harry exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening. “She’s...”

“I know,” Amelia interrupted gently, squeezing his hand again.

“I just don’t trust them. Any of them.”

Before Amelia could respond, Callum stepped into the room, his dark blond hair perfectly styled, his piercing blue eyes sweeping the space before landing on her. For a moment, his confident demeanor softened, and an almost boyish admiration flickered across his face.

“You’re breathtaking,” he said, his voice low and warm.

Amelia felt her cheeks flush, though his presence suddenly made the room feel heavier, more suffocating. Harry’s hand slipped from hers, and she noticed the way her brother’s jaw tightened as Callum stepped closer.

“Harry,” Callum said with a polite nod, though his tone carried the faintest edge of dismissal.

“Callum,” Harry replied evenly, his posture stiff.

Amelia shifted uncomfortably between them, aware of the tension in the room. “I’ll see you downstairs, Harry,” she said gently, hoping to diffuse the moment.

Harry hesitated, his gaze flicking between the two of them before he nodded. “Of course. I’ll let you finish getting ready.” His eyes lingered on her for a moment longer, as though trying to convey something unspoken. Then he was gone.

Callum closed the distance between them once the door clicked shut, his hands finding hers. His touch was warm, his grip firm—a stark contrast to Harry’s gentle reassurance.

“Everything’s perfect,” Callum said, his tone carrying that familiar confidence that both comforted and unnerved her. “And so are you.”

“Thank you,” Amelia murmured, though her eyes drifted to the diamond earrings once more, their brilliance catching the light.

Callum followed her gaze, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Do you like them?” he asked. “I wanted to give you something that reflected how extraordinary you are.”

“They’re... beautiful,” she said honestly, though her hand instinctively brushed against her locket as she spoke.

Callum’s expression shifted slightly, his eyes briefly flicking to the silver pendant. He hesitated, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly before he smiled again, the tension smoothing from his features. “Of course,” he said smoothly. “It’s part of what makes you who you are.”

The words sounded right, but something about the way he said them left Amelia feeling hollow. She forced herself to smile, to ignore the uneasy flutter in her chest. This was her wedding day. She loved Callum, and he loved her. That was all that mattered.

A sharp rap at the door interrupted them, followed by the wedding planner’s voice calling out, “It’s time, Mrs. Stone!”

Mrs. Stone. The title felt foreign, unfamiliar, like a dress that didn’t quite fit. Amelia inhaled deeply, her fingers tightening around Callum’s.

“Are you ready?” he asked, his blue eyes piercing and expectant.

She nodded, her voice steady even as her heart raced. “I’m ready.”

As they walked down the grand staircase together, the locket around her neck felt heavier than ever, its quiet, unassuming presence a stark contrast to the glittering world she had just stepped into.