Forced Marriage: My Wife, My Redemption by Lilyheart

Chapter 154: Accept the fact ..

Jessica wheeled Davis back to the dining hall, her heart thudding in her chest. The moment they stepped through the doorway, every pair of eyes at the table turned toward them.

It felt as if the entire room was holding its breath, waiting for something to unfold. They weren’t just looking at Davis, though. They were looking at her.

Her cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment as she felt the weight of their gaze. It was as though their eyes were peeling her open, searching for every little detail about what had kept them so long in the kitchen. What had happened between them?

Jessica tried to ignore the heavy silence that followed them. She didn’t expect Davis to be so unfazed, but there he was—his expression a perfect mask of stoicism. He didn’t seem to care that everyone was staring, or if they were reading into their delay.

If anything, he seemed to enjoy the discomfort, though he kept it hidden behind his composed exterior.

As they made their way to the table, Jessica wheeled him to the seat at the right hand of Elliot Raven, the patriarch of the group. She took her own seat beside him, her movements stiff as she tried to keep her embarrassment in check.

But it was hard to shake the feeling that everyone knew. They could sense something had changed. The quiet smirks on their faces made it clear that they were no strangers to reading between the lines.

The clink of cutlery was the only sound that broke the silence as dinner was finally served. It was a quiet moment before Elliot cleared his throat lightly, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

His eyes shifted around the table, taking in the familiar faces of those he had dined with countless times. But tonight, everything felt different because their identities had changed. His gaze on them filled with emotions simmering just beneath the surface.

Elliot took a deep breath, his shoulders heavy with the weight of the announcement he was about to make.

"This evening," he began, his voice calm but with an edge of something else, "we’ve gathered here like we do every weekend, expecting a little peace after our busy schedules.

But tonight... tonight is different. We’ve been summoned here, not just for dinner, but because of something we all need to address know and address."

Ethan and Richard exchanged glances. Their brows furrowed, confusion clear in their eyes. It seems every other person is privy to the impending announcement leaving them both wondering.

Elliot be talking

permission, though there was nothing he needed to ask for. His voice dropped in volume, as

Davis, then Bella, his gaze unwavering. "After a series of investigations

the stillness, the sound of forks and knives dropping to plates, as they were forgotten

mouths hung open, eyes wide with disbelief. They couldn’t quite grasp what they were

Or a prank? Ethan’s mind raced as he turned slowly to

His eyes darted from Elliot to Davis and from Davis to Bella, still searching for any sign, any hint of truth in the situation. His disbelief was palpable. Davis nodded

like a blow to the chest. Dr. Bella turned out to be Davis’s sister, the

A dramatic, crushing thud of disappointment echoed in his chest. He didn’t even try to hide it.

under Ethan’s questioning gaze. His eyes stayed steady, his voice calm despite the storm of emotions that have been swirling within him. "Yes," he confirmed softly.

the air, thick

Davis, then back to Bella, his mind struggling to

been secretly hoping to pursue...and possibly make

his boss’s sister made everything complicated but now she had turned into a powerful heiress—with the Allen

turned out

worked alongside these people, been in their lives for so long, but this was something no one had expected. Not in

table, couldn’t contain his nervous energy. His fingers were trembling slightly as he

chest. His thoughts weren’t on the unexpected family revelation; no, his mind was fixed on Jessica. She has been

the news of her sworn sister

whirlwind of emotions that had surrounded their relationship. And now... now she was tangled

had always known that Jessica preferred the quiet life than anything else but then Looking at her quite, collected composure he felt himself worrying

though it is no big deal, as though it was

quiet but edged with uncertainty. He looked at