Overwhelmed with Emotion

"The girl betrothed to Liam since childhood was your sister. After her tragic passing, you were chosen as a replacement. So stop implying that Ava is the stand-in—because in reality, you are nothing more than a last-minute placeholder yourself."

The woman's voice was cold, each word sharp and precise, slicing through the air like a blade. The weight of her statement left Sophia momentarily frozen, her mind racing to process the humiliation.

Ava followed the voice and turned her head. Standing before them was a statuesque woman draped in an impeccably tailored black trench coat. Her poised demeanor and regal air made her presence impossible to ignore. Even without an introduction, her identity was clear—Victoria Grace, Liam's mother, a woman both feared and admired, and an internationally renowned bridal designer whose name alone commanded respect.

"Mom," Ava greeted, her voice warm and steady, a stark contrast to the tension crackling in the air.