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Elliot’s gaze softened as he met her eyes. “She did all of this because she loves me too, Bridget. She sees the potential in us, the chance for a brighter future. And I believe in what she and I have as well.”

As Bridget opened her mouth to speak again, he continued as though he could read her mind, “She also made it clear that she wishes for her brother to remain oblivious. She fears the consequences if he were to discover the truth.”

For some reason, this put Bridget on edge again. Her eyes were wide with disbelief as his words hung in the quiet room.

“And why on earth would you agree to such a thing, Brother? This further tarnishes our family’s reputation! Wouldn’t it have been better to be honest? Imagine what he would think if he found out now!”

“Bridget, I repeat, my love for Olivia is genuine. I wouldneverchoose to deceive her nor go against her wishes.” Elliot’s eyes blazed with a fiery rage along with his reply. “The decisions she and I made are ours alone, so it is not your place, Sister, to question or interfere.”

Bridget’s anger surged within her again, her voice sharp with frustration. “How can you say that, Brother? We are family! Our family’s financial troubles affectallof us. You should have included me in this discussion from the start!” Her jaw tightened. “It is like you said, I am no longer a child. I can handle the truth!”

Elliot’s shoulders slumped, a weariness evident in his voice. “I understand your disappointment, but Father insisted that we keep it a secret. He believed it was for the best to shield the rest of the family from unnecessary worry.”

Bridget’s eyes narrowed, her voice tinged with hurt. “Shield me? It’s because Father doesn’t trust me, isn’t it? He thinks I am incapable of handling the truth and of being part of any decision-making process, really.”

Elliot’s expression softened, his voice filled with empathy. “Sister, his intentions may have been misguided, but he loves us all. He truly wishes to protect you.”

The feeling of disappointment and betrayal welled up inside her, and she fell silent. Her chest hurt as she wondered if she’d ever be considered worthy in her father’s eyes.

The weight of the intense conversation remained heavy on Bridget’s heart after quietly slipping out of her brother’s room. As she made her way to her chamber, the flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the walls, mirroring the turmoil within her.

Curling up in her bed, she couldn’t shake the overwhelming guilt that gnawed at her conscience. How could she keep this secret from Abel? If they truly wanted to live as honest people, then he deserved to know about their family’s difficulties.

The room was enveloped in a hushed silence, broken only by the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth. Bridget’s thoughts swirled, her mind replaying the words exchanged between herself and her brother.

It suddenly felt like a wall had been erected between herself and Abel. She felt trapped by the web of secrecy that had been spun around them.

As she lay in the dark night, lost in her thoughts, she struggled to find a way to navigate this balance between loyalty and honesty.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Bridget’s heart raced as she stood in her bridesmaid’s dress, the delicate fabric rustling with every nervous movement. The weight of her family’s financial troubles remained heavy on her mind, casting doubt on the path she had chosen.

She fidgeted anxiously, her mind consumed by the question of whether she was truly making the right decision.

Knowing that time was slipping away, she had positioned herself in a strategic spot, a place where she knew Abel would pass by. Her eyes darted back and forth, searching for any sign of his familiar figure in the hallway. Each passing moment felt like an eternity, her anticipation mingling with desperation.

And then, there he was, at last, striding purposefully in her direction. Bridget’s heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of him, her breath catching in her throat. She stepped forward, her hands trembling with fear and urgency.

The hall was deserted enough, she had double-checked. Yet, worry lingered in her thoughts as she raised a hand of acknowledgment his way.

She opened her mouth to speak, but as her gaze locked with his, the words seemed to dissolve into thin air. She watched his eyes widen slightly at the sight of her, a flicker of appreciation dancing within them.

A smile, wide and radiant, graced his handsome face when his eyes roamed over her, causing her cheeks to flush.

“I must admit… you clean up nice, Lady Bridget.”

Bridget averted her eyes from the intensity of his gaze, doing her best to keep her cheeks from flaming even further. Thankfully, as her mind recalled the mission at hand, her expression fell again.

Abel’s smile faltered as it dawned on him that something was amiss. With genuine concern etched on his features, he broke the silence. “Is something troubling you, Lady Bridget? You seem distant.”

She fully snapped out of her trance at this, her heart pounding in her chest. Finally, she opened her mouth, and everything came pouring out like a torrent.

“Your Grace, there is something my family wishes to keep a secret from you, but I cannot bear to. We are facing dire financialissues—we’re on the brink of ruin. The marriage between Olivia and Elliot—we seek to use it as a means to secure our family’s future.”

Her voice quavered with emotion as she pushed on, “Desperation can drive even the noblest of families to make choices they had never considered. My family fears losing everything—that is the reason we have resorted to such methods.”

Her hands trembled as she avoided Abel’s gaze, her voice filled with anxiety. “You must understand, Your Grace.” She continued, her words tumbling out in a rush, “Please, believe me when I say my brother would never trick Lady Olivia. He truly loves her, and it was she, as a matter of fact, who proposed the idea of a quick wedding, knowing it would alleviate our burdens.”