Ninety-Nine Betrayals, One Final Wedding Invitation

Though their voices were soft, they sliced through Emma’s chest like blades, leaving her breathless.

Her hands slowly curled into fists, nails digging inch by inch into her palms.

She had known Theo for over twenty years, yet she had never seen him like this.

Since childhood, her parents had always told her that the Callahan, Blackwood and Barrett families were lifelong allies. One day, she would need to choose between the boys to marry.

And after two decades of growing up together, she had made her choice.

When she shyly confessed her feelings to her parents, their answer had been a heavy silence.

“Theo is like a flower high on a cliff; you may never reach him. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?”

Emma hadn’t believed them. From the moment her heart settled on Theo, she tried everything to win him over.

When she knocked on his door late at night, dressed seductively, trying to seduce him, he frowned and threw a coat at her, saying she shouldn’t wear clothes like that.

When she leaned in close, fingers brushing his Adam’s apple in feigned curiosity, he stepped away and reminded her, “There’s a difference between men and women.”

Even the time he was drunk when she climbed onto his lap and kissed him boldly, he froze in dazed surprise, then calmly pushed her away without a word.

She still remembered how she had broken down afterward, sobbing as she asked, “You like me, don’t you? If not, why would you treat me so well?”

Theo only looked at her, his gaze heavy with the haze of lingering alcohol.

"Emma, you're overthinking. I've always seen you as a sister."

The pain that rose in her chest felt like a dull knife, slow and cruel as it carved its way through.

It wasn’t until Juliet appeared that Emma truly saw what Theo looked like when he loved someone.

Even the flower perched high on the cliff had finally descended, stirred by earthly longing.

Only, it wasn’t for her.

The sticky, intimate sounds clung to her ears. Taking a slow breath, she pushed the door open.

Perhaps she had walked in at the wrong moment, Theo’s eyes narrowed, a dark storm flickering behind them.

After all these years, Emma knew that look too well; it meant he was annoyed.

He wiped the remnants of desire from his face but didn’t let go of Juliet. His gaze lifted lazily.

"What is it?"

Emma gave a cold laugh. "Shouldn’t I be asking that? Kissing someone else in someone else's home, is that some new fetish of yours?"

The atmosphere thickened in an instant. It was Juliet who broke the silence, her voice soft and trembling.

"Miss Callahan, I was the one who pulled Brother Theo in here. Please don’t blame him."

Emma's tone turned to ice. "It’s not your place to speak."

Startled, Juliet bit her lip and tears slipped from her eyes almost immediately.

Theo’s brows furrowed deeper. He stepped in front of her, shielding her from Emma’s glare, his gaze turning frigid.

"Juliet, don’t be afraid of her. As long as I’m here, she can’t touch you."

Though he spoke to Juliet, every word was clearly meant for Emma.

And she understood far too well. Her heart turned to frost.

Just as she opened her mouth to respond, hurried footsteps echoed outside the door.

Cole barged in, face stormy. "Emma, your parents told me you’ve chosen someone for the arranged marriage. Is that true?"