Chapter 8 - The Photograph in the Bridal Suite
That morning, Julian had entered Madison’s bridal suite looking for the wedding rings.
He found an envelope tucked beneath her jewelry case.
Inside was the cropped medal photograph she had shown his father.
But another uncropped copy lay behind it.
The nameplate clearly read AVERY BENNETT.
Julian assumed Madison had hidden it because seeing her late sister’s name was painful.
Now he understood the truth.
He removed the photograph from his inner pocket.
Madison stared at it.
“You searched my things?”
“You told me the original was destroyed.”
“I was protecting you.”
“From your living sister?”
Madison stepped toward him.
“Avery abandoned our family. She only came because she heard I was marrying you.”
Avery slowly rose from the broken glass.
A royal guard offered his arm, but she steadied herself without taking it.
“I didn’t know he was a prince until ten minutes ago.”
Madison laughed too loudly.
“Of course you didn’t.”
Avery looked at the King.
“I came because someone used my mother’s phone to warn me that my military record had been stolen.”
Edmund turned to Madison.
“Did you access classified documents?”
“No.”
“Did you forge your sister’s death?”
“I simplified a painful family history.”
The ballroom reacted with a wave of shocked murmurs.
Julian’s expression changed from suspicion to disgust.
“You allowed my father to grieve for the officer who saved him.”
Madison’s lips trembled.
“I gave him closure.”
King Edmund struck his cane against the marble.
May you like
“You gave me a counterfeit grave.”
👉 When the ballroom doors opened, Nora entered carrying the cedar box—and Madison finally lost control.
