Chapter 15
Stephanie's Point of View
The air in the room was heavy, as if the walls of the palace were closing in on me with every word he uttered.
The difference in their surnames was baffling, but his calm voice pierced my silence, shattering me: "Cedric and I are biological brothers."
A chill ran through my limbs. "How?" I whispered in shock.
"I was using my mother's maiden name," he answered, his eyes tracing my confused features.
"Why? Was there a reason?" I asked, curiosity mingling with fear in my chest.
"Because I didn't want anything to connect me to this family," he said, his eyes darkening slightly.
The maid broke my train of thought as she placed a cup of coffee before him and withdrew silently. I looked at him at the man I thought I knew. "That's why you chose your mother's name... so no one would know you belong to this family."
"Yes..." He took a deep breath and continued, "And I didn't want this life. That's why I chose teaching."
