It was not until that fateful night that I witnessed my fiancé, Professor Edmund, embracing his "sister," Cordelia, in a passionate kiss, overhearing him declare that I was merely a "convenient arrangement," a façade to conceal their unspeakable forbidden attraction.

The engagement ring he had bestowed upon me was ill-fitted and mismatched in style—because it was never intended for me.

As for Cordelia—this seemingly innocent ward—her most closely guarded secret has finally come to light: fifteen years ago, she hastily pushed Edmund's biological sister, Violet, to her death, and subsequently usurped her identity, claiming a family and love that were never rightfully hers.

The Sister Who Stole His Heart


The acrid smell of carbolic acid hung heavy in the air as I carefully examined Thomas Hartley, a gaunt factory worker whose right arm was wrapped in blood-stained bandages.

"Please try to relax, Mr. Hartley," I said softly, noting his obvious anxiety. "Let me have a proper look at this wound."

...

Chapter 4