The Wrong Brother's Temptation novel Chapter 155

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The Wrong Brother’s Temptation

Chapter 155

Sienna

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I decided to go to the Ashford mansion almost after dinner time when I could no longer sit in the stew of my jumbled thoughts.

The suppressant had only been in my system for a few hours, but Dr. Ellis’s warning kept looping in my head. I needed to talk to Connor before the tonic had a chance to fail in the worst possible place, and I needed to do it without an audience.

The main hall was empty when I stepped inside. Usually I would find Sandra lounging with her friends or the servants moving around. My nerves, already frayed from the morning, tightened another notch.

Maria appeared from one of the side corridors carrying a stack of fresh linens. She slowed when she saw me, surprise flickering across her face.

“Miss Sienna. I didn’t know you were coming today.”

“Where is everyone?” I asked, trying to keep my voice casual.

She glanced up the grand staircase. “The elders called a formal succession session about an hour ago. They’re in the upper meeting hall near Connor’s office.”

My stomach dropped. “Already? Can I go up?”

Maria hesitated, adjusting the linens in her arms. “I’m not sure they’ll allow anyone else inside once the doors are closed. These sessions are usually restricted to the candidates and the elders.”

I was already moving toward the stairs. “I still need to know what is going on.”

She gave me the directions, and I took the steps two at a time, pulse loud in my ears.

By the time I reached the upper floor I was slightly out of breath, the strap of my bag digging into my

shoulder.

The corridor was quiet except for the low murmur of voices behind a long glass wall. Through it I could see a circular table with the elders seated around it in their formal robes. Facing them was a single chair in which Aaron sat.

It looked like he was in some serious, formal interview. There were no guards to stop me so I pushed the door open before I could talk myself out of it.

The discussion inside was deep and serious.

Maps and documents were spread across the polished table and Elder Johanson was speaking in that slow voice of his when he wanted everyone to feel the weight of his words.

A few heads turned when I entered but nobody said anything. Sandra was already standing off to the side near the tall windows. She had her arms folded, and one shoulder resting lightly against the frame as if she had every right to be there. She looked perfectly at ease in a cream dress that caught the light every time she

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shifted.

She noticed me and offered a small, smug smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

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“What’s happening?” I asked quietly, stepping closer to her, expecting her to not bother replying.

But to my surprise, she did.

“The elders are testing Aaron’s leadership,” she informed me, sounding pleased. She tilted her head, watc the table with satisfaction. “They’re putting him through formal questions to check if he is even eligible to considered as a potential successor. The real succession talks have started.”

I looked around the room again, searching for a second chair, and a second candidate. “Where’s Connor?”

Sandra shrugged. “How should I know? Aren’t you the one who’s supposed to keep track of him these days

There was a faint edge under the sweetness. She turned her attention back to Aaron as if the conversation] already ended.

Before I could ask her more I heard the chairs shuffle and then Aaron rose from the chair, bowed deeply to the elders who nodded at him in return.

Elder Johanson even offered him a pat on the back that made Sandra’s smile widen further.

Aaron murmured a thanks to him and then walked toward us. Sandra immediately stepped forward and slipped her arms around him, her hands resting against his chest a moment longer than necessary.

“How did it go, babe? Are you all right? You looked so composed the entire time.”

Aaron gave her a small smile and a brief nod. “I’m fine.” His eyes, however, moved past her and landed on m I had already turned to leave to find Connor when his voice stopped me.

“Sienna. Where are you going?”

Sandra’s expression flickered. The hands on his chest tightened almost imperceptibly before she forced them to relax.

“I wanted to go find Connor”

I kept my voice light, even though my pulse had picked up for an entirely different reason.

“I want to talk to you. Do you have a minute?”

My gaze flicked to Sandra who clearly looked displeased.

“Maybe later. You just finished the interview or whatever this was”

“It won’t take long.”

He glanced at Sandra, voice softening. “I’ll come find you in five minutes”

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She frowned. “I thought we were going out”

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He nodded, taking her hand and placing a kiss on her knuckles. “That we are. I will be done by the time yo get ready. Wear that backless dress I got for you, will you?”

Sandra’s eyes gleamed and I tried to not dwell on what kind of dress he chose for her as she nodded and leaned forward to kiss him on the lips.

“Don’t make me wait for long”

She gave me a smug look making it clear that she hated the request. Her smile stayed in place, but her eye! cooled.

After a beat she stepped away, heels clicking a little too sharply against the floor as she left the hall. I watch go, then turned back to Aaron, suddenly aware of how quiet the corner near the windows had become.

her

Aaron guided me a few steps away from the door, toward the tall glass that looked out over the estate grounds. The afternoon light caught the side of his face. He looked tired in a way that had nothing to do wi the meeting.

“We haven’t really talked in a while,” he began. “I wanted to apologise for Elder Johanson’s behavior. He belongs to my family’s old alliances so I feel responsible for his actions in a way. His behaviour toward you the other night was unacceptable. I should have said something sooner.”

I shrugged, keeping my arms loosely folded. “I stopped expecting much. You’ve been busy with Sandra and I’ve had other things to deal with.”

He reached out and lightly touched my arm, drawing me a fraction closer. The casual touch was familiar, on we had shared for years, yet it felt strangely flat.

“I want to make up for it. And I believe I can do so if I help Connor.”

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