Eight Chances One Lie Novel by Dahlia Vane _ Novel



Eight Chances One Lie Novel by Dahlia Vane _ Novel

Eight Chances One Lie Chapter 01

Following family tradition.
The fiancée of the Kingsbury elite’s heir had to be chosen at the Gala Charity Ball through the “Mystery Envelope Selection.”
Because I had loved my childhood friend, James Harrington, with all my heart, I meticulously prepared every detail, just to make sure my name appeared in his selection box.
Yet for seven consecutive years, all he ever drew were blank slips.
Until the eighth year, right before the ball began.
I overheard Margaret Harrington’s incredulous voice.
“James, you’ve made it clear you’ll marry no one but her, so why have you replaced the slip with her name with a blank one for seven years?”
“Doesn’t it hurt you to see her disappointed and in tears every single year?”
She hated that he never fought for what he wanted.
James chuckled softly. “Of course it hurts.”
“But Chloe just returned from abroad and isn’t emotionally stable. I promised to stay by her side for treatment for seven years.”
“Besides, that fool wouldn’t marry anyone but me anyway.”
“Next year, I’ll give her a grand proposal.”
After saying that, he fed the slip with my name into the paper shredder.
And in that instant, I finally felt relief.
After all, Grandpa had said, family matchmaking only gave me eight chances.
If my name wasn’t in the eighth box either, then it was time to marry someone else.
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“The sound of the shredder is a lot more pleasant than your crying,”
James said casually, straightening his cuffs as he pushed open the lounge door.
Outside, the room gleamed with lights and the scent of designer perfume.
This was the Harringtons’ eighth gala to select the heir’s wife.
It was also my last chance.
He didn’t even glance at me, standing in the shadows with a heavy heart.
He walked straight to Chloe, who was surrounded by a cluster of socialites.
“James!”
Chloe’s eyes were red, like a frightened fawn crashing into his arms.
“They said I don’t belong here… that I’m the homewrecker trying to come between you and Emma…”
James’s brows knitted.
His sharp gaze swept the room, landing finally on the gossiping socialites.
“Who dares say she doesn’t belong?”
“My rules are Kingsbury rules.”
“Chloe is my guest. If anyone makes her unhappy, then they make me unhappy.”
The room went silent.
The gossiping socialites went pale, sending desperate glances toward me.
After all, for the past seven years, I had been James’ legitimate fiancée, the only woman he indulged beside him.
Apart from that “Mystery Envelope” quirk, he had always obliged me in everything.
Everyone assumed I would rush forward, slap Chloe, or, like the past seven years, tearfully demand why he protected another woman.
But this time, I simply smoothed my dress calmly.
I picked up a glass of champagne from the waiter’s tray and sipped it lightly.
The cold liquid slid down my throat, extinguishing the last flicker of my long-held heartbeat for my childhood friend.
“Emma, aren’t you going to do something?” A small voice tested me.
I smiled. But it didn’t reach my eyes.
“James is heroically saving the damsel, I’m not here to stir up trouble.”
“Besides…”
I twirled the wine glass, letting my gaze linger with amusement.
“I’m curious whether my name is even in this year’s selection box.”
James froze.
He instinctively looked back at me, clearly surprised by my reaction.
In the past, at this moment, I would have been crying and demanding Chloe leave.
But today, I was calm, almost like an outsider.
A flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes. He let go of Chloe and strode toward me.
“Emma, what mood are you throwing now?”
“Chloe just got back from abroad. She’s weak and can’t be startled.”
“As the eldest Whitmore daughter, can’t you be more magnanimous?”

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