CHAPTER 451: THE BERNARDO FAMILY HAS TWIN DAUGHTERS

"Yes,"

Sinclair noticed the eager curiosity on Camilla’s face.

A faint smirk played on his thin lips as he spoke in a low, unhurried voice.

"And it’s quite interesting."

His gaze shifted to Taylor as he continued, "The Bernardo family has two daughters—twins, in fact."

Twins.

At those words, Camilla couldn’t help but recall the substitute-bride romance novels Tiffany used to write.

The older sister, dissatisfied with her sickly fiancé or some other trivial reason, schemes to force her neglected younger sister to marry in her place.

Only to later discover the groom is actually a tall, devastatingly handsome dream husband, sparking regret and a desperate bid to steal him back. ...

Her eyes flicked to Taylor, amusement dancing behind her narrowed lids.

Now that she thought about it, he did fit the male lead archetype rather well.

But surely reality wouldn’t be that cliché? Unaware of Camilla’s scrutiny, Taylor merely frowned slightly at Sinclair.

"Twins?"

When the Bernardo family contacted him, they hadn’t mentioned anything about this.

Pressed for time and swamped with work, he hadn’t sent anyone to investigate further. "

Juliet Benardo and Queen Bernardo."

Sinclair’s thin lips curved slightly, his deep, composed voice carrying an unmistakable hint of amusement.

"The one betrothed to you since childhood is the elder sister, Juliet Benardo.

As for the younger sister, Queen—she’s engaged to the son of one of the three most powerful families in Country E."

So, the one originally engaged to the Taylor family was Juliet, but now it’s Queen?!

Had she actually stumbled upon the truth by sheer luck?!

Camilla pressed her lips together, her crimson mouth forming a thin line as she turned to her husband with a questioning look.

"And Juliet?" Sinclair pinched her cheek lightly, his answer concise.

"Her engagement banquet with Harrison is in a few days."

Not a replacement.

But a swap.

Camilla’s lips pursed slightly as she glanced at Taylor, momentarily at a loss for words.

Fany was right—fiction draws from life, yet real life is far more dramatic than any story.

Taylor remained silent, leaning back into the sofa.

The usual warmth in his refined expression flickered, replaced by a chilling smirk curling at the corner of his lips.

"The Bernardo family’s schemes are certainly well-calculated."

His words hung in the air, plunging the room into heavy silence.

Just then, the door swung open from the outside.

"The auction has already started.

If you’ve got something to bid on, hurry up.

I have other matters to attend to."

Queen’s striking face and tone dripped with impatience.

But the next second, her steps—and her voice—froze mid-motion.

The private booth wasn’t occupied by Harrison and Juliet, but by three complete strangers.

No—three breathtakingly beautiful strangers! The man facing her was devastatingly handsome, his demeanor aloof and aristocratic.

A single indifferent glance from him sent a shiver down her spine, forcing her to avert her gaze.

The woman nestled in his arms had delicate, ethereal features—so flawless she hardly seemed real.

Even in a classic khaki trench coat, devoid of embellishments, she radiated such brilliance that it was impossible to look away.

Her eyes were cool and elegant, yet they shimmered with an irresistible allure whenever she glanced at someone.

What made it even more striking was that this beauty wasn’t forced—it was effortless. Women are the harshest critics of other women’s looks.

Yet even so, she couldn’t find a single flaw in the woman before her.

There was no denying it—these two were the most perfectly matched pair she had ever seen.

Under Sinclair’s dark, penetrating gaze, Queen’s eyes flickered slightly, and she quickly averted her admiring stare, turning instead to the man seated to the side.

Dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, his features were strikingly handsome.

Every movement he made exuded an air of refined elegance, calm and composed.

Queen had always been drawn to gentle, steady men, and the sight of Taylor inexplicably sent her heartbeat into a brief, erratic flutter.

Her moment of stunned silence felt endless, though in reality, it lasted no more than a few seconds.

While Queen studied the trio, they, too, were observing her.

The latest designer red trench coat from a luxury brand draped casually over one arm.

Beneath it, she wore a form-fitting black dress that clung to her curves, leaving nothing to the imagination.

Black knee-high boots accentuated her slender, perfectly straight legs.

Her lips were a bold red against porcelain skin—radiant and dazzling.

She was undeniably a striking beauty, yet her clear, bright eyes held an unexpected innocence that revealed much about her character.

"Miss," Taylor observed Queen standing frozen in place, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Is there something you need?"

His tone was polite yet distant, carefully measured to avoid causing any discomfort.

"N-no," Queen had always been a sucker for a captivating voice, and the smooth, magnetic timbre of Taylor’s speech—so perfectly aligned with her tastes—sent her pulse racing inexplicably.

"Nothing," Finally snapping out of her daze, she offered an apologetic look to the trio.

"Sorry, I must have walked into the wrong room."

Just then, Kai entered, carrying a tray with freshly brewed coffee and tea.

Spotting Queen, he paused momentarily before quickly schooling his expression.

After serving the tea and coffee to Sinclair and Camilla, he stepped aside quietly.

"No worries," Taylor’s smile remained unchanged, his demeanor exuding the effortless grace of a true gentleman.

"If you’d like, I can have someone show you the way."

"No, no need.

I can find it myself," Queen replied, shaking her head with a hint of embarrassment as she gave the trio a slight nod.

"Thank you."

With that, she stepped out of the private room and glanced at the doorplate, a flicker of frustration flashing in her eyes.

Had she misremembered, or had Juliet given her the wrong information?

Her brow furrowed as she flagged down another server, who then escorted her to Harrison’s private room.

The moment Queen entered, Juliet, who had been nestled in Harrison’s arms, immediately straightened up.

"Queen.."

Queen picked up a pastry from the table and took a bite, not even sparing her sister a glance.

Juliet bit her lower lip and turned to Harrison, only to find his gaze fixed on Queen, completely oblivious to her.

Years of illness had left Juliet far more delicate than her sister—fragile in a way that was almost ethereal, but lacking the effortless allure that Queen carried.

If it weren’t for his fundamentally disagreeable personality, he wouldn’t have considered breaking off the engagement in the first place.

Juliet observed every subtle shift in Harrison’s expression.

Her fingers, resting on her knees, curled slowly before relaxing again, a shadow flickering deep in her eyes.

A man who can’t resist chasing after the next best thing while still holding onto what he already has.

She had won Harrison’s heart by exploiting this very trait—but she certainly wouldn’t tolerate him indulging in it any further.

"Queen," Juliet called out, her voice dripping with sisterly affection as she turned to Queen.

"Today’s auction has quite a few exquisite high-end jewelry pieces.

If you see anything you like, just let me know.

I’ll have Harrison bid on it for you." With that, she glanced back at Harrison, her smile tender yet deliberate.

"Harrison, Queen is my sister—you wouldn’t say no, would you?"

Harrison’s attention snapped back at the sound of Queen’s name. Harrison offered a practiced smile.

"Of course not."