Chapter 2

I went back to the house my parents left me.

The rooms were empty and silent, mirroring the hollow feeling in my chest.

My parents died in an accident when I was fourteen. On her deathbed, my mother entrusted me to Xander.

He took me in after that. At first, I was shy and terrified of making a mistake.

But he was good to me. Truly good. He made sure I never lacked anything.

Except for that one time during my sophomore year of high school. I went shopping with friends and bought a trendy, short pleated skirt. My friends talked me into it, and I used the allowance Xander gave me.

I was trying it on at home when Xander caught me.

He stared at my legs, his gaze so cold it made me shiver.

"Uncle… I… I'll go change."

"Stay right there." He took off his suit jacket, shook it out, and walked toward me.

I felt the warmth of his body as he stepped close. I wanted to back away, but my back hit the wall.

He wrapped his jacket around my waist and tied the sleeves in a knot. He did it gently, as if he were handling a fragile piece of art.

Once he was done, he said quietly, "Don't wear skirts this short again. I want you to be a girl who carries herself with dignity and grace."

I was at that age where first crushes bloom. I felt like a thief, harboring a secret obsession for something I shouldn't want.

I felt a mix of anxiety and a strange, budding joy.

That was the moment I realized what these confusing, bitter-sweet feelings were.

I remembered his words for years. He wanted me to be a dignified, graceful girl. I thought that was the type of woman he liked.

The reality was a cruel joke. The woman he loved wore heavy makeup and flaunted her curves in revealing clothes. He only kept me sheltered and plain. He really did just see me as a child.

I lay on the floor, thinking about everything. The tears wouldn't stop. I thought about how he used to spoil me, and then I thought about how cold he had been today. Eventually, I drifted into a fitful sleep.

The next morning, I woke up late for school.

Sleeping on the floor had given me a headache and a sore throat. My eyes were swollen like golf balls.

I checked my phone. Xander had sent two messages. The first one was angry: "You think you're grown now? I scold you once and you don't even come home?"

The second one came thirty minutes later. He must have tracked my location. It just said: "Remember to lock the doors."

Seeing that made my heart ache. In the past, he would have rushed over to be with me or picked me up. Now, a simple "lock the door" was all I got. Xander had changed.

A loud ringtone broke my thoughts.

"Linley, the ceremony is starting! Where are you?" My best friend Hattie's voice blasted through the speaker. I snapped awake.

It was the university's centennial anniversary. I scrambled to get ready.

But when I walked into the ballroom, the last person I expected to see was Xander. And… that woman.

I found out then that as a major investor, he had made a huge donation to the school. They were mingling with the guests, and she was acting like she was the lady of the house.

Everyone knew Xander was usually cold and never had women around him.

By proposing yesterday and bringing her out today, he was officially giving her a title. It was a first for him.

"This is the first time I've seen Mr. Sterling with a date."

"The rumors about the proposal were true. They look quite good together."

The whispers of the board members followed me. I hated every word of it, yet I couldn't stop looking at them.

I watched them sneak away into a quiet hallway and, like a glutton for punishment, I followed them.

In a deserted corner, I saw them. They were wrapped in each other's arms, kissing. When she leaned back, Xander gripped her waist tight.

He looked at her with a look of pure adoration―a look he had never, ever given me.

I couldn't stand it. My nails dug into my palms, but I couldn't look away.

As I turned to leave, Xander's voice rang out behind me. "Linley!"

"You're here. Why didn't you tell me? This is Sienna. You've met her… but you should start calling her… Aunt Sienna."

I had to turn around. Looking at the beautiful, elegant woman in front of me, my eyes burned again.