Chapter 2

2

I shoved him away, grabbed my robe, and bolted into the bathroom.

When I finished changing and walked back out, Caleb was sitting on the sofa. He quickly stubbed out his cigarette.

"Done with your tantrum? Good. Go to bed. We have to visit your parents tomorrow morning."

My skin crawled just looking at him.

"There's no need for a visit, Caleb. As far as I'm concerned, this marriage never happened."

He stood up abruptly, looking at me as if I had grown a second head.

"Clara, what now? Are you really going to make a federal case out of a little joke?"

"Clara, you're being way too sensitive. Pranking the bride is supposed to bring good luck. I've never seen a bride flip out like this."

Macy's voice came from the study. She was leaning against the doorframe, fiddling with a jade signet ring―the one my grandfather left me.

I sprinted over and snatched it out of her hand.

"Who gave you permission to touch my things?"

This was the family seal. It was the symbol of my authority over the Vance Group.

I looked down and saw a chip on the edge of the jade. There was a ugly white scratch where it had hit something hard.

My entire body began to tremble with rage.

Macy acted startled by my movement. she scurried behind Caleb again, pouting her lip.

"I'm sorry, Clara! I just thought the rock looked pretty and wanted to play with it. I didn't know it was so fragile."

Caleb stepped in front of her like a human shield.

"Why are you screaming? It was an accident. It's just a piece of old rock. If it's chipped, it's chipped. I'll buy you a new one tomorrow."

I swung my hand and slapped him across the face as hard as I could.

"A piece of rock? Caleb, this is the only thing my grandfather left me!"

"She ruined it on purpose, and you're telling me you'll buy a new one? How about I ruin your mother and then find you a new one?"

I pointed at the deep scratch on the jade.

"Look at this. It was clearly slammed against the edge of the desk. Are you blind? How can you still protect her!"

Caleb's head was still turned from the slap. His face twisted with fury.

He glanced at the seal and waved his hand dismissively.

"Fine, I get it, it's important. But she didn't do it on purpose. Macy has a weak heart. When she gets stressed, she gets sick. Can't you just give her a break?"

"We're family now. Why ruin the relationship over something so small? You're going to have to see her all the time."

I forced myself to breathe through the fire in my chest. I clutched the seal tight.

"I am never going to be family with you people! Caleb, the biggest mistake of my life was agreeing to marry you!"

The moment the words left my mouth, Macy let out a sharp scream. She clutched her chest and collapsed onto the floor, her body convulsing.

"My heart... Caleb... I can't breathe."

Caleb's face went pale.

"Macy! Macy, look at me!"

He scooped her up in his arms and glared at me with pure hatred.

"Are you happy now, Clara? You just had to push her until she had an attack!"

He turned to rush out the door.

I stood in the center of the room, watching them with cold, dead eyes.

"You're worried about her attack? What about me? She humiliated me in public. She destroyed my property. Do you think my heart doesn't hurt?"

Caleb paused for a split second. He looked back at me, his eyes flickering with something complicated.

"She could die, Clara. Grow up. I'll deal with her, and then I'll come back and explain everything!"

Then, he ran out without looking back.

I watched his retreating figure, remembering my grandfather's voice on his deathbed.

He told me that while the merger was important, a girl must always live with dignity. He told me never to let anyone make me feel small.

I had failed him. I had turned my life into a joke for a business deal.

I took a deep breath, composed myself, and dialed a number I hadn't called in years.

The phone didn't even ring twice before it was answered.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Lennox... does your promise from years ago still stand?"

"Clara? Of course. It stands forever."

I closed my eyes and made the choice.

"Marry me. Within three days, I want the Sanders family completely wiped out of the market."

There wasn't even a moment of hesitation on the other end.

"Done. Name the time and place."

"Tomorrow morning. Ten o'clock. Meet me at the City Hall entrance."