Chapter 2

2

To celebrate the upcoming alliance, the Vance family hosted a gala at one of their luxury hotels.

The elite crowd was there in full force, smiling and shaking hands.

But behind the polite talk, everyone was whispering about who would really end up with the power.

While the champagne flowed, the rumors about me chasing Jasper like a lost puppy were spreading like wildfire.

The party was almost over when Jasper and Seraphina finally made their grand entrance.

Seraphina's face was flushed, her hair was a bit messy, and her eyes were full of a smug satisfaction.

She clung to Jasper's arm as if she were marking her territory.

Under the bright chandeliers, the red marks on Jasper's neck were impossible to miss.

His eyes held the lazy, arrogant look of a man who had just finished having his way.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what they had been doing in the car or a back room.

The people around us noticed, too, throwing me meaningful looks and waiting for me to explode.

In my past life, I would have lost my mind, screaming and crying like a lunatic.

But now, I just stood there, slowly swirling a glass of champagne.

I looked at them as if I were looking at two strangers I didn't particularly care about.

I took a small sip and placed the glass on a passing waiter's tray.

Jasper frowned, looking annoyed that I wasn't making a scene.

Then, a cruel smile touched his lips.

"Norah, the whole city knows you've been begging for my attention. Are you playing hard to get now just to make me look at you?"

Seraphina spoke up in a voice like honey. "Jasper, don't be so mean. I'm sure Norah didn't mean anything by it."

I watched them coldly. Before I could say a word, Seraphina walked toward me with a velvet box in her hand.

"Norah, to celebrate your big day, I wanted to give you a little something."

She opened the box to reveal a diamond necklace. The center stone was a rare pink diamond, surrounded by brilliant white gems.

Jasper had bought this at an auction for a record-breaking price a week ago. Everyone had been guessing which socialite would end up wearing it.

The fact that he gave it to Seraphina was a slap in my face.

I knew she was trying to humiliate me, so I didn't reach for it.

Jasper immediately stepped between us, shielding her and barking at me.

"Norah, are you trying to bully her again?"

He didn't wait for me to answer. He turned to Seraphina with a look of pure devotion.

"Sera, don't be scared. As long as I'm here, she won't touch you."

"This necklace was bought for you. It belongs to you, and no one is going to take it away."

He squeezed her shoulder and pulled her closer to his chest.

The people around us started whispering and laughing under their breath.

I looked at the two of them and felt nothing but boredom.

In the past, Seraphina used every trick to frame me, and Jasper would fall for it every single time.

People used to joke that if Seraphina dropped a single tear, Jasper would burn the world down to make her smile.

No matter how much I did for him, I was always worth nothing.

"Jasper," I said flatly. "I don't care who you give your jewelry to. I don't want it, and I don't want you."

He wasn't expecting me to be so cold. His face turned pale with anger.

Even then, his hand kept moving on Seraphina's back as he watched my reaction, hoping to see a crack in my mask.

I was done. I turned to leave.

Jasper grabbed my arm, his voice full of pride. "Oh, done acting? You can't handle it anymore? This little game of yours is getting pathetic."

I actually laughed. If Mr. Vance hadn't asked me to keep my choice a secret for a few more days, I would have slapped him across the face right then.

"What makes you think I'd ever be stupid enough to choose you?" I asked.

Jasper froze, then burst out laughing. The people around him joined in.

"The whole world knows you won't marry anyone but me," he mocked.

"Besides, my brother Silas is a cold, violent freak. You think you could handle him?"

"No one else would even look at you. You're lucky I'm kind enough to even consider you."