Chapter 3

3

The laughter around me was sharp and insulting.

The people who usually kissed Jasper's feet were laughing the loudest.

"Look at her," one girl whispered. "She used to follow him around like a stray dog. Now she's acting like she has standards? How embarrassing."

"Seriously," another added. "She should be on her knees thanking him for even acknowledging her."

I didn't waste my energy arguing. In two days, the truth would hit them like a freight train.

I yanked my arm out of Jasper's grip and walked out without looking back.

When I got home, Seraphina was in the same car as me.

She clutched her velvet box and smiled at me with pure malice.

"Even if you marry him, Norah, he'll only ever love me."

Since we were alone, she didn't bother with the act.

Looking at her smug face, I thought about my past life.

Back then, after she was sent away, our mother forced her to marry a poor student named Lucas who we had sponsored.

Lucas had eventually become incredibly successful and treated her like a queen.

Her life had been a dream while mine was a nightmare.

But this time, I was going to make sure my parents stayed out of her love life.

I wanted to see if she could survive the path she was choosing for herself.

"I truly hope you and Jasper stay together forever," I said coldly.

The smug look on her face vanished, replaced by confusion and then rage.

"Stop acting! You're dying of jealousy inside, aren't you? That's why you're saying that!"

I just stared out the window, ignoring her screaming.

Two days later.

The city's premier art gallery, a massive project funded by the Vance and Rivers families, was glowing with light.

Every major player in the city was there for the gala.

Tonight, my engagement would finally be announced.

The moment I stepped inside, Seraphina and her group of friends intercepted me.

She had a cruel smirk on her face.

As she got close, her foot suddenly slipped. She went crashing toward a glass display case.

In her "panic," she grabbed my dress and yanked it hard, screaming, "Norah, why did you push me?"

The glass on that case had been removed for cleaning. Seraphina slammed into it, and the antique porcelain inside shattered into a million pieces.

The room exploded in chaos.

Her friends started screaming. "Norah, you're a monster! You pushed her just because you're jealous? You destroyed a priceless antique!"

Jasper heard the noise and came charging through the crowd.

He knelt by Seraphina, picking her up with a gentle touch. "Are you hurt? Talk to me."

Seraphina shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

Once he knew she was okay, Jasper turned on me. His face was a mask of pure rage as he stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face.

The sting was instant. My cheek burned.

"Can you really not stand her existence that much?" he hissed through his teeth.

The room went dead silent.

I had expected him to take her side, but the physical pain of the slap still fueled a fire of hatred in my chest.

When I didn't say anything, Jasper's eyes grew colder.

"Norah, I swear, I'll make my father cancel the engagement right now."

"And you're going to pay for these antiques. Ten times their value!"

Just as everyone was leaning in to watch my downfall, Mr. Vance arrived.

His face was black with fury. Before anyone could react―SMACK.

He delivered a massive slap to Jasper's face.

It was so hard that Jasper's head spun to the side. He looked at his father in total shock.

"You absolute idiot!" Mr. Vance roared. "I've tolerated your behavior, but you dare to threaten Norah? Do you have no respect for this family?"

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Then he turned to the crowd with a grave expression.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the man engaged to the Rivers' eldest daughter, Norah, is my eldest son, Silas Vance."

"Not this foolish boy. Let us move past this misunderstanding immediately."