Chapter 3

3.

"I'm so jealous. Today is Seraphina Sterling's birthday. Gideon rented out the entire Rose Room for her!"

Another girl gasped. "That's so romantic! But aren't they siblings? I thought he was dating Sadie."

"And Sebastian Vanderbilt! He set off those fireworks for Sadie. Everyone saw it!"

The first girl laughed. "You're so naive. Seraphina is adopted. There's no blood relation."

"Word is, Gideon and Sebastian are obsessed with her. Sadie was just a pawn in a bet."

The voices faded. Tears streamed down my face.

I looked down at my ruined dress. Nobody remembered that today was also my birthday.

When Gideon had put this dress on me, his eyes were full of love. "Sadie, you'll be the most radiant woman in the world tonight."

Then he tore that radiance away to use as a stepping stone for his true love.

A month ago, his assistant told me he had booked the Rose Room for me. He said my name would be on every billboard in the city.

"You're so lucky, Miss Sadie. Not many women get this much attention from Mr. Sterling."

Now I realized the assistant was just mocking me the whole time.

The whole city knew about the bet. Everyone knew who they really loved.

I was the only one blinded by their fake devotion.

In my past life, as the flames rose, I had begged for help. "Sebastian, did you ever love me for even a second?"

He had looked at me through the fire. "Sadie, what kind of dream are you having?"

"Seraphina is sweet and perfect. You? You're just a toy. You don't even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as her."

I walked out of the hotel. The giant screens on the twin towers showed a woman's sweet smile.

Gideon was on one knee. Sebastian stood nearby. Seraphina was in the middle, looking like a princess.

"Seraphina, marry me!" Gideon's voice echoed through the live broadcast.

I looked away. I wiped my eyes and started the long walk home.