Chapter 2

2

The rain lingered for three long days.

Giselle also claimed to be bedridden for three days.

Rumors swirled through the high-society circles that the second Miss Vance was being bullied into an arranged marriage by her evil sister and had fallen ill from grief.

Everyone praised Lucian for being so devoted, staying at the Vance mansion to care for his "poor, innocent sister-in-law-to-be."

In reality, Giselle was just throwing a tantrum.

My bedroom door creaked open. Giselle walked in wearing a silk nightgown, carrying a bowl of bird's nest soup, her face wearing that signature tragic expression.

"Sister, are you feeling better?"

She dismissed the maids and shut the door. The fragility vanished instantly.

"Seraphina, what the hell are you playing at?" She slammed the bowl onto the table, her voice dripping with resentment. "You're already the legitimate heiress of the Vance family. Why won't you let me have this one chance to marry into true wealth?"

I was sitting at my vanity, cleaning a delicate Swiss Army knife. The cold blade reflected my expressionless face.

I didn't even look up.

"You really think marrying Sterling is a good thing?"

"Isn't it?" Giselle's voice spiked. Jealousy distorted her features. "That's the Sterling family! He's on the Forbes list! As long as I'm his wife, even just in name, I'll never want for anything again! It's better than staying here and dealing with your moods and Lucian's pity!"

I let out a dry laugh.

I really wished Lucian could see this.

His pure, innocent white moonlight was tired of being the "second daughter." She was dying to climb the social ladder and play the part of a billionaire's wife.

But in my past life, Giselle hadn't survived a year before her death was announced. The official story was depression and suicide.

Her death drove Lucian and me into a bottomless abyss.

She was the scar on his heart, and I was the knife that carved it.

"You've always been the bossy one, Seraphina. Maybe you just can't handle someone else being in control..." Giselle tested me, seeing my silence.

I looked up, a mocking glint in my eyes.

"It's still better than being a useless brat who only knows how to cry."

If she wants to die, let her. But in the previous life, her death ruined the Vance reputation and nearly bankrupted the company.

Since it's my turn this time, I need a solid exit strategy.

I went to my father's study and retrieved my mother's heirloom from the safe.

It was a vintage Patek Philippe watch. My mother had given it to my father as a token of love, but after his affair, she took it back to leave for me as my only dowry.

It was my last card and my last emotional anchor.

That evening, Lucian called.

"The racetrack on the outskirts. Are you coming?"

I stayed silent for a moment before agreeing.

When I arrived, Lucian was leaning against his black Lamborghini, smoking. The sunset cast a golden glow over him. He wasn't in a suit today; his casual attire made him look like the reckless boy I once knew.

He saw me, flicked his cigarette away, and looked down at me. "Princess Seraphina, care for a race?"

I took this as a rare peace offering. After all, Giselle had been "sick" for three days, and he hadn't spoken to me once.

I hopped onto my red Ducati and revved the engine. The roar filled the air as I looked at him.

"Old rules. What's the bet?"

"The loser does one thing for the winner," he said, his eyes unreadable.

Racing was my specialty, but I was distracted today. I crossed the finish line a full thirty seconds behind him.

He pulled up smoothly beside me and walked over. There was a hint of tenderness in his voice that he probably didn't even notice.

"You weren't yourself today."

That was the unspoken chemistry between us. Having grown up together, he knew my habits better than anyone.

"You won. What do you want?" I took off my helmet, shaking out my damp hair. My eyes sparkled in the sunset.

Usually, the prize was something small―a cool lighter or ice cream from a street vendor.

But this time, Lucian's warmth vanished, replaced by a cold resolve.

"Give the watch you took to Giselle."

The smile on my face froze.

The adrenaline from the race turned into ice in my veins.

"You did this on purpose." I dropped my hand. My expensive helmet rolled across the ground, gathering dust.

I let the evening wind mess up my hair, my voice turning frigid.

"You really went all out for Giselle, didn't you, Lucian? You even used yourself as bait."

Lucian sounded frustrated, as if I were the one being difficult.

"Seraphina, you know she needs it more than you. She's going abroad alone. Having that watch is a safety net. Why do you have to fight her for everything?"

Our shadows stretched long and distorted across the asphalt.

I didn't look at his face. I just asked one last question.

"Lucian, if this was our very last race, would you still choose to make me give up that watch?"

His answer came without hesitation, sounding almost annoyed.

"Yes."