Chapter 2

The next morning, I was woken by my phone ringing.

It was my mom.

Her shrill voice pierced my ears. "Skylar! How did last night go? Are the Hayes satisfied? When can we expect that contract to be signed?"

A barrage of questions, not a single one about my well-being.

My heart sank to rock bottom.

"Mom, I…"

"You what, you what! I'm telling you, if you mess this up and ruin our family, I'll be the first to disown you!"

My dad snatched the phone from her, his tone equally cold. "Skylar, just be good. The Hayes family isn't someone we can afford to offend. Just be obedient, and your father won't treat you unfairly."

The call ended abruptly.

I gripped the phone, my entire body cold.

And just like that, the reality of my 'family' crashed down on me.

The door burst open, and Adrian strolled in, a coffee cup in his hand.

Without a word, he casually flung the scalding hot coffee onto the carpet right in front of me.

"Deaf? Didn't you hear my brother call you?"

I flinched, startled, and quickly scrambled out of bed.

"I'm sorry…"

"Don't apologize to me."

He pinched my chin. "Go. Clean that carpet. With your hands."

I bit my lip, knelt on the floor, and used my sleeve to wipe at the scalding coffee stain.

Adrian stood nearby, looking down at me.

"Tsk, tsk. What an obedient little dog."

He nudged my shoulder with his foot. "My brother's waiting downstairs. Don't keep him."

Swallowing my humiliation, I cleaned the carpet and hurried downstairs.

Dante was already seated at the dining table, breakfast laid out before him, untouched.

He merely glanced at me when I arrived.

"Sit."

I cautiously sat opposite him.

Throughout the entire breakfast, he remained silent, the only sounds being the clinking of cutlery against plates.

The oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe.

I could feel Adrian's malicious gaze from across the room, making my skin prickle.