Chapter 2

Inside the mansion, Briar Miller’s saccharine voice echoed.

“Brother Declan, you’re the best to me! That Aubrey Hayes is nothing. She doesn’t deserve to be with you. It’s been far too easy for her these past two years.”

I stood rigid outside the door, the takeout bag in my hands suddenly weighing a ton of bricks.

Today was Declan’s and my two-year anniversary. I’d planned to finish this last delivery and head home to prepare a surprise.

Declan’s voice, lighter and more frivolous than I’d ever heard it, responded,

“Of course, she doesn’t deserve me. If it wasn’t to get revenge for her ‘bullying’ you back then, why would I stoop so low? Playing house with her for two years…”

Briar giggled.

“Brother Declan, look how ridiculous she is! She really thinks she’s some kind of savior, delivering food every day to support her ‘down-on-his-luck’ prince.”

Through the cracked door, I saw Declan lounging lazily on the couch, not a hint of a “failed entrepreneur” about him.

And on Briar Miller’s slender wrist, unmistakably, was my grandmother’s carved stone bracelet.

Declan pinched Briar’s cheek. “Watching her grovel for delivery fees to customers was truly satisfying.”

My vision blurred, my breathing grew shallow.

For the past two years, I’d woken up at four in the morning to deliver food, not clocking out until eleven at night.

I’d even sold all my valuables. Even the bracelet my grandmother left me, I’d pawned it off.

That night, Declan held me close and said, “Aubrey, once I get back on my feet, I’ll make sure you live a good life.”

But it turned out his so-called family bankruptcy, orphaned parents, and repeated startup failures…

It was all a web of lies, spun to help another woman get revenge on me.

I shoved the door open.

The laughter inside abruptly ceased.

Declan sprang up from the couch as if he’d been zapped, his face instantly paling.

“Aubrey… Aubrey? What are you doing here? I’m discussing business with friends.”

I didn't even glance at him, my gaze locked on Briar Miller’s wrist.

“Give me back my bracelet.”

Briar arrogantly tilted her chin. “Why should I? Declan gave this to me as a gift.”

My voice trembled uncontrollably. “That’s my grandmother’s heirloom! I only pawned it to lend Declan money for his ‘startup’!”

The smile on Declan’s face froze. He instinctively grabbed my wrist, trying to coax me with his usual gentle tone.

“Aubrey, let me explain…”

I yanked my hand away. “Explain what? Explain how you lied to me for two years? Or explain how you casually gave away my grandmother’s heirloom?”

Briar stood up, deliberately clutching the carved stone bracelet on her wrist.

“You want it? Fine, a million dollars. Pay me now, and it’s yours.”

A million dollars!

Ever since I’d broken ties with my family, I’d been utterly penniless, all my money going into Declan’s supposed ventures.

I couldn't even scrape together a thousand dollars.

Declan, standing nearby, averted my gaze, silently condoning Briar’s deliberate humiliation of me.

My heart plummeted. I gritted my teeth and said, “Give me three days. I’ll buy it.”

Briar laughed, a loud, exaggerated sound. “Three days? You couldn’t earn a million dollars in a lifetime of deliveries.”

With that, she snatched the takeout bag from my hand and flung the eighty-eight thousand dollar customized Western meal all over me.

Briar then crushed the expensive beef with her high heel. “See? People like you only deserve to smell it.”

I was covered in grease, but I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.

Briar sneered, then suddenly took off the bracelet and yanked open the window.

“Look at your pathetic, poor self. Since you care so much…”

Before I could even react, she tossed the bracelet out.

I immediately rushed to the window, screaming, “No—!”

The bracelet arced through the air and disappeared into the filthy storm drain below.

My grandmother had personally put it on my wrist on her deathbed. It was my last tangible link to family.