Chapter 2

Liam took me back to his private estate.

"Mom and Dad aren't happy about the news of Valerie and Ryder getting married today," Liam said, peeling me some fruit.

"You should stay here for a while."

I looked at the sliced fruit platter, skewered with toothpicks, and let out a cold laugh.

"Are they still regretting not picking Valerie when they had to choose between us for adoption? Didn't they practically fall over themselves to be Valerie's godparents years ago? They might as well change their last name from Reed to Valerie!"

Liam, seeing me looking like I was about to lose it, said nothing and retreated to his study.

He knew me well. Engaging with me now would just make him my personal punching bag.

I checked the time. It was one in the morning.

I called Ryder.

It rang three times before someone finally picked up.

Ryder's voice was cold, a stark contrast to the intimacy we'd shared hours earlier in the hotel.

"Didn't I tell you not to call me when I'm home? My family... wouldn't want to see me associated with a woman like you."

"A woman like me?"

My voice rose sharply.

"We've been secretly together for seven years, Ryder! Do you really believe those tabloid rumors? Believe I'm a promiscuous woman?"

Ryder's reply was icy.

"Where there's smoke, there's fire."

Perhaps realizing he'd gone too far, he quickly added,

"Don't cause trouble, Stella. You've always been so understanding these past seven years."

I looked at my empty ring finger, picturing Valerie's wedding ring.

"Ryder," I whispered. "Did you really mean it? That you'd marry me in a month?"

His tone softened slightly.

"Have I ever broken a promise to you?"

"Okay."

I put down my phone, my gaze drawn to the calendar.

Just thirty days to wait.

Thirty days later, either Ryder would keep his promise, or I would vanish from his world forever.

A moment later, rustling sounds came from the receiver.

I realized I hadn't hung up.

Ryder must have forgotten too.

I heard his voice, chatting with his best friend.

"Ryder, you chased Valerie for seven years, and you finally made it official. Old Man Sterling must be thrilled to see your marriage certificate, right?"

Ryder's voice was reserved, yet tinged with a faint pride.

"Grandfather has already signed over his shares to me; the paperwork is being processed. Oh, and Valerie's pregnant. What do you think would be a good gift for her? Do you think she'd like the estate on the west side of town?"

Ryder's friend lowered his voice.

"Ryder, that Stella girl you've been stringing along... when are you going to get rid of her for good?"

Ryder was silent for a moment.

Amidst my violently beating heart, I heard Ryder's indifferent voice.

"Stella? Oh, next month."

His friend pressed him.

"You've been playing her for seven years straight? Young Master Sterling, can you really bear to let her go?"

Ryder's voice was tinged with annoyance.

"She's just an adopted daughter of the Reed family, not particularly favored. What's there to miss? Valerie and she came from the same orphanage, both adopted, but why is Valerie so much more accomplished, so perfect in every way?"

Ryder's friend lowered his voice.

"Young Master Sterling, everyone in the circle knows Stella had your 'tag' on her for the past seven years. You even had someone smear Stella's name, ensuring she wouldn't have any other men around. Now you're bored with her, how about... you let us have a taste? See how 'open' the Reed family's adopted daughter really is? She's only ever been with you, so she must be pure."

Ryder's chuckling, cursing voice drifted over.

"Fine, she's been with me for so many years, I won't let you guys lose out. I'll find a chance to let you all taste what a 'little firecracker' is like..."

The voices faded.

It was then I realized that, at some point, tears were streaming down my face.

I wiped away my tears expressionlessly, then wiped away the blood from my lip where I'd bitten myself.

Looking at my pale reflection in the mirror, I cursed myself for being so weak.

My heart was utterly cold.

The question that had plagued me for seven years finally had an answer today.

How did I, a woman always so proper, suddenly become entangled in countless salacious rumors seven years ago, all fabricated so convincingly, making me an object of scorn in Veridian City?

Making my already precarious position in the Reed family even worse.

It was Ryder, pulling the strings all along.

At that moment, another invitation popped up on my phone.

It was for an afternoon tea.

The host was Valerie.

The time was the following afternoon.