Chapter 2

I had barely stepped out of the party hall when my parents rushed over, their eyes brimming with tears.

My mom pulled me into a crushing hug, her voice shaking with emotion.

She cried, "Claire, my foolish girl! We warned you that guy was trouble, but you just wouldn't listen. Ten years. How could you be so naive?"

My dad's face was flushed with anger, his fists clenched, knuckles white, veins throbbing at his temples.

"Almost 30 million. You think the Jennings family just prints money? And we ended up feeding an ungrateful bastard!" he spat through gritted teeth. "I'll make sure someone breaks his legs tonight."

I smiled and patted their hands, feeling a rush of heartache mixed with warmth in my chest.

In my previous life, I cut ties with my parents just to shield Edward, and that ended up dragging them into his plot. They died in a car accident orchestrated by Edward and Sophie.

This time around, I would never make that mistake again.

"Dad, Mom, don't be upset," I said. "Losing thirty million is a small price to pay for finally seeing that scumbag's true colors. Honestly, this deal was worth it."

Before I could even finish speaking, I heard an angry roar behind me, almost animalistic.

"Claire!" Edward stormed after me, grabbing my wrist in a tight grip.

His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at me. "Why are you doing this to me? Is that all our ten years meant to you? Just money?"

He added, "Is it so hard for you to accept Sophie? She's just like my little sister! She's sick. What's so wrong about me visiting her?"

A wave of nausea churned in my stomach.

Even now, he was still making excuses for that fake innocent, Sophie.

I yanked my hand out of his grip and looked past him, my gaze landing on that fragile, scared little thing cowering behind him.

Sophie was dressed in a white dress, her face ghostly pale, and her left wrist wrapped in an eye-catching bandage.

She was hiding behind Edward, peeking out at me all shy and innocent, but I caught a glint of triumph in her eyes before she could cover it up.

I let out a cold laugh and pointed straight at her wrist.

"Sister?" I sneered. "Edward, open your damn eyes and take a good look. What's that on your so-called innocent sister's wrist?"

Edward froze for a second, then instinctively followed my finger.

Under the bandage on Sophie's wrist, a glimpse of a clear, emerald bracelet peeked out. It shimmered softly under the bright hallway lights.

Edward's pupils narrowed sharply. He recognized it instantly. It was the emerald bracelet I'd bought for a million at the charity auction just a few days ago.

He'd just casually mentioned he liked it, so I bid for it at the auction, planning to give it to him as an engagement gift.

But now, that one-million-dollar bracelet was adorning Sophie's wrist.

Sophie's face turned deathly pale as she frantically tried to hide her hand behind her back, but she was already caught red-handed.

"How could this be? Sophie, this bracelet..." Edward's voice shook as he looked at her, utterly stunned.

I looked at the two of them, my smile growing even colder. "Mr. Grant, when it comes to picking out valuables, I've always had great taste."

I paused, my eyes sweeping over Sophie's fake-innocent face. "Not like you, always chasing after shady little bargains behind people's backs."

Edward's face went completely pale.

Just then, a sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom glided to a silent stop at the hotel entrance.

The door opened, and a man in a sharp black suit and white gloves stepped out, striding toward us with purpose.

He completely ignored Edward and Sophie, walking straight up to me and bowing respectfully.

Then, he took off his suit jacket and, with perfect courtesy, draped it over my shoulders, shielding me from Edward's burning, disgusting gaze.

"Ms. Jennings, my boss has been waiting for you for quite some time," the man said, his voice steady with an undeniable authority.

He looked right at me, speaking each word with deliberate emphasis. "He says it's time for you to reclaim what belongs to you."