Chapter 2

With a deadly glare, I went for a slap at Sophie.

Sophie flinched, but she still laughed defiantly, her chin held high.

She sneered, "Stella, I totally called it, didn't I? I always knew your heart was never with Victor. These three years you've been married to him, you've never stopped thinking about your first love."

The next second, I seized her jaw, my grip unyielding.

I said, "Who I give my heart to isn't your concern. But if you keep testing me, I'll make your heart mine."

My eyes glinted with a predatory fierceness.

Sophie froze, intimidated for a moment.

For a split second, I genuinely wanted to destroy her.

Suddenly, a drawling voice came from behind me.

"Haven't seen you in a few days, and you still got that fire in you," a voice said.

A slow clap echoed through the room.

I froze.

Victor stood a few feet away, watching me with a half-smile.

There was no trace of his usual coldness in his eyes. Instead, I saw a flicker of surprise and admiration.

I stood up slowly, grabbed a napkin, and wiped my hands off.

I scoffed, "Keep your people in line. If she comes at me with her crap again, don't expect me to go easy on her."

That day, I wasn't allowed to set foot outside.

Victor locked the garage, had my bestie sent packing, and left me stuck in the bedroom all by myself. He didn't bother to show up until it was already dark.

"Stella, the way you threatened her today was seriously badass. It was like the old you. The ruthless, decisive one was back."

I kept my cool, staring at my reflection in the vanity mirror, not bothering to get up or greet him. I let out a cold laugh.

I said, "Mr. Sterling, you must have the wrong room. Your little girlfriend's place isn't here."

Everybody in the Sterling family knew Sophie was Victor's favorite now. The apple of his eye, the one he kept closest to his heart.

As for me, my title didn't mean a damn thing anymore.

Victor's lips curled into a sly smile as he leaned in, picked up an eyebrow pencil, and with a flirtatious touch, gently traced my brows.

He said, "Stella, why do you always try to rile me up like that? Haven't you noticed how Sophie's eyes kind of resemble yours?

"She's just your substitute, nothing more.

"She's just a distraction. Once I'm tired of her, I'll send her packing."

I scoffed inwardly.

Just a few days ago, he'd brought Sophie into our bedroom on purpose, just to get under my skin.

I stood outside the door, catching his wicked, mocking grin through the gap.

So this was what he called just messing around.

I snorted, "Victor, you really are such a jerk. If you ever want to kick me out and hand the Mrs. Sterling title to someone else, just say it to my face."

Victor gripped my chin, his thumb tracing along it with a possessive, almost teasing touch.

After a few seconds, he sighed, "Come on, don't piss me off. Sophie's eyes might look a little like yours, but she doesn't have that steel in your spine. She could never stand as tall as you do.

"That edge you've got? She could never fake it."

I casually pulled away from him, my voice icy. "I'm going to rest. You can leave now."

Victor never used to spend the night at home. If he did come back, it was always with some woman, just to get a rise out of me.

But this time, he didn't bring anyone with him, and he wasn't leaving.

Instead, he smirked, his eyes narrowing. "Stella, I'm taking you somewhere fun. You're definitely gonna be interested."

Before I could even say no, he'd already dragged me into the car. Half an hour later, we pulled up outside Hillcrest Villa.

I looked up.

Under the bright lights, Luna sat by the window, her chin propped in her hand, deeply engrossed in examining a vial of potion.

Victor's grin was downright sly. "Stella, I've found myself a new plaything. Doesn't she look just like you back then?"

His large hand slid down my neck, slipping under my collar with a slow, possessive caress, but his eyes were locked on the girl inside, sharp and predatory, like a hunter stalking its prey.

He teased, "She's just like you used to be in the lab, completely focused. Almost.

"She's basically another you."

Rage surged through me, every nerve on fire. I whipped around and slapped at him, but he caught my wrist before I could land the blow.

I spat. "You sick bastard. Go ahead, try laying a finger on her. See what happens."

Victor gripped my wrist, smirking like he owned the whole damn city.

"I'm the richest man in Crofast. Tell me, is there anything here I can't take?" he said.

"How did you even know about her?" I asked.

My voice was icy.

I'd been so careful bringing Luna to Crofast. No one should've known, unless Victor had been spying on me all along.

I warned, "Don't lay a finger on her. Otherwise, I won't let you go."

Victor's lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. "Of course I know Luna, your little sister. The one you're grooming to be a scientist, right?"

He gripped my chin, leaning in close.

He said, "All I want is your heart, Stella. As long as you love me, I promise I won't lay a finger on her. Hell, I'll even make sure she gets to be a scientist."

Staring into Victor's possessive, twisted gaze, I nodded, utterly defeated. "Fine."