Chapter 2

When the cab dropped me off, I pushed open the front door. The living room sofa was buried under the engagement gifts Sebastian had bought for Vanessa.

Diamond earrings, limited-edition handbags, exquisite jewelry boxes—it was a mountain of luxury.

Vanessa was holding a diamond necklace up to the light. When she saw me walk in, she smiled and held it against her collarbone.

"Nora, look. Do you think it suits me? Sebastian gave it to me."

"It's beautiful."

I took off my shoes, ready to head straight to my tiny bedroom.

Diane walked out of the kitchen carrying a large plate of fresh strawberries. She smiled and waved us over.

"Nora, Vanessa, come try these. Flown in this morning. They're incredibly sweet."

Vanessa happily popped one into her mouth.

Diane ate one too, then finally noticed me.

"Nora, why aren't you eating?"

I stopped.

"I'm severely allergic to strawberries."

Diane froze for a second, then dramatically slapped her forehead.

"Oh, silly me, look at my memory. Well, don't touch them, then. Vanessa, you eat more."

She pushed the entire plate across the counter toward Vanessa.

I had been back in this house for exactly three years. And they still couldn't remember my severe allergy.

Richard stepped out of his study and called my name.

"Nora, I've already had the staff pack the luggage you'll be taking to the Sterling estate. They're sending someone to pick you up tomorrow."

I didn't turn around. I just pushed open my bedroom door.

Richard followed me inside and pulled a check from his pocket.

"Twenty-five thousand dollars. Consider it pocket money. I won't have outsiders saying the Bennetts mistreated you."

I took the check without a word.

The diamond necklace currently resting against Vanessa's skin cost far more than this fraction.

I looked around the room.

A narrow twin bed. A creaky wardrobe. Yellowing curtains. The bedsheets were faded hand-me-downs dragged out of the storage room.

Down the hall, the door to Vanessa's master suite was half-open.

Plush wool carpets, a walk-in closet, racks packed with haute couture, and shelves lined with limited-edition bags. On her nightstand sat a framed family portrait: Richard and Diane hugging Vanessa tightly between them.

From the living room, I could hear Vanessa whining playfully.

"Sebastian, I want to wear that custom haute couture gown for the wedding next month. You promised."

"Alright, whatever you want."

The next morning, representatives from the Sterling family arrived.

Mr. Harris, dressed in an immaculate dark suit, walked into the living room flanked by lawyers carrying thick folders.

He handed an asset portfolio to Richard.

"These are the prenuptial asset arrangements established by Mr. Sterling for Miss Bennett."

Richard flipped the folder open. His eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

"An irrevocable trust... Three Manhattan penthouses... Wedding-related assets... A total value exceeding ten million dollars?"

Diane snatched the file out of his hands, her fingers trembling uncontrollably.

"Wait... didn't they say she was just going over for a confidential companionship contract? Why is there so much money?"

Mr. Harris maintained a polite smile, offering no explanation.

"All assets will be managed by the Sterling legal team. Miss Nora Bennett is the sole beneficiary. Any asset transfer or authorized signature must be personally signed and confirmed by her to take effect."

The greedy smile on Richard's face stiffened for a moment.

Mr. Harris turned to me.

"Miss Bennett, Mr. Sterling asked me to convey that if you have any needs, you only have to ask."

"I don't have any other requests," I said. "Just proceed with the wedding on the scheduled date."

"Understood."

After Mr. Harris and his team left, Richard and Diane stared at the documents, so agitated they could barely speak.

"Nora, you've really hit the jackpot this time," Richard said, rubbing his hands together. "You're still young. Let us manage these assets for you."

"Sure," I replied flatly.

I knew perfectly well they wouldn't be able to touch a single cent.

Vanessa stood off to the side, all the color draining from her face.

She had anticipated her wedding for so long. But the prenuptial gifts Sebastian gave her, combined with her entire wedding budget, barely scraped a million dollars.

Meanwhile, I was marrying a man rumored to be on his deathbed, and the resources handed to me casually left her in the dust.

That evening, when Sebastian came over, I happened to catch Vanessa throwing a tantrum.

"Sebastian, Nora's arrangements are so much more generous than mine. I want more too."

"Okay, okay," Sebastian coaxed her patiently.

But his eyes uncontrollably drifted toward the balcony.

"Sebastian?" Vanessa tugged hard on his arm. "What are you looking at?"

Chapter 2

When the cab dropped me off, I pushed open the front door. The living room sofa was buried under the engagement gifts Sebastian had bought for Vanessa.

Diamond earrings, limited-edition handbags, exquisite jewelry boxes—it was a mountain of luxury.

Vanessa was holding a diamond necklace up to the light. When she saw me walk in, she smiled and held it against her collarbone.

"Nora, look. Do you think it suits me? Sebastian gave it to me."

"It's beautiful."

I took off my shoes, ready to head straight to my tiny bedroom.

Diane walked out of the kitchen carrying a large plate of fresh strawberries. She smiled and waved us over.

"Nora, Vanessa, come try these. Flown in this morning. They're incredibly sweet."

Vanessa happily popped one into her mouth.

Diane ate one too, then finally noticed me.

"Nora, why aren't you eating?"

I stopped.

"I'm severely allergic to strawberries."

Diane froze for a second, then dramatically slapped her forehead.

"Oh, silly me, look at my memory. Well, don't touch them, then. Vanessa, you eat more."

She pushed the entire plate across the counter toward Vanessa.

I had been back in this house for exactly three years. And they still couldn't remember my severe allergy.

Richard stepped out of his study and called my name.

"Nora, I've already had the staff pack the luggage you'll be taking to the Sterling estate. They're sending someone to pick you up tomorrow."

I didn't turn around. I just pushed open my bedroom door.

Richard followed me inside and pulled a check from his pocket.

"Twenty-five thousand dollars. Consider it pocket money. I won't have outsiders saying the Bennetts mistreated you."

I took the check without a word.

The diamond necklace currently resting against Vanessa's skin cost far more than this fraction.

I looked around the room.

A narrow twin bed. A creaky wardrobe. Yellowing curtains. The bedsheets were faded hand-me-downs dragged out of the storage room.

Down the hall, the door to Vanessa's master suite was half-open.

From the living room, I could hear Vanessa whining playfully.

"Sebastian, I want to wear that custom haute couture gown for the wedding next month. You promised."

"Alright, whatever you want."

The next morning, representatives from the Sterling family arrived.

Mr. Harris, dressed in an immaculate dark suit, walked into the living room flanked by lawyers carrying thick folders.

He handed an asset portfolio to Richard.

"These are the prenuptial asset arrangements established by Mr. Sterling for Miss Bennett."

Richard flipped the folder open. His eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

"An irrevocable trust... Three Manhattan penthouses... Wedding-related assets... A total value exceeding ten million dollars?"

Diane snatched the file out of his hands, her fingers trembling uncontrollably.

"Wait... didn't they say she was just going over for a confidential companionship contract? Why is there so much money?"

Mr. Harris maintained a polite smile, offering no explanation.

The greedy smile on Richard's face stiffened for a moment.

Mr. Harris turned to me.

"Miss Bennett, Mr. Sterling asked me to convey that if you have any needs, you only have to ask."

"I don't have any other requests," I said. "Just proceed with the wedding on the scheduled date."

"Understood."

After Mr. Harris and his team left, Richard and Diane stared at the documents, so agitated they could barely speak.

"Nora, you've really hit the jackpot this time," Richard said, rubbing his hands together. "You're still young. Let us manage these assets for you."

"Sure," I replied flatly.

I knew perfectly well they wouldn't be able to touch a single cent.

Vanessa stood off to the side, all the color draining from her face.

She had anticipated her wedding for so long. But the prenuptial gifts Sebastian gave her, combined with her entire wedding budget, barely scraped a million dollars.

Meanwhile, I was marrying a man rumored to be on his deathbed, and the resources handed to me casually left her in the dust.

That evening, when Sebastian came over, I happened to catch Vanessa throwing a tantrum.

"Sebastian, Nora's arrangements are so much more generous than mine. I want more too."

"Okay, okay," Sebastian coaxed her patiently.

But his eyes uncontrollably drifted toward the balcony.

"Sebastian?" Vanessa tugged hard on his arm. "What are you looking at?"