Chapter 2

It turned out Charles was the illegitimate son of the Linwood family.

A year ago, the Linwood family's only legitimate heir died in a car accident, and Charles was brought in as the replacement.

Today was his official introduction to high society.

My family had been invited.

My mother, Helen Donovan, recognized him immediately. When she learned he was now the Linwood heir, her eyes lit up with calculation. "You need to introduce him to your sister.

"He used to be just a doctor, so of course he wasn't good enough for her," Helen continued, already scheming. "But now he's the Linwood heir. That changes everything. You dated him before, didn't you? Find an excuse to meet him and bring your sister along."

I said, "We had an ugly breakup, Mom. He won't agree to see me."

It was a convenient excuse, but it was also true.

If I'd known Charles was the guest of honor tonight, I never would have come.

Helen shot me a glare and lowered her voice. "You're such a useless waste of space."

I grabbed her wrist. "What did you just say?"

My temper had become unpredictable over the past two years. One second, I was calm and controlled, the next, I'd snap without warning.

Helen's expression shifted when she saw my face. She said, "I didn't say anything."

I looked her dead in the eye. "You can favor Gianna all you want. You can spoil Julian rotten. But I'm warning you right now. Don't mess with me. Don't use me as a stepping stone for them. You know what happens if you do."

This life, I was living for myself, not for anyone else.

Helen had witnessed one of my episodes before, so she kept her mouth shut.

I released her wrist and headed for the exit.

Music started playing from somewhere in the room.

A dance floor had appeared in the center without me noticing.

Charles approached me with that polished charm of his, and instantly, a cluster of girls stared at me with envy.

"May I have this dance?" He extended his hand toward me.

I didn't even glance at him. I treated him like he was invisible and walked right past him.

In an instant, all that arrogance drained from his face.

It didn't matter how much his status had changed.

To me, he would always be the same piece of trash who protected a homewrecker and didn't give a damn whether his own daughter lived or died.

*****

That evening, my father, Richard Donovan, sat me down with a grave expression on his face. "The Linwood family wants to arrange a marriage alliance with us," he said. "What are your thoughts?"

I shrugged. "If Gianna's okay with it, so am I."

Gianna's cheeks were still flushed as she sat on the sofa with Helen, gushing about how she'd spent the entire evening alone with Charles and how much of a gentleman he had been.

Her voice brimmed with pride and satisfaction.

Helen held her hand and beamed at her. "Did you guys make plans to see each other again? Did you get his number?"

She squeezed Gianna's fingers excitedly. "You need to be more forward, honey. So many women have their eyes on him right now, and rich, handsome men like that don't stay available for long."

Gianna smiled coyly, "I didn't dare ask for his number, but wasn't Sally his ex? Maybe he hasn't changed his number yet. I could try calling it and give him a little surprise."

When Helen heard this, she immediately turned to me and demanded that I give them the number.

I had no reason to refuse. I found his number on my old phone and handed it over so Gianna could call.

The phone only rang twice before someone picked up.