Victor froze halfway through buttoning his shirt , clearly surprised at how easily I'd agreed . " You can refuse , " he said at last , his tone deceptively gentle . " You're a girl - reputation matters . " He reached out to pull me close , but I stepped back . My grip tightened around the packet of powder until my knuckles turned white . " I'll do it , " I whispered . His hand lingered in the air , then he gave a short laugh , shrugging . " Suit yourself . " Like countless times before , after our intimacy , he dressed me himself - sliding the silk straps over my shoulders , fastening the delicate clasps . His breath brushed hot against the back of my neck , sending a tremor down my spine . " You embarrass too easily , " he murmured , fingers threading through my hair , tone soft yet cruel . " It's just a performance . I don't expect you to actually go through with it . " Then , with a smile that didn't reach his eyes , " Do this right , and I'll grant you one wish . Anything you want . " I tilted my chin , meeting the sharp lines of his handsome face , and forced a smile . " Alright . Thank you , sir . " By dawn , the warmth of the night before had already grown cold . I turned to leave , but his voice stopped me . " Bella . " The way he said my name was the same as every breathless whisper in our nights together . Backlit by the rising sun , his expression unreadable , his voice low and deep , " If you ever fall for someone else , tell me . I'll prepare your dowry . We'll part ways cleanly . " I froze . My throat burned . I was eighteen when Victor pulled me half - naked out of a pit of animals . The moment I saw him , I knew we weren't meant for the same road . To steal seven years at his side had been stolen time - borrowed , never owed . I forced down the ache in my chest and smiled . " Alright . " Perhaps out of guilt , Victor once spent millions at an auction to buy me a pair of flawless jade Chapter 2 2.60 % bracelets . He was fastening them around my wrist when Seraphina burst into the room , tears streaking her face . She shoved me hard . I hit the ground , the bracelet shattering into shards that slashed open a deep , bloody wound . " Alexander said he hates me ! " she wailed , her beauty wrecked with despair . " He actually had his bodyguards throw me out ! " Any other day , anyone who dared lay a hand on me would've been destroyed . But this time , Victor only glanced at my bleeding hand before turning , tenderly cupping Seraphina's tear - streaked face . " Still not over it after all these years ? " His voice held a cruel edge . " Alexander Crestfall left the country just to escape you , and you still chased him overseas . " Seraphina's tiny fist pounded against his chest in protest . Victor's jaw tightened , but then he softened , coaxing her with a quiet , indulgent smile . " Chasing a man takes strategy , darling . Throwing yourself at him only makes you look cheap . " Her lips trembled . " Then tell me ... what should I do ? " Victor's mouth curved into that razor - edged smile I knew too well . His eyes flicked to me . " Alexander loves Rose Petal Shortbread - the kind she makes . Have her prepare some . Tell him you learned it just for him . " Though Victor and Alexander were bitter rivals , their families went back generations , and appearances still had to be kept . Whenever Alexander visited Lowe's Manor , I prepared his refreshments myself . He'd praised my cooking more than once . Maybe that was part of Victor's twisted plan - that I could seduce Alexander because of it . As I stood to obey , Seraphina's mocking laugh followed me . " This is the girl you dragged out of the gutter ? " she sneered . " Didn't you once treasure her like she was gold ? And now you've reduced her to a servant ? " Victor's chuckle was low and cutting , " Are you jealous ? Marry me , and everything she has will be yours . If I tell her to serve you , even as a maid , she'll do it . " The words sliced through me like steel . My chest clenched so hard I could barely breathe . When I walked into the kitchen , the servants who once rushed to flatter me now lowered their heads , pretending I didn't exist . Chapter 2 2.60 % They all understood . I had fallen from favor . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!