Chapter 1

By the time I got back to the estate, it was pitch dark.

The living room was lit up bright. Irene was curled up on the sofa eating dessert.

Alex and my brother Victor were sitting beside her, a freshly opened bottle of wine in front of all three.

When she saw me walk in, Irene immediately sat up straight and shot the two of them a smug look.

"Called it. I knew she'd find her way back tonight."

"You two lost. I get to run the family schedule for the next month."

Victor leaned back into the sofa and scoffed. "What'd you do, leave her breadcrumbs or something?"

"Last time she got lost at the docks it took her half a day. No phone today and she's back in under three hours?"

Alex didn't say anything. He just looked up at me for a second.

He's my fiancé. We grew up together. The family's chosen heir.

Our parents arranged the engagement when we were kids. Back then, he used to hold my hand and walk me home from the little path outside the estate every single time.

He told me over and over that as long as he was around, I would never lose my way home.

Funny how the person who ended up leaving me alone in strange places the most turned out to be him.

Victor is my brother. Well, not by blood.

Over a decade ago, Victor's father was killed in a family purge. He was brought to the estate when he was just ten.

Everyone thought keeping a stray kid in a mafia household was a waste. Nothing but dead weight.

But I clung to his arm and refused to let go. Insisted I wanted a big brother.

My father couldn't say no. So Victor stayed.

All these years later, he'd become the most ruthless enforcer in the family. And the person Irene trusted most.

"Oh, quit it."

Irene laughed and tossed my phone onto the table.

"I grabbed her phone a while ago. So? You guys gonna admit she's actually getting better or what?"

The mood in the room shifted instantly.

The smile faded from Victor's face. "Hold on. When did you take it?"

"Earlier."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

His voice dropped noticeably.

Alex frowned too. "If something had happened to her, we wouldn't have been able to reach her."

Irene looked at both of them like they'd lost their minds. "Are you two for real right now? This whole training thing was your idea."

"And now suddenly I'm the bad guy?"

Victor was quiet for a few seconds. Then he waved it off.

"Forget it. She's home."

"Just don't pull that again without telling us."

Irene pouted, clearly not taking it seriously.

Alex had already gotten up and walked over to me.

He took my wrist, looked at my face carefully, and only relaxed once he was sure I wasn't hurt.

"Irene meant well. Don't hold it against her."

He turned toward the kitchen. "I had them save you dinner. And that dessert you like. Hang on, let me grab it."

"Don't bother."

I pulled my hand back. My voice was calm.

"I'm tired."

I picked up my phone and walked straight upstairs.

A few seconds of quiet behind me.

Irene looked at Victor nervously. "She's mad, isn't she?"

She bit her lip awkwardly and stood up, reaching for her coat.

"I should go. She probably doesn't wanna see me right now."

Alex was already at the door, holding it open for her.

"It's late. You shouldn't walk back alone. I'll drive you."

Victor stood up immediately.

"I got it."

Alex glanced at him. "Stay. I'm on the way."

Victor let out a cold laugh. "You live on the east side. I live west. Since when is that on the way?"

And just like that, the two of them started arguing in the doorway over who would drive her home.

I stopped at the turn of the staircase. I didn't look back.

How funny.

They were worried about Irene walking home alone at night. Fighting over who got to escort her. Couldn't even settle who would go.

But not a single one of them thought to ask me.

The girl with no phone, deliberately dumped in an unfamiliar part of the city, who couldn't tell left from right. How exactly did she get home by herself?