Chapter 2

Victor didn't win the argument. Alex and Irene left together, and Victor was sent back to his own place.

Back in my room, I didn't bother checking what was happening downstairs. I opened my laptop and sent an email to the family's attorney.

I wanted to apply for a transfer to the European division. One year.

It wasn't out of spite. I just suddenly wanted to be somewhere else.

At eight that evening, my father came home and had the kitchen prepare dinner himself.

Victor knocked on my door to call me downstairs.

When he saw me sitting by the window, not moving, he paused for a moment before speaking. "You still hung up on the Irene thing?"

"Come on, you know how she is. She never thinks before she acts. But she really does care about you."

When Irene first entered our lives, she was an outsider my father had just taken in.

That year, her family's business collapsed, and they had no choice but to come under our family's protection.

Everyone assumed she'd eventually be traded off in an arranged marriage. But the first time I met her, I pulled her to my side.

Later, at her first family banquet with us, someone mocked me for being a princess who hid behind two men. Irene grabbed the man's wine glass and smashed it on the table in front of everyone.

That night, she got scolded by the elders for causing a scene. But it was the first time I thought she was someone worth knowing.

After that, she became the fourth in our group.

Four of us growing up together. Training together. Even choosing the same academy.

I always thought we'd keep going like that forever.

Until somewhere along the way, I noticed the secrets between them kept multiplying. And I was always the last one to find out.

Victor saw I wasn't moving and pulled me out of the chair. "Just come eat."

I was hungry. No matter how bad I felt, I wasn't going to punish my own stomach.

At the table, Victor brought up the private horse ranch on the outskirts that had just been renovated.

"Heard they got new horses and expanded the whole place. Irene already set up horses and an instructor for tomorrow."

"She wants all of us to go."

I was about to say no, but my father smiled first.

"Go."

"You used to love riding when you were little, remember? First time you fell off, you cried and swore you'd never go back. Next morning you were pulling on my arm begging me to take you."

He sighed softly.

"I've been too busy these past years. Haven't spent enough time with you."

I looked at him, and the refusal on the tip of my tongue suddenly wouldn't come out.

Those childhood memories felt so far away. But his words brought them rushing back.

Back then, Alex would hold the reins for me. Victor would stand nearby and tease me for being scared.

Whenever I rode too far ahead, both of them would follow behind, terrified I'd fall off.

I always thought that no matter how much time passed, they'd always be right behind me.

But now, I wasn't so sure anymore.

After dinner, the four-person group chat lit up.

Irene couldn't decide which riding outfit to wear tomorrow. She sent photo after photo.

Victor and Alex had completely opposite opinions. They went back and forth for dozens of messages arguing about which one suited her better.

Finally Irene sent a voice message, fed up.

"What are you two even arguing about? I sent those for her to pick, not for you guys to fight over!"

A second later, she sent me a private message.

"Lilith, you're not actually mad at me, right?"

"I swear I won't leave you alone outside ever again."

Alex quickly replied on my behalf in the group.

"She's fine. She's not gonna hold a grudge."

"The training was supposed to help her learn to handle things on her own."

"She got herself home. If anything, she should be thanking Irene."

That did the trick. Irene relaxed.

Then she started pushing me to pick an outfit.

Before I could say a word, Alex had already sent one of the photos separately.

"The black one's nice. She used to wear something like that when she rode. Should work."

Victor shot back immediately.

"Black's boring. Silver-grey looks way better on her."

They started arguing again.

I stared at my phone screen and suddenly asked one question.

"When did you guys go try these on?"

The chat went quiet for two seconds.

Victor was mid-typing. He answered without even looking up, almost on reflex.

"Last week."

"At that club on Fifth Avenue. Weren't you there too?"