Chapter 2

Lucas and Quincy slept straight through to noon.

My parents exchanged knowing glances toward the tightly shut bedroom door.

“Ah, young people have energy to spare,” my father chuckled. “But they really ought to pace themselves.”

The serving dish in my hands trembled. The porcelain slipped through my fingers and shattered across the floor.

Mother’s brows drew together in irritation. Then, as if remembering something, she sighed. “Layla, I know you blame us. But Quincy… she’s not like you. Without this strange twist of fate, how many men would truly be willing to care for her for a lifetime? You still have so many years ahead of you…”

I didn’t answer. I crouched and gathered the jagged shards, sweeping them into my palm.

The bedroom door opened. Lucas stepped out, his collar loose, faint kiss marks trailing along his skin. I froze. A shard bit into my finger, and blood welled bright red.

A flicker of disgust crossed his eyes.

Once, I used every little injury as an excuse to draw his attention. At first, he would fuss over me, tending to every scrape. That changed the day I tested the waters and confessed.

From then on, all that remained in his gaze was contempt.

I pressed a tissue to my finger, brushed past him, and dug out a bandage from the medicine kit.

Lucas called out, “Wait.”

I turned. His gaze was locked on my wrist.

The bracelet that had never left my side now lay somewhere in the flower bed outside, where I’d thrown it last night.

I gave him a polite smile. “Lucas, is there something you need?”

His eyes flickered. I had never spoken to him in such a cold tone before.

In my most reckless days, I brushed my ankle against his leg under the dinner table. Later, he cornered me by the sink, spitting that I was shameless.

I’d laughed and asked how he could be so angry if he truly felt nothing. I laughed until I cried.

Back then, I still hoped he’d see me for who I was. He never did. Not once did he doubt Quincy. His love for her was absolute.

He stayed silent, and I had no patience to linger. I turned and walked away.

He didn’t even ask if my finger hurt.

I told my advisor, a man pushing fifty, that I was taking a leave of absence. He frowned, puzzled.

“I’d been planning to keep you on for research, but Mr. Zahn went so far as to invite the renowned geologist Mr. Shaw to be your doctoral supervisor. All you had to do was wait six months. Why the sudden change of heart?”

I blinked. “You mean Lucas?”

“Of course. I know he’ll be your brother-in-law. He really treats you well. Your sister is a lucky woman.”

Yes. Very lucky. Lucky enough that he could extend affection even to someone he despised—just to please her.

A bitter taste spread in my mouth.

“My sister is lucky indeed. But I’ve decided to join the Snow Mountain Wildlife Protection Project. I want the reality of fieldwork over theory. My mind’s made up, Professor. Please approve it. I’ll speak to my family myself.”

He studied me for a long moment, then sighed. “All right. If that’s your decision, I won’t stop you. You’ll always be welcome back.”

After the paperwork, I ran into my junior, Landon. He chatted about his research breakthroughs and the bonus the professor had given him.

Before we parted, he said, “We’ll see each other again someday.”

I didn’t answer.

In the evening, a car pulled up beside me. Inside were Lucas and Quincy.

Once I got in, Quincy smiled knowingly. “Layla, so that’s where you’ve been hiding all afternoon. Busy with a date, huh?”

Lucas caught my gaze in the rearview mirror. “Most campus romances don’t last,” he said sharply. “They spend all day mooning over each other, then break up after graduation. It’s a waste of time and energy. Layla, even if you’re upset, don’t get involved with some shady guy just to make a point.”

In his mind, I was still sulking because he’d marry my sister.

The words stuck in my throat. I turned to the window and stayed silent.

Quincy’s eyes lit with an idea. “Oh, silly me, I nearly forgot. I’ve already gotten engaged, so it’s time for Layla to start looking. I’m going to a gathering tonight, and it’s going to be full of heirs and young business elites. Why don’t you come? If you don’t meet someone you like, at least you’ll make some friends.”