Chapter 2

Alex's ears turned bright red. "I'm not like that," he said quickly.

"I believe you," I said softly.

Of course I believed him.

In my past life, after my parents were driven to their deaths, Alex was the one who uncovered the truth and cleared their names.

When I asked him why he did it, he simply said it was the right thing to do.

I only learned later that Alex had been in love with me all along.

But I only ever had eyes for Darian. I never noticed the way Alex looked at me — the longing and devotion in his gaze.

I had even believed the rumors and kept my distance from him.

The truth about the maid? Her husband had been beating her for years. Alex staged her execution but secretly gave her a new identity and sent her to a city far away, free from her abuser.

By the time I learned how he felt, he had already died in a plane crash.

This time, I would make sure that never happened.

The music started, and Alex and I began to dance.

Disbelief echoed around us.

"Alex is actually dancing with her?"

"Am I seeing things?"

"Doesn't he refuse to let any woman near him?"

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Darian's expression darkening.

Even though I deliberately avoided looking at him, it was impossible to miss those cold eyes tracking my every move.

He hadn't expected this — not only had I skipped the usual pathetic begging, I'd taken Alex's hand without a second thought.

Lilith noticed Darian's attention had shifted. The smile on her face faltered.

I ignored them both. When the opening dance ended, I turned and left.

Back at the house, I stripped off the heavy gown.

For the past ten years, my love for Darian had been nothing short of pathetic.

Everything that involved him, I handled with obsessive care, making sure every detail was perfect.

He once mentioned he was tired from work and wanted to relax by the sea. I stayed up all night planning a trip to the Maldives.

In my past life, he forgot about it entirely and went hiking with Lilith instead.

I was dragged along.

In a torrential downpour, Darian sent me to retrieve Lilith's bracelet. I tumbled down the mountainside and broke my leg.

I never wanted to feel that close to death again.

Step one: get away from Darian.

After dinner, I went to my room and packed.

I was dragging my suitcase downstairs when I ran into Darian, just back from the ball.

He saw me and sneered, snatching the suitcase and tossing it aside.

"What are you doing?" I snapped.

"I should be asking you that, Grace!"

"Who are you putting on this little runaway act for?"

"Everyone knows you're nothing but my lapdog. You actually had the nerve to ask Alex to dance at the ball — did you think that would get my attention?"

Darian was breathing hard, his face twisted with disgust.

I picked up my suitcase in silence.

Lilith trailed in behind him, eyes glistening with tears. "Darian, please don't fight with Grace because of me. Next time, you should dance with her. I'll be fine on my own. Grace, don't be mad at me, okay? I'm sorry."

Darian immediately pulled Lilith into his arms and murmured reassurances.

The look he gave me grew even more disgusted.

I watched Lilith — fragile on the outside, but every word calculated to manipulate and earn sympathy. This was exactly how she had stolen Darian's heart, bit by bit.

Darian and I were fated mates. He was the Gamma's son; I was the Alpha's daughter.

We had known each other since childhood. We were engaged.

There was a time when we were inseparable.

Then Lilith appeared, and he became a different person.

At first, he was just distracted when we were together.

Then impatient.

Now, pure hatred — because my existence stood between him and Lilith.

I watched them flirt as if I weren't even there, and exhaustion washed over me.

I grabbed my suitcase and tried to leave.

Lilith rushed forward.

"Grace, stop being unreasonable and making Darian angry, okay?"

She grabbed my arm. Her sharp nails dug into my skin.

The pain made me shove her away on instinct.

She crumpled to the floor, struggling to push herself up, staring at me with those wounded eyes.

"Grace, you—"