Chapter 1

My older brother, Callum Mercer, lowered the wet towel in his hand. Water dripped onto the marble floor. He looked down, not at the floor, but to avoid looking at Lyra Mercer.

My mother, Katherine Vane, was rooted to the spot. Her lips parted and closed. Then, she chased after me. "Dinner isn't ready yet. Why don't you go rest in your room first?"

Her voice was noticeably gentler than it had been just a moment ago.

Harrison Reyes, the butler, took one look at Katherine's expression before guiding me upstairs.

He led me to a room at the end of the hallway that faced north, with thin curtains and an empty wardrobe. The mattress was unmade, and in the corner, a water stain snaked down the wall from the ceiling to the baseboard.

As we walked down the hall, a young housekeeper walked past us with a tray. Harrison lowered his voice and said, "Ms. Lyra said this room is quiet and suits her best."

I rummaged through my canvas bag. I had two T-shirts, a pair of jeans, and a pair of canvas sneakers.

Reaching deep into the bottom of my bag, my fingers closed around a voice recorder. My adopted father, Aaron Lind, had slipped it into my bag before I left. He had warned me that city folks were full of schemes, so it was best to keep my guard up.

…

Later that evening, the whole family was seated around the table for dinner.

My father, Cedric Mercer, sat at the head of the table. Katherine sat beside him. Callum sat next to Lyra, while I was seated at the opposite end of the long dining table.

Lyra stood up to ladle soup and serve dishes with practiced ease. Carrying a bowl, she made her way around nearly the entire table before setting it down in front of me. "Have some, Kendra. It's good for your stomach."

I picked up my spoon.

"Can you eat a little more quietly?" Callum asked.

"I haven't even taken a bite."

"I'm telling you in advance. We have rules here." He glanced at my old T-shirt. "I couldn't care less about how you dined in your hometown. However, don't you dare embarrass us here."

Lyra set her cutlery down. "Kendra's only just returned, Callum. Give her some time to adjust."

I looked at Lyra. "So what you're saying is… I do smack my lips when I eat. I was just unaware of it, right?"

Forcing a smile, she responded, "That's not what I meant."

"In that case, did you hear it clearly? Did I smack my lips or not?"

"I wasn't paying attention."

"If you weren't paying attention, why did you concede for me?" I set my spoon down. "Next time, make sure you listen carefully before you pick a side. If you didn't hear it with your own ears and still assume I'm at fault, that's not kindness. That's slander."

Silence settled over the dining table.

Katherine hurriedly played peacemaker. "The food's getting cold. Come on, eat up." Her cutlery had been resting on her plate the entire time, and she hadn't taken a single bite.

Cedric didn't look up. Yet, his movement slowed, and he wasn't considering what to eat next.

Callum stared at me for a couple of seconds before lowering his head. His cutlery scraped softly against his plate.

Lyra lowered her head as well, her lashes glistening with unshed tears. I didn't spare her another glance.

…

I returned to my room, and my phone lit up.

Pops: "Have you had dinner, Kendy?"

I replied with a simple. "Yeah." I didn't tell him anything else.

Just then, a housekeeper knocked on my door, informing me that someone from the Gray family had arrived—Caspian Gray.

The marriage alliance our two families had arranged had always been intended for the heiress of the Mercer family. Now, that burden had landed on my shoulders.

He took one look at my old T-shirt, his gaze lingering on my canvas shoes for a split second. "This is what you're wearing?"

He turned to Katherine. "I've discussed this with my father, Mrs. Mercer. Let's put our marriage alliance on hold for now."

Leaning back against the couch, I responded, "Sure. Let's put it on hold."

He was caught off guard. "Is that all you have to say?"

"You've already made up your mind. What else am I supposed to say? Besides, you came here to notify me, not to discuss it with me."

"Watch your attitude."

"You're the one calling off our engagement, yet you expect me to have a good attitude? Do I need to brew you a cup of coffee as well?"

His expression hardened, and he turned to leave. His leather shoes clicked sharply and hurriedly against the marble floor.

Lyra chased after him. The door was left ajar, and her voice drifted in. "Don't be angry, Cas. Kendra just has a sharp tongue."

I poured myself a glass of water. Caspian's cup remained pristine and untouched, so I slid it to the other end of the table.

Callum leaned against the doorframe of the living room. He hadn't gone out to see Caspian off. Gazing at me, he twirled his phone in his hand. "You think you're really good with words, don't you?"

I took a sip of my water. "Stop beating around the bush."

"Caspian's the sole heir of the Gray family. Watch how you talk to him. Do you think this engagement was arranged for your sake? It was for the sake of our family. You were absent from this household for 18 years. Don't ruin everything the moment you return."

I set my glass down, meeting his gaze. "So what you're saying is… when he called off our engagement, I should stand up, raise a toast, and thank him for gracing me with his presence?"

His expression darkened, and he turned to leave. His slippers scraped sharply against the marble floor.

…

That night, I called Pops.

"Kendy! How are things going? Did anyone give you a hard time?

"I'm fine. Your daughter isn't someone who can be pushed around."

"That's good to hear." He paused before continuing, "Remember, as long as you're in the right, you won't lose. And if you ever run into something you can't get through… your old man has connections!"

After wrapping up the call, I placed the voice recorder beneath my pillow. Beyond the window, the night in Neovita was as quiet as a pool of stagnant water.