Chapter 1

My foster sister, Madeline Caldwell, was linking arms with my brother, Joshua Caldwell. She suddenly turned around, curiosity written across her face as she looked at me.

"Victoria, what did it feel like when 13 men assaulted you?" she asked.

I froze. Before I could react, Joshua tapped her forehead indulgently. "That kind of filthy thing isn't something you should hear about."

He turned to look at me, his tone indifferent. "Maddie is just spoiled by me; she doesn't mean any harm. Don't take it personally."

Madeline curled her lips as she looked at me. She was waiting for me to lose my temper like I used to.

But I just stood there, my voice calm. "Since she's an orphan with no one to raise her properly, it's no surprise that she doesn't know what's appropriate to say. I won't take it to heart."

It had been years since anyone dared to bring that up in front of Madeline.

Her smirk faltered for a moment before curling back up. "Right, Joshua cares for me just as much as you do. He even gave me the Caldwell family heirloom pendant."

That pendant was the keepsake Mom had left for me. I had fought with Madeline over it more times than I could count.

But now, I only gave it a brief glance. "Take it if you want it."

I paused, then added, "I never liked things that others have touched anyway."

After our parents passed away, I couldn't bear to leave Joshua alone, so I chose to stay in this world to be with him. Now that I was about to leave, I couldn't take the pendant with me anyway, so Joshua could give it away for all I cared.

When Madeline didn't get the reaction she expected, the smile on her face vanished completely.

Joshua was visibly caught off guard as well, his voice growing more irritated. "Victoria Caldwell, you nearly pulled a knife on me over the pendant back then. How could you possibly give it up now? If you're unhappy, just say so—why are you being so sarcastic?"

I shrugged, my tone flat to the point of dismissiveness. "I genuinely don't care. What do you want me to say? Fine, give it back. Will you?"

Joshua was suddenly at a loss for words, his expression darkening. "That's not how you're supposed to react."

My lips curled into a faint smirk. It seemed that Joshua still remembered me as I was three years ago.

Back then, in order to take back the keepsake our parents had left me, I slapped Madeline for the first time. In return, Joshua pinned me down in the middle of the busiest part of the city and slapped me across the face a hundred times.

By the end of it, the corner of my mouth was split open. The pain and humiliation nearly consumed me.

"There's no way she actually doesn't care. She's only putting on a show to gain sympathy because she just got out after three years in prison."

I hadn't heard that voice in three years. Hearing it again now felt like a lifetime away.

I turned my head and saw my former fiance, Cassian Turner, standing in the doorway with his hands tucked into his pockets.

"Don't read too much into this. We grew up together, after all. Even if you're not worthy of being my wife anymore, I figured I'd at least stop by," he said.

He chuckled, his voice dripping with condescension. "But if you behave yourself from now on and treat Maddie well, I suppose I could lower myself to be with you.

"After all, it's just about having one more woman in the picture. But from now on, Maddie's status will be higher than yours."

Madeline looked on, clearly relishing the spectacle. Everyone in Brightvale knew that I loved Cassian deeply; I even had his name tattooed on my back.

At that moment, I glanced at the glaring red mark on his neck and said slowly, "But I find you filthy."