CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

ELENA

My phone was screaming before my brain was ready to deal with life.

I cracked an eye open, blinking at the unfamiliar ceiling—sleek lines, leather furniture, city skyline outside wide glass windows. Lucian’s office.

And then the smell hit me. Clean, expensive, male.

I groaned, rolling over, tugging the blanket tighter. My dress was gone. In its place was a neatly folded button-up shirt and tailored sweatpants that absolutely did not belong to me.

A note sat on the coffee table in handwriting sharp enough to slice.

Had to head to a meeting. Change into these. Call me.

—Lucian

810-384638

Of course he left his number like a signature.

I was still staring at the note when my phone kept vibrating off the couch. I grabbed it, squinting at the caller ID. My father.

Great. Just what I needed.

“Hello—”

“WHERE ARE YOU?” His voice boomed so loud I yanked the phone from my ear. “Do you know the shame you’re bringing on this family? Come home. NOW.”

My blood iced. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Don’t you dare talk back to me, Elena. Come home before I drag you by your hair.”

The line went dead.

I sat there for a full five seconds, staring at my reflection in the black screen. My father was many things—arrogant, controlling, cruel—but this level of rage? It was new.

A slow, bitter smile spread on my lips. Fine. If they wanted me home so badly, I’d go. And maybe I’d rip the curtain wide open while I was at it.

The living room was full when I walked in. My father, sitting like some self-crowned king on his throne of leather. My stepmother perched at his side, lips pursed so tight she looked permanently constipated.

And then them.

Aria. Adrian.

Sitting close enough to touch, her legs crossed, his head bowed like he was the picture of shame.

My stomach lurched.

“Elena,” my father snapped the second he saw me. “Do you want to disgrace me? After everything I’ve done for you?”

I blinked. “I’m sorry—me disgrace you? You mean your future son-in-law sticking his tongue down my sister’s throat isn’t enough?”

His hand came so fast I didn’t see it. My cheek exploded in heat.

“You will not speak to me in that tone!” he roared. “You selfish, ungrateful child! Despite what happened between Adrian and Aria, can’t you endure? Can’t you sacrifice for this family?”

For a second, the room tilted. I stared at him, trying to process the words. Endure?

“You want me to marry the man who fucked my sister?” My laugh came out sharp, hysterical. “Do you even hear yourself?”

Aria leaned back in her chair, smirking like the devil in Prada. “Well, if you’d paid more attention, maybe he wouldn’t have wandered.”

I froze. “Excuse me?”

Her smile widened. “Don’t look at me like that, sister. Adrian just wanted someone… smaller. Prettier. Less—” her eyes flicked to my chest “—obvious.”

My stepmother’s voice cut in, dripping with fake pity. “Elena, your father warned you about your weight. No man wants a wife who can’t control herself. You should’ve listened.”

My chest constricted, every nerve in my body screaming.

“You’re unbelievable.” My voice shook. “All of you. He cheats on me with my twin, and somehow it’s my fault? My body’s fault?”

“Elena!” My father’s voice cracked like thunder. “This marriage is bigger than your feelings. You’ll marry Adrian. You’ll keep your mouth shut. And you will not bring shame to my house.”

“Like hell I will.”

The words left me before I could stop them.

“I’m not marrying him.” I lifted my chin, glaring at each of them in turn. “Aria can have him. In fact, I insist.”

Gasps echoed around the room.

“Elena—” Adrian started, face pale.

“Shut up.” I sliced him with my glare. “You don’t get to say my name. Ever again.”

Aria’s smirk faltered, replaced with a flicker of shock. “Wait—you’re serious?”

“Dead serious.” I spun toward the stairs. “In fact, I’m packing. Aria, congratulations. You win.”

I didn’t wait for their reactions. My feet pounded up the staircase, fury choking me. My room felt like a prison the second I stepped inside. I grabbed a suitcase from the closet and started shoving clothes inside with shaking hands.

“Elena.”

Her voice slithered in behind me. Aria.

I froze, spine stiff.

“You’re such a drama queen.” She sauntered closer, perfume cloying, eyes glittering. “Honestly, you should be grateful. Adrian pitied you. I’m the one he really wanted.”

My chest burned.

“Say that again.”

She leaned in, voice sugar-poison. “Adrian only proposed to you because you were the easier twin. The weaker one. And everyone knows it.”

The slap cracked through the room before I realized my hand had moved.

Her head snapped to the side, hair flying.

Silence.

She turned back slowly, eyes wide, mouth parted in shock.

“You—” she hissed, raising her hand—

I caught it mid-air.

Then I slapped her back. Hard. The sound echoed, sharp and satisfying.

“You want Adrian?” My voice shook, but I didn’t care. “Take him. Take father’s approval. Take the fake crown they’ve been polishing for you your whole life. I’m done playing this game.”

Her hand pressed to her cheek, fury burning in her eyes. “You’ll regret this.”

“Maybe,” I said, grabbing my suitcase and brushing past her. “But at least I’ll regret it on my own terms.”

And for the first time in forever, I felt like I was breathing.