Chapter 3

The moment I stepped inside the villa, I saw the living room was brightly lit.

My father sat in the main armchair, my stepmother Claire sipped tea beside him, and Laura sat quietly on the sofa in a white dress. It was a tribunal, and I was the one on trial.

Three pairs of eyes fixed on me.

"Look at the state of you!" my father shot up, pointing at my red dress. "Have you no shame? Do you even know what time it is?"

I ignored him, kicked off my heels, and started for the stairs.

"Wait," Laura said softly. "Sister, did you really give the engagement to me? I still can't believe it..."

She looked overwhelmed with gratitude, but the glint of triumph in her eyes gave her away.

I stopped and turned to face her perfectly crafted innocent expression. "What's the matter?" I sneered. "Don't you love picking up my trash?"

"Alessia!" my father roared. "How dare you speak to your sister like that!"

"Stepsister," I corrected him. "Let's be clear about our blood ties."

Claire's face tightened, but she maintained her high-society composure. "Alessia, that was uncalled for. Laura has always looked up to you. You shouldn't hurt her like this."

"Besides," my father continued, a smug look on his face, "Mrs. Schroder is much more pleased with Laura. She thinks Laura's gentle and poised nature is better suited for the family matriarch. It's too late for you to have any regrets now."

Regrets? I almost laughed out loud. If I wasn't so afraid of blowing my cover, I'd tell them I thank my lucky stars for this every single day.

"That's right, Alessia," Claire added with a syrupy-sweet, venomous tone. "With a personality like yours, what decent man would ever want you?"

I turned to my scheming stepmother. "Aunt Claire, you should worry about your own daughter. It would be a real shame if her new husband sent her packing, wouldn't it?"

"You—" Claire's face turned purple with rage.

I ignored them and went up to my room.

The next morning, while I was still lazing in bed, a maid knocked to say Edmund was here. I dragged myself out of bed, threw on a loose silk robe, and went downstairs.

Edmund was sitting in the living room. When he saw my disheveled state, his brow furrowed.

"Are the rules written?" he asked, getting straight to the point.

I flopped onto the sofa. "My hand hurts. I can't write."

His face darkened. "Alessia, don't test my patience."

"I really can't," I held out my hand for him to see. "Look, I can barely hold a pen."

As he stood there silently, Laura descended the stairs, clearly having spent hours getting ready.

"Mr. Schroder," she said shyly, handing him a framed canvas. "I painted this portrait of you last night. I hope you like it."

Edmund took the painting and studied it, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes. "This is very well done." Then he turned to me, his gaze filled with disappointment. "You should take a page out of your sister's book."

I'm about to make his wish come true, I thought with a cold smile. He'll have his respectful fiancée soon enough.

"Now, go get changed," Edmund ordered. "You're coming with me to a family dinner tonight."

"I'm not going," I refused flatly. "Take Laura. You seem to think she's more suitable anyway."

"You are the one I announced as my fiancée," he said, his voice laced with an authority that left no room for argument.

Those words hit me like a needle to the heart. Just like last time, he was marrying me because it was arranged by our elders. If he'd had a choice, he would have picked Laura from the start.

This time, I was going to give him what he wanted.

Laura immediately jumped in, her voice soft. "Maybe sister isn't used to such formal events. Why don't... I go with her?" Before I could protest, she grabbed my arm and pulled me upstairs. "Sister, let me help you with your makeup."

The second the door closed, Laura’s gentle facade vanished, replaced by a smug, triumphant smirk. "You saw it, didn't you? Edmund definitely prefers me."

I leaned against the door, watching her little show with amusement. "Is that so? Then why didn't you just tell him the bride has been switched?"

Laura's expression faltered.

I raised an eyebrow and stepped closer. "You don't have the guts, do you?" I taunted. "You're afraid he'll call off the whole thing if he finds out. Afraid he won't want you."