Chapter 4

My words hit a nerve. Laura exploded. "That's not true!" she hissed. "When Edmund finds out, he'll be relieved he's getting the better wife! I'm just waiting to give him a surprise on our wedding day!"

She glared at me, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "You better keep your mouth shut. If you ruin this for me, I'll make you regret it."

I smirked. "Don't worry. I can't wait for you to be his problem."

In the end, I was dragged to the party.

Two hours later, we arrived at The Wilson, Chicago's most luxurious hotel. I had deliberately chosen a flashy purple dress with a plunging neckline and a thigh-high slit that sparkled under the lights. Laura, in contrast, wore a modest black gown. The two of us couldn't have been more different.

"Dammit," Edmund's face clouded over the moment he saw me. "I told you to change, not to find something even more revealing."

"This is the most conservative thing in my closet," I said, feigning innocence. I was enjoying getting under his skin.

Laura, ever the peacemaker, added softly, "Mr. Schroder, please don't be angry. Sister has always liked these kinds of outfits, even if they don't exactly fit the Schroder family's... standards."

Her words sounded like a defense, but she was just pouring gasoline on the fire. Sure enough, heads began to turn. Whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Is that the future Mrs. Schroder?"

"Looks like Don Edmund has his work cut out for him..."

Edmund's expression grew darker.

When the music for the opening dance began, he was expected to take his partner to the floor. His eyes swept over my dress, then he turned and walked straight to Laura.

Laura feigned shock, hand to her chest. "But... shouldn't you be dancing with Alessia? She's right here."

"It's fine," Edmund said without looking back. "This will be a good chance for her to learn what real grace looks like."

His words were a slap in the face. The murmurs grew louder. Everyone was enjoying the show at my expense.

But I didn't feel humiliated or jealous. Just tired of it all.

Watching the picture-perfect couple in the middle of the dance floor, I turned and walked out to the terrace. The cool night air was a welcome relief from the stuffy ballroom. I leaned against the railing, looking up at the stars, feeling surprisingly calm.

The click of heels sounded behind me.

"What's wrong? Did you come out here to cry?" Laura glided onto the terrace, her face flushed from the dance. "You see? Edmund doesn't like your type at all."

I kept my eyes on the sky. "And?"

"And you should know your place," she said, coming to stand beside me, her chin held high. "In a few days, I'll be the lady of the Schroder house. You'd do well to show me a little respect..."

I turned to look at her, her face twisted with smug satisfaction. "Are you done? Because I'm going back inside."

"What's the hurry? I'm not finished," she snapped, her voice growing shrill when she saw she couldn't get a rise out of me. "You know, you're just as pathetic as your mother. She lost to my mother, and now you're losing to me. It seems failure just runs in your blood."

At the mention of my mother, my eyes turned to ice.

"What did you just say?"

Drunk on her own victory, Laura kept going. "I said, you and your mother are both pathetic loser—"

Before she could finish, I lunged forward and grabbed the collar of her dress. With a vicious shove, I pushed her toward the decorative fountain behind her.

"Ahhh—"

With a terrified scream and a loud splash, Laura plunged into the water.

"Help! Cough, cough... Help me!" she thrashed in the fountain, her white dress clinging to her body, her hair plastered to her face. She was a complete mess.

I stood at the edge, looking down at her, feeling nothing but cold satisfaction.

"Next time you insult my mother, the fountain will be the least of your worries."

Just then, hurried footsteps approached from behind.

"What's going on?"

It was Edmund's voice, sharp with anger and concern.