Chapter 2

As he spoke, Michael reached out casually and patted my head. "You've really matured now, Sierra. You're acting like a proper noblewoman now."

He was praising me like I was some kind of pet.

A wave of nausea rolled through me. Back when his affair was first exposed, I had practically turned the whole city upside down. I'd flipped tables in public and made him end up in the hospital 15 times just from smashing wine bottles over his head.

I had humiliated him more times than I could count through media coverage and the countless scenes I’d made, yet he never changed.

Each time, all he would say to me was, "Go out and look around. Is there any man in this circle who doesn't have a few women on the side? Yes, I'm sleeping around with other women, but it's not like I'm kicking you to the curb!"

He'd also said more than once, "No matter how many women I have, you'll always be my wife."

It wasn't until the day my dad died that I finally woke up for good. After that, I spent the next three years being blind and deaf to Michael's affairs.

And now, I'd gotten one line of praise for my efforts. "You're acting like a proper noblewoman now."

Over these three years, I'd stopped interfering in anything Michael did. To him, I might as well have been air. Even now, when our son Finn Riverson was two, he had no idea I'd given him a son.

The day I almost died giving birth because of complications, Michael had been out on the street with Lucy, helping her sell hot dogs from a food stand. He'd told me it was because he was crazy in love with how "real" she was—that she wasn't materialistic and had made her own way by the sweat of her brow.

All I'd done was let out a cold, quiet laugh without saying a single word.

In my heart, Michael was long dead.

…

On my mother-in-law's birthday, I only planned to show my face, play the part of the dutiful daughter-in-law, then slip out.

But when I walked in with my gift, the first thing I saw was Michael and Lucy standing on either side of my mother-in-law, Helena Green, front and center.

Helena was beaming as she chatted with her friends.

"Mrs. Grant Senior, your hair looks beautiful today. With that dress, you look so elegant."

Helena's hair did look better than before, pinned up with a retro, elegant hairpin. She smiled gently and patted the back of Lucy's hand with clear approval. "It was my daughter-in-law who did my hair. She's got such a knack for this."

So she had accepted Lucy, too.

Lucy smiled, all grace and poise as she said, "As long as you like it, Mom."

Michael said, "Mom adores you. She's told me that many times. It's our family's honor to have you as a daughter-in-law."

I sneered to myself, not wanting to stay another second. Just as I turned to leave, Lucy's voice rang out behind me. "Sierra."

Her tone was light and cheerful, deliberately making everyone think we were on great terms.

I stopped, turned back calmly, and gave a faint smile. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. She must've expected me to look furious or even lose control, humiliate Helena, and storm out. She definitely hadn't expected me to be this calm and unbothered.

"Sierra, you look gorgeous today," she said warmly, acting like we were close.

"Thank you." I smiled and played along.

I wasn't going to waste any more time and effort on her. All those hostile little jabs she so carefully staged were, to me, completely pointless now.

Helena looked at me and said casually, "You two should get along well with each other. Stay with me and help greet the guests."

My mind suddenly replayed what she'd once said to me. "From now on, I'll treat you like you're my own daughter. I'll love you like my own. If Michael dares to cheat on you, I'll be the first to punish him."

Her words were still as clear as if she'd said them just yesterday. But now, she was the one who was making things unbearably humiliating for me.

She lightly patted the back of my hand and whispered, "Sierra, Lucy is a good woman. She's different from those other women before."

I smiled faintly and lied, "You're absolutely right, Mom."

I was leaving soon, anyway. Nothing here mattered to me anymore.

Helena smiled with relief. "I'm so glad you've come around."

She lifted her gaze to Michael and said, "See? I told you Sierra is a reasonable, understanding person."

He looked at me with satisfaction and approval, saying proudly, "That's because I trained her well."

What did he think I was? A pet?

In the past, I would've utterly destroyed this birthday party. But now, I wouldn't waste a shred of emotion or energy on people who weren't worth it.