Chapter 2

In the car on the way back, Draven brought it up, as if it were an afterthought.

"My father is pushing for the marriage alliance. I found a friend to help me play along."

"Don't worry, you're the only one I love. She's just a front. After the engagement, I'll still live at home with you."

I stared at the rapidly receding neon lights outside the window and nodded numbly.

Tears fell in silence.

After we got home, I went into his study to get a book.

His laptop was open on the desk, a chat program still active on the screen. He must have forgotten to close it.

His pinned contact was labeled "Bianca T."

I opened the chat. It was filled with cloying emojis and screen after screen of videos from our most intimate moments.

The conversation below was even more heart-wrenching.

"I told you, it's nothing but revenge for me. I'll play these recordings for everyone at the engagement ceremony."

"After that day, Jasmine Blakemore will be completely erased from the Langley family. The only one by my side from now on will be you."

"Don't worry. I'll handle any obstacles before you're officially the lady of this family."

The words on the screen cut into me like knives.

"Baby, tonight's video quality is pretty good. Her face looks especially innocent on camera."

I kept scrolling down and tapped on a video.

The screen showed my bedroom.

Clips of me changing, of me hugging a pillow and crying.

And... clips of intimate moments between Draven and me.

Every private moment had been recorded with perfect clarity.

And it had all become fodder for their pillow talk.

An audio message from Bianca played automatically.

"Draven, you're a genius. Making her fall in love with you, then destroying her with your own hands. This is far more cruel than just killing her."

"At the family meeting tomorrow, I'll propose we accelerate the port acquisition. The Tyler family won't wait any longer."

"But I have one concern. What if she actually causes a scene at the engagement ceremony?"

Draven's reply sent ice through my veins.

"She won't. She loves me too much to embarrass me."

"Besides, I'll just tell her that if she dares to make a scene, I'll make sure her mother goes down with her."

I abruptly put down the phone. A sharp cramp shot through my lower abdomen, and I doubled over, gasping.

Was our baby feeling my pain, too?

The antique music box he had given me six years ago was sitting on my dresser.

Sure enough, in the dim light, a faint red light was blinking.

Only then did I realize it was a camera.

He had been monitoring my every move from the very beginning.

"This music box…" I muttered to myself, feigning a casual glance at it. "I should ask him to get me a new one."

I sat at his desk, pretending to idly open a game on his computer. But my fingers flew to the hidden folders.

It was filled with records of his relationship with Bianca, from their university days to the present.

Every important holiday, every intimate trip.

There were also detailed progress reports on the port acquisition.

The Tyler family controlled the city's most important smuggling routes.

Through this marriage, Draven could not only get revenge on my mother but also absorb the Tyler family's power into his own.

He would be injecting new blood into the declining Langley family.

The plans for the engagement party were just as meticulous.

From the venue decorations to every last detail of my humiliation, he had overseen it all personally.

He had even marked down the exact seat where I would be sitting.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs.

I quickly closed the laptop and deleted all my browsing history.

Don Langley spoke up at dinner.

"Draven, your engagement ceremony with Bianca Tyler will be in three days."

"The marriage alliance can't be delayed any longer. The Tyler family's port resources are very important to us."

Draven looked up, feigning surprise. "So soon?"

"Of course. Time waits for no one." Don's tone left no room for argument.

The wine glass in my hand suddenly slipped, and shards of glass scattered across the floor.

A small piece cut my fingertip, and a bead of red blood welled up, but I felt no pain.

Draven was instantly by my side, taking my hand with a look of deep concern.

"Jasmine, why are you so careless?" he murmured, dabbing at the cut with his napkin.

Seeing his tender, loving expression, a fresh wave of pain washed over me, solidifying my resolve to leave this world of lies.

After dinner, my mother, Elena, came to my room, her eyes full of worry.

"Why do you suddenly want to leave? Didn't you always want to be part of the family?"

"Have you told Draven you're leaving?"

Looking at my mother's weary, haggard face, my eyes stung.

"No. I need you to keep this a secret for me."

"Mom, after I'm gone, you and Don live a good life. Don't pay any mind to what outsiders say."

I had to believe my mother. She would never do such a thing.

She didn't deserve to be treated so unjustly.

Late at night, Draven pushed the door open, bringing a chill from outside with him.

He trapped me between the wall and his searing chest, leaning down to nuzzle my neck.

"Jasmine?"

"Are you asleep?"

I kept my breathing even, feeling the weight of him as he sat on the edge of the bed.

He reached out and stroked my hair.

"I'm sorry. I scared you today."

His voice was apologetic. If I hadn't known the truth, I would have been moved, would have felt myself falling even deeper in love with him.

"You know our relationship can't be public. The engagement is just for family business, just an act."

He placed a kiss on my forehead. "It'll be over soon. Just bear with it for a few more days. After the ceremony, everything will go back to normal."

But in the darkness, my tears streamed from the corners of my eyes, soaking the pillowcase.

"Jasmine, I know you're awake. You're the only one in my heart. Stop sulking, okay?"

I fought back the ache in my heart and managed a nod.

He let out a sigh of relief and pulled me into his arms again.

After a moment, he spoke tentatively.

"It's a Langley family engagement ceremony, so it can't be shabby. As my family, you might need to..."

"Okay, I'll be there."

I knew what he wanted to say.

Better to face it head-on and preserve what little dignity I had left.

He was surprised by my compliance, but since his goal was achieved, he didn't push it.

That night, he stayed in my room as usual.

And I, in my heart, had said my final goodbye to this man.