Chapter 2

"I've got it wrong?"

Matthew stared at me, stunned.

Then he grabbed my hand. "Sophie, quit being stubborn. I know you're mad about the ring. We'll go pick out a new one right now."

Lila took my other hand with a smile. "Exactly. He was just nervous. You two need to get married already. Then I can finally stop worrying."

[Of course she can. The second you put on that ring, Ralph goes on a killing spree.]

[She's seriously ruthless. You've never even done anything to her.]

I looked at the face I'd known for ten years.

For the first time, she felt like a total stranger.

"Why are you so desperate to make me marry him?"

Lila froze.

Then she frowned. "What's with you today? Haven't you always liked Matthew?

"You said he's younger than Ralph. That you were sick of Ralph acting like an old man. And you even said you and Matthew..."

Ralph was only two years older than me.

But he was so steady and mature that people always guessed he was older.

He also loved dressing me in soft, youthful colors.

People got it wrong all the time.

Once, a guy trying to flirt with me called Ralph an old man.

Ralph got so furious he landed himself in the hospital.

"I'm older than you. If I die first, there won't be anyone left to take care of you."

That fear never left him.

I'd never complained about his age.

Not once.

Lila was making the whole thing up.

I smirked and slapped Lila.

The next second, Matthew shoved me to the ground.

"Have you lost it? Lila's not well. How could you hit her?"

He pulled the stunned Lila into his arms, his eyes full of worry.

Me?

I was still on the floor.

He didn't even look my way.

I wasn't an idiot.

I knew exactly who mattered to him.

"The ring was my fault. Be mad at me. Don't blame Lila."

In his panic, the mask slipped completely.

Matthew didn't love me. Not even close.

I said nothing.

My scraped knee was already swelling.

He finally noticed. He froze, then came over, guilt all over his face.

"I'm sorry, Sophie. I'll take you to the hospital."

I stepped away from his hand. "Lila looks pale. Take her first."

Matthew opened his mouth, then quickly nodded.

"Okay. I'll take Lila first, then come back for you. After that, we'll pick out a new ring."

Then he scooped her up and rushed off.

***

I ran into them again at the hospital.

Matthew leaned over Lila, gently rubbing her temples the same way he used to rub mine.

After Ralph died, I fell apart.

A woman alone with hundreds of millions and no one to protect her?

That was basically a ticking time bomb.

Ralph's relatives came at me with schemes and insults. I was drowning in grief. For a while, I was too scared to even leave the house.

Then Lila showed up with Matthew.

He stayed by my side every day and slowly pulled me out of it.

I loved Ralph.

But he was gone, so I buried those feelings deep.

And I really thought Matthew cared about me.

"Sophie!" His face lit up when he saw me. He hurried over. "Don't worry. Lila's fine. She was just scared.

"Come on. Let's go pick out a ring. Lila has great taste. She'll help you find the perfect one."

"I'm not marrying you."

His face went stiff.

"I made one small mistake. Why can't you forgive me?

"I even sold my house back home so I could buy us a mansion."

Matthew pulled out the paperwork for the mansion and held it out.

"I'll be a good husband. I'll help you forget everything you've been through."

[Exactly. Once you marry him, you'll be stuck paying the mortgage while he never works a day in his life.]

[And obviously, he'll need a brand-new sports car. Then when you die, he won't even bother claiming your body.]

I laughed. "Did you pay for it in cash?"

Matthew reacted like I'd hit a nerve.

"It's... financed. But I'll cover the mortgage myself. Sophie, you have to trust me."

Lila let out a sigh. "I know you care about money. You told me if Ralph hadn't been rich, you never would've married someone that paranoid.

"You also said he was nothing like Matthew. That you loved Matthew... and never loved Ralph."