Chapter 2

The next day, I went to the most elite jeweler in the city to pick out a return gift for Hades. I found a pitch-black snake brooch that caught my eye. It suited his dark aura perfectly.

A bitter laugh escaped me. At least as Hades' bride, I’d have limitless wealth and power. What was there to complain about?

I'd just paid and turned to leave when an exaggerated gasp stopped me.

"My sister is such a hypocrite," Esther purred. "You claim you don't want to be Samuel's servant, but here you are, dropping a fortune on his birthday gift. I could never match your scheming."

Esther leaned against Samuel’s chest, flashing me a victor's smile.

It hit me then. Today was Samuel's birthday. They actually thought I bought this to win him back? What a joke.

Samuel stared at the gift box in my hands with disdain.

"And here I thought you had a spine. You still crawled back to me to avoid exile. The brooch is too grim. I don't like it. Go exchange it for a bright gold one."

I frowned and cut him off. "This is for my fiancé. It has nothing to do with you."

Samuel scoffed, as if he’d heard the funniest joke in the world.

"Stop being so stubborn. You're almost twenty-five. Who would marry you? Aria, playing hard to get is one thing, but if you keep throwing these tantrums, I’ll rescind my offer. You won't even get to be a servant."

Esther’s eyes gleamed with malice as she covered her mouth with a giggle.

"Samuel, I just don't think my sister is used to her new status yet. Why don't we help her adjust to a servant's life right now? Let's start with having her wipe my shoes with her bare hands."

Samuel frowned, mulling it over for a second, then tapped her nose affectionately. "You're so clever, Esther."

He looked at me, dripping with condescension. "Esther means well. Just do as she says."

He delivered the command as if bestowing the greatest mercy upon me.

Unbelievable. He actually wanted me to endure this public humiliation? At that moment, the boy from my childhood, the Samuel who swore he’d protect me forever, felt like a pathetic hallucination.

Esther stepped up to me and signaled her guards. "My sister doesn't seem to know how to behave. Teach her."

The next second, a guard kicked the back of my knees. I cried out in pain as I was forced to the floor.

She thrust her shoe in front of me, her face twisting with malice. "Wipe, sister."

She leaned down, whispering so only I could hear. "Once you officially become our servant, I promise I'll make your life a hundred times worse than this."

A fire of pure humiliation blazed in my chest. I thrashed against the guard pinning me down. "Let me go! I am Hades' bride!"

Before I could finish, Esther shrieked and threw herself backward, acting as if I'd shoved her violently. Her palm scraped the floor, leaving a bloody streak. She clutched her hand, tears instantly welling up.

"I was just trying to teach her! I can't believe she pushed me!"

Before I could react, Samuel lunged forward in a blind rage.

He shoved me brutally against the iron stove nearby. My bare palm slammed against the red-hot metal. Searing agony crashed over me, stealing the breath from my lungs.

I tore my hand away, only to feel an explosive pain across my cheek.

A sharp slap rang out. Samuel had struck me hard, absolute disgust etched into his features.

"Aria, you are vicious! Esther was just defending you to me, and this is how you treat your own sister?! Get on your knees and apologize to her! Now!"