Chapter 3

I'd worked up the courage to beg him one last time, and he'd still turned me down.

That was when I broke. Tears streamed down my face as I turned and fled.

I ran straight into a few of the staff carrying new furniture upstairs.

I looked up. The door to Christian's late mother's room stood wide open, and the staff were going in and out.

I stopped and turned to look at him.

He explained, "I was worried someone would harass Serena again if she lived alone, so I brought her and her brother here. The guest rooms are too plain, so I'm letting her stay in Mom's room for now."

Christian pinched my cheek, but his words cut like a knife.

"At least Serena will take good care of Mom's room. Unlike you, she doesn't go around causing trouble."

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. My chest felt tight.

Back then, Christian had set aside a room for me in his own house. He said the guest rooms were too plain, so he decorated it himself to look like my old home and invited me to stay.

But for Serena, even the guest rooms weren't good enough. He gave her his mother's room.

I used to think I was his one exception. Only now did I see what he was like when he truly cared about someone.

Eli scoffed. "All you're doing is making trouble for Serena."

His eyes shifted to me. "Everybody knows Violet's in love with you. She calls your name in her sleep. If you really care about Serena, keep your distance from her. Otherwise, Violet might go after her."

Christian showed us the diamond ring on his finger. "I already proposed to Serena."

He glanced at me. "Violet, you need to understand. Nobody picks a spoiled little sister to be his wife."

Tears blurred my eyes. It felt as if a piece of my heart had been carved out. Even breathing hurt.

He was the one who'd spoiled me. He'd told me I never had to hide my feelings or change myself to please anyone, because he'd always clean up whatever mess I made.

Now the man who'd once let me get away with anything was telling me to my face that someone like me didn't deserve to be chosen.

I couldn't hold it together anymore. I burst into tears.

Christian froze. He reached out to wipe away my tears, but I slapped his hand away.

I didn't need pity I had to beg for.

I ran to the sunroom they'd built for me. It was climate-controlled so I could escape my allergies. My own secret little world.

When I got there, Serena was trimming flowers. My sunroom had become a greenhouse.

I stopped short and just stood there, stunned.

When Serena saw me, her voice was soft and innocent. "Isn't it pretty in here? All I said was that this room would be perfect for growing flowers, and Christian turned it into a greenhouse for me."

She happily showed me her seeds and her tools, but her eyes were bright with open malice. "Violet, I'm going to take everything that belongs to you, one piece at a time, including Christian."

Rage shot through me. I raised my hand to slap her. "Get away from me, you thief!"

Suddenly, someone shoved me hard from behind. I fell among the flowers and inhaled a lungful of pollen. Almost at once, my throat began to swell shut.

It was Serena's little brother, Vaughn Blake. He flailed at me with both fists. "Don't you pick on my sister!"

It took every bit of strength I had to push him off.

Vaughn fell to the floor, threw himself into Serena's arms, and wailed.

Before I could even get my balance back, someone grabbed my arm.

Tristan's face was dark with fury. His voice was low and vicious. "Didn't I warn you before I left? Don't touch Serena or her brother, or you'll answer to me."