Chapter 2

"Postpone it for a week? Why?"

Cersei immediately tensed. Mom and Dad looked just as confused.

"Relax, darling. The Don's heir is getting married next Friday too. He invited all of us to attend his wedding on a private island."

Antonio pulled out the invitation and waved it in front of Cersei, looking incredibly pleased with himself.

Cersei's hands trembled with excitement as she opened it.

"Raphael originally asked me to be one of his groomsmen, but I'm far too busy to waste time on that."

I almost laughed out loud.

Raphael had chosen his groomsmen six months ago. Antonio had never even been considered.

"Raphael?"

Hearing the familiar name, Mom glanced at me.

Cersei immediately caught her meaning.

"Mom, what are you thinking? They just happen to have the same name! Still, imagine being a low-level nobody with the same name as the Don's heir. He must've used up all his luck just getting that name!"

Her joke had Mom and Dad roaring with laughter.

They looked at me with even more contempt.

Their laughter cut deep.

For the first time, I realized they might not care whether I ever had a good life.

In their eyes, someone like me deserved nothing better than a low-level employee who opened car doors for a living.

My hand trembled, making the tea set rattle.

Hot tea splashed onto the back of my hand, leaving an angry red mark. But the burn was nothing compared to the pain in my chest.

Mom noticed. She frowned and took a step toward me.

Then Cersei said, "Oh, the invitation says only four guests can attend." Mom immediately turned back to her.

Mom didn't hesitate.

"That works out perfectly. Your sister is getting married that day, so she can't come with us anyway."

Cersei looked pleased, but she quickly hid it behind an innocent expression.

"But if none of us go to Lilith's wedding, won't that look... a little bad?"

Dad waved a hand impatiently.

"Why would we waste our time at some nobody's wedding? If we stay away, that husband of hers can save money on four meals. He should be thanking us!"

His words were cruel enough that I almost forgot he was my father.

The remark cut deep. I clenched my jaw and fought back tears.

Cersei and I were supposed to get married on the same day. I had never expected our parents to choose my wedding over hers.

Raphael and I had even planned to bring Mom, Dad, and Cersei to the island early so they could enjoy a short vacation.

But I had never imagined they wouldn't come to my wedding at all.

I used to think that if I expected nothing, they couldn't disappoint me.

I was wrong. Some tiny part of me had still been hoping they cared. Now even that hope was gone.

Then Dad eagerly pulled out two documents and placed them in front of Antonio.

"Perfect timing, Antonio. Elena and I prepared these wedding gifts for Cersei. One gives her a 55 percent controlling stake in our logistics company. The other is the deed to the 10-acre estate outside the city."

Mom beamed at Antonio.

"Her father and I know these are nothing compared to what your family has. They're just a small gift from us. All we want is for the two of you to be happy together."

Antonio seemed pleased. He casually handed the documents to one of his bodyguards.

My blood ran cold.

When I finally spoke, my voice trembled. "The company was nearly bankrupt three years ago. I worked myself to the bone and saved it on my own. And Grandma left that estate to me. You have no right to give either one to Cersei!"

Dad's face darkened.

"Lilith, shut up! You have no say here!"

Cersei's eyes instantly filled with tears.

"Lilith, I know you don't like me, but how can you talk to Mom and Dad that way? It's all family property. We're their daughters. Shouldn't we be doing everything we can for them? How can you fight with our own parents over money? If you want it, I'll give it all to you. Just stop saying things that hurt them."

Mom rushed over and pulled Cersei into her arms.

"Don't worry, darling. These gifts are yours. No one will take them away!"

Then she glared at me.

"Look at your sister, then look at yourself. Do you even see us as your parents?"

Dad shook his head in disappointment.

"Lilith, your mother and I prepared your wedding gift long ago. It's waiting in your room. It was supposed to be a surprise, but you just couldn't control your temper!"

I froze.

Had I misjudged them?

Despite all their favoritism, maybe they had still thought of me when it came to something as important as my wedding.

Guilt stabbed at me.

Maybe I really had judged them too quickly.

For the first time that day, a tiny spark of hope returned.

I hurried back to my room. It vanished the moment I saw my wedding gift.

A cheap tea set sat there, still in a box with a huge 90% OFF sticker.

Next to it was a filthy, broken suitcase stuffed with Cersei's old clothes—all in her size.

Even a dumpster diver would've left this junk behind.

"This is the wedding gift you prepared for me?"

I turned to my parents, who had followed me into the room, and stared at them in disbelief.

Mom rolled her eyes and sighed impatiently. "Lilith, you're marrying some low-level nobody. You didn't make a good match the way your sister did. How expensive did you expect your wedding gift to be? This is good enough!"

Dad nodded as if she were absolutely right.

"Lilith, there's something else you need to understand. Once you're married, no matter how badly things go, don't expect a cent from your mother or me!"

Then Dad pulled out two agreements he had clearly prepared in advance. He placed them in front of me and told me to sign.