3

After the engagement party finally began winding down, Emily Sterling stepped out of the grand hall, her heels clicking sharply against the marble stairs. She was still fuming, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

Alexander was standing near the entrance, talking on his phone. The moment he saw his younger sister walking down the stairs, he ended the call abruptly and slid his phone into his pocket.

“Emily,” he called out. “I’m heading home. Let’s go together.”

Emily stopped on the stairs and glared at him. “I don’t want to go home with you. I’m still mad at you.”

Alexander let out a tired sigh and walked toward her. “Are you still holding onto that little comment I made about Victoria?”

Emily’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Little comment? You humiliated my best friend in front of everyone! You have no idea how hurt she was.”

“I only said what was true,” Alexander replied coldly. “She’s an opportunistic person. I’ve seen her throwing herself at men for money and favors. You should be more careful. She might only be friends with you because of our family’s status and wealth.”

Emily stared at her brother, completely shocked. “I don’t understand you at all, Alexander. You’re marrying Vanessa for a massive business deal. The entire family is benefiting from this marriage. So when you do it, it’s smart strategy. But when someone else does something similar, they’re suddenly disgusting opportunists?”

Alexander’s jaw tightened. “It’s different.”

“Sure it is,” Emily said sarcastically, folding her arms. “You don’t know Victoria at all. You don’t know what kind of person she really is. So stop making assumptions about her.”

Alexander rolled his eyes. “Are you really going to fight with your older brother for some random woman?”

“She is not ‘some woman’!” Emily snapped, her voice rising. “She has been my best friend for the past fifteen years. So yes I will fight you if you hurt her again. I hate you right now. I can’t even reach her phone. She must be so heartbroken because of what you said.”

Alexander was about to respond when Vanessa walked out of the hall, holding her heels in one hand, looking elegant even in her exhaustion.

“Darling,” Vanessa said sweetly, walking straight to Alexander and linking her arm with his. “Could you drop me off at the mansion? My driver is stuck in traffic.”

Alexander glanced at her and nodded. “Sure, why not.”

He turned to Emily and gave her a warning look. “Be nice to Vanessa,” he mouthed silently before guiding Vanessa toward the waiting car.

Emily stood there frozen, watching them leave together. As the car drove away, her eyes filled with quiet fury and sadness.

If only you knew, she thought bitterly. If only you knew how amazing Victoria actually is… how much she has suffered… and how deeply she loved you all these years.

If only Alexander knew how horrible Vanessa truly was behind her perfect smile.

If only he knew how much Victoria’s life had already been ruined partly because of this very engagement.

Emily wiped a stray tear from her cheek and whispered to herself, “You have no idea what you’re doing, brother.”

The city lights blurred past the windows as Alexander drove smoothly through the quiet streets. Vanessa sat in the passenger seat, one hand resting on his thigh, trying to appear affectionate.

“So…” she asked playfully, tilting her head. “What were you and Emily talking about earlier? You both looked so serious.”

Alexander kept his eyes on the road. “Nothing important. Just some sibling things.”

Vanessa’s smile faltered slightly. She looked at him from the side. “Was it about Victoria again?”

There was a faint bitter undertone in her voice, though she tried to hide it.

Alexander glanced at her briefly. “Emily is her friend, so she didn’t like the comment I made about her on stage. She was fighting with me over it. If it bothers you, I can apologize to Victoria for your sake.”

Vanessa chuckled softly and leaned closer, locking her arm with his even though he was driving. She rested her head on his shoulder. “You don’t have to. She’s not worth your time.”

Alexander was quiet for a moment before speaking again, his voice softening. “I still can’t believe this is an arranged marriage by our families. We didn’t even meet properly… but I did fall for you, didn’t I?”

Vanessa’s body tensed.

“I was completely mesmerized by you that night at the masquerade ball,” Alexander continued, a small smile playing on his lips. “I couldn’t think straight for weeks after that. Of course I would do anything for you, my love.”

Vanessa’s hand loosened slightly around his arm. She gulped nervously and pulled back a little, giving a weak, forced laugh.

“Y-Yeah… That night was truly special,” she said, her voice sounding rehearsed.

Alexander continued, completely unaware of her discomfort. “The way you spoke to me that night… I had never seen or felt another woman like you. Before that party, I wasn’t even planning to agree to this marriage. My mother was against it because she believed I should marry for love. Honestly, I never believed in love until I met you that day.”

Vanessa gave a dry response, her hands twisting nervously in her lap.

Alexander looked at her sideways. “When are you going to fulfill the promise you made me that day?”

Vanessa froze. “P-Promise?”

“Yeah,” he chuckled. “Don’t you remember?”

“I… uh…”

He laughed lightly. “You’re the first woman I’ve seen who forgot something like this. I don’t know how I should feel about that.” He slowed the car and pulled over to the side of the road, turning off the engine before removing his seatbelt.

He turned to face her fully. “You told me that after our engagement, we would book a room and you would show me what the best night of my life looked like.”

Vanessa’s eyes widened in shock. Her heart started racing. That bitch didn’t mention anything like this! she thought furiously, cursing Victoria in her mind.

“Oh! Of course… How could I forget something like that,” she said quickly, forcing a smile while sweat began forming on her forehead.

Alexander reached out and gently touched her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb. Vanessa closed her eyes, half expecting him to kiss her or do something more intimate right there in the car.

But instead, he leaned in and softly kissed the top of her head.

“I was kidding,” he chuckled, pulling back with an amused expression. “You must have been too drunk that night to remember. You actually promised that if I got engaged to you within three months, you would buy me my favorite ice cream. I’ve been waiting for that treat.”

Vanessa blinked, completely taken aback. A wave of embarrassment washed over her.

“Oh… hahaha,” she laughed awkwardly, her face flushing red. “Of course. I’ll get it for you soon.”

Alexander smirked and started the car again. “I’ll be waiting for my treat then.”

Vanessa smiled on the outside, but inside she was sweating profusely, her mind spinning with panic and resentment.

That damn Victoria… What exactly happened that night?