Chapter 2

SABRINA 

“Rory, help her with the candle,” Clarissa said.

“What for? What are you going to do with that?” I asked, stepping backward.

“To burn your skin. I don’t want to see that mark on your shoulder.” Clarissa said it like she was talking about wiping dirt off a table.

“No, Mom—let’s not burn it yet. Let me take a picture of it first so I can get the same one. Matching birthmarks could work, right?”

I let out a humorless laugh. “You really think a fake tattoo will fool a billionaire? This is a birthmark. Yours will look like a cheap copy, just like everything else about you.”

Rory’s eyes flashed with rage. “Shut up!”

Clarissa reached for the candle again. “We don’t have time for this. Hold her still. We’re doing it now.”

“You’re sick.” My voice was shaking, not from fear—but fury. “You’re really going to burn me? Over a man you’ve never even met?”

Clarissa didn’t blink. “He’s not just a man. He’s power. And I won’t let you ruin this for us.”

She lunged forward, candle in hand, but I darted behind the bed.

“You’re insane!” I screamed.

Rory followed, grabbing for me. “Get back here!”

I ducked her hands and yanked the drawer open beside my bed. My hand wrapped around the first thing I could find—a pair of scissors.

“Come closer and I swear I’ll use this.”

Clarissa froze. Rory hesitated too.

“You ungrateful brat,” Clarissa hissed. “You think you can threaten me?”

“You want to hurt me over some stranger? Go ahead. But you’re going to explain to Mr. Theo’s driver once he asks you why you have bloodstains in your hands.”

Their eyes darted toward the window.

Because that’s when the sound of tires on gravel filled the air. A black luxury SUV pulled into the driveway.

Clarissa moved fast. She grabbed Rory by the arm.

“We’ll deal with you later. Stay in this room. If you come out, I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your miserable life.”

“For real,” Rory added, glaring at me. “Don’t ruin this. Don’t come out or I swear, I’ll never forgive you.” She said then she walked out of the room.

I dropped the scissors.

Then I walked to the window.

I saw him.

Theo George.

He stepped out of the SUV with a kind of presence that made the air bend around him. Tall. Sharp suit. Hair slicked back but just messy enough to look dangerous.

He didn’t smile. He didn’t wave.

He looked straight at the house, his jaw clenched.

Then his eyes moved—up. To the window.

To me.

We locked eyes.

And in that moment, I could see his expression.

Recognition?

Curiosity?

I didn’t know.

But I knew one thing: He saw me.

Suddenly, Clarissa opened the front door with that same sugar-sweet voice she used on strangers. “Mr. George, what a surprise!”

He didn’t answer her. Instead, he handed his phone to the man beside him—Mr. Hart.

“I am sure Mr Hart already explained everything.” Theo said, his voice low and deep.

“Yes, he did,” Clarissa replied, her voice sugary smooth.

Theo’s sharp gaze didn’t waver. “What’s your name? And where is your sister? Why can’t she come downstairs? I saw her… peeping.”

Clarissa’s smile tightened for a split second. “Oh, her? She’s… a cripple. Born that way, unfortunately. She doesn’t leave her room much.”

There was a flicker in Theo’s eyes. “Oh,” he said, but not like he believed it.

Clarissa gave a gentle nod, stepping aside. “This is the eldest. My pride. Rory.”

Theo turned to Rory, taking her in from head to toe. Her makeup was light, her smile shy but not too shy. Just calculated enough to seem effortless.

“So, she’s the eldest?” Theo asked, still watching her closely.

Rory nodded, smiling with just the right amount of humility. “Yes.”

“What’s your name?” Theo asked again, voice neutral.

“You must’ve forgotten it,” Rory said with a soft giggle. “Back when I saved you, you didn’t ask for my name.”

Theo’s expression didn’t change, but inside, something itched. The girl who saved him didn’t flirt. She hadn’t even spoken a word.

“I asked you your name,” he repeated—flat, cold.

“Rory. Rory Brown. The eldest.” Her voice was soft now, rehearsed.

Theo glanced briefly at Clarissa before fixing his eyes on Rory again. “Can I see the mark? Just to be sure.”

Clarissa’s face twitched. “Mr. Theo, that’s not very proper. She’s still a young lady—”

“Mom, it’s fine,” Rory interrupted sweetly. “He’s only confirming.” She pulled out her phone. “I actually took a photo today.”

Theo stepped forward.

Rory showed him a picture.

Theo stared at the picture but his hands mistakenly swiped it to the next video.

Theo’s brow furrowed. “What was this?”

“Oh,” Rory said quickly, snatching the phone back, “That was just me playing around with my cousin. We fight like cats sometimes.”

Clarissa laughed, brushing it off. “Girls will be girls.”

Theo didn’t smile. “So it’s done,” he murmured.

He turned to Mr. Hart. “Bring in the bride gifts. And the gown.”

Two men in dark suits brought in the ornate boxes and garment bag, laying them on the couch. Rory beamed like she’d won a crown. Clarissa’s eyes shimmered with silent triumph.

“I’ll send someone to pick you up tomorrow,” Theo said, already turning toward the door. “I won’t be coming myself.”

“Of course, Mr. George. We understand,” Clarissa said, hand on Rory’s back like she was presenting a prize horse.

From upstairs—

“AHHH!”

A high-pitched scream rang out.

Theo froze.

Everyone froze.

He turned his head slowly back toward the staircase. His eyes narrowed. “What was that?”

Clarissa chuckled, tense. “Oh dear—our kettle! It screams like that when it boils. I’ve been meaning to replace it.”

Theo didn’t move. “That wasn’t a kettle.”

Rory stepped forward. “No, seriously. We just got it from a cheap local shop—”

Another sound.

A thud.

Theo’s gaze shot back to the window upstairs.

And there—just for a second—he saw her again. Me.

Hair disheveled. Wide eyes. A flicker of panic on my face before I darted away from the window.

He went still.

“I thought you said she was crippled.”

Clarissa stammered. “S-she is! She just—she must have… dragged herself.”

Theo looked between them both.

Then down at the gifts being unwrapped by Rory.

Then back up.

Something didn’t feel right.

And Theo George had learned to trust his instincts.

“I’ll send the car,” he said again, his voice clipped. “Be ready at 8 a.m. sharp.”

Then he walked out without another word.

Clarissa waited until the car had pulled out of the driveway.

Then she turned and slapped Rory across the face.

“Idiot! You showed him the wrong video!”