Chapter 2

The next morning, I went out.

I told everyone at home I was going to a boutique to look at engagement dresses. Halfway there, my driver changed course and headed for the Athena Club, the city's most exclusive venue.

The laughter in the top-floor VIP room stopped the moment I pushed open the heavy carved door.

Arthur sat in his wheelchair with his back to me. He looked thin.

Daisy sat across from him, leaning over to show him something on her phone. She was so close she was practically pressed against him.

They both turned around.

Daisy looked startled for a second, then gave me a big smile. "Sis? What are you doing here? You didn't even call. You scared me."

I stayed where I was and gave a small smile. "What, did I come at a bad time? Am I interrupting something?"

Arthur turned his wheelchair to face me, his expression cool. "Don't be ridiculous. Daisy was just helping me figure out how to make you shine at the engagement party."

I walked over and sat down.

I glanced at the three cups of coffee and the plate of macarons on the table.

Macarons were Daisy's favorite. Arthur never touched anything that sweet. I'd known that since my previous life.

Daisy wore a platinum bracelet from a limited-edition line of Gardner Group jewelry.

I remembered it from my previous life. Among Arthur's engagement gifts to me was a necklace from the same collection.

She noticed me looking and pulled her hand back without thinking.

I laughed softly. "That's a pretty special bracelet. You can't just pick that up in a store."

She clenched her hand and darted a look at Arthur. "Oh, it's just a knockoff I found online. I only wear it for fun."

Arthur cleared his throat. "Daisy, it's getting late. You should head home. Your sister and I need to talk."

But Daisy wasn't going anywhere. She sat right down in the armchair next to Arthur, picked up the lemon water on the table, and took a sip.

"What's the rush? Sis finally made it out of the house. We haven't even had a chance to catch up."

She kept calling me sis, but those flirty eyes of hers were locked on Arthur.

When their eyes met, Arthur swallowed and couldn't quite hide his smile.

The two of them were making eyes at each other right in front of me.

I took a sip of ice water to settle my stomach.

I'd been so stupid in my previous life. I thought they were genuinely trying to help me get out of marrying a man in a wheelchair. Now I could see they'd been sneaking around behind my back all along, waiting to get rid of me.

I picked up my coffee and drank it slowly.

I used to think Arthur was cold to everyone. Now I knew it was only me.

Daisy lingered, fishing for my plans. "Are you really going to marry Arthur? Then the two of you..."

She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "You love your freedom so much. If you're stuck in that huge Winslow family mansion... how will you stand it?"

I set down my coffee cup and looked at Arthur. "Daisy has a point. What would you do if I backed out of the engagement?"

Arthur finally looked away from Daisy. His expression gave nothing away. "Angela, don't talk nonsense. You're the only woman I'll ever marry. Even if you called off our engagement, I'd wait for you to change your mind."

I asked him again, "What if I were publicly disgraced?"

He laughed and reached out as if to take my hand. "I'd love it if your reputation was ruined. Then nobody would try to take you from me."

I raised an eyebrow. Such pretty words. But what is he really thinking?

In my previous life, once I was "ruined," hadn't he gotten engaged to Daisy right away?

As he said it, his eyes drifted toward Daisy again.

Daisy kept her head down, sipping her coffee, a smug little smile on her lips.

I pretended not to notice. "Arthur, I've been thinking. This marriage will bring our two families together. If it goes smoothly, everyone benefits.

"So... Mom and I talked yesterday. She came up with an idea to make sure the marriage goes ahead."