Chapter 1

The instant Orlando saw me, his pupils shrank to pinpoints.

A heartbeat later, his face smoothed back over.

He gave me a polite little nod, the smile at the corner of his mouth both warm and distant, and said lightly:

"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Ophelia."

Then he took Romina's hand and brushed his thumb over the ring on her finger, his voice seven parts tender, three parts annoyed.

"Don't say things like that. You're the one I'm marrying. You're my Donna."

The comments hit a fever pitch.

[sugar overload warning!]

[incoming! the villainess is about to use the baby to force a wedding!]

[lmao! the lead loves the heroine, he's not about to coddle some side character!]

Once the shock wore off, I pulled myself together.

So much for getting Orlando back. That road was a dead end.

Fine, Orlando. You were the one forcing my hand.

If we couldn't talk feelings, then we would talk money.

I gave him a faint smile. "Pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Hale."

The comments stalled for a second, then boiled over.

[that's it? why isn't she making a scene?]

[tsk, this side character is faker than a knockoff handbag.]

[didn't see that coming, the villainess is a high-class bitch. interesting!]

Orlando seemed thrown by how agreeable I was. He stole a glance at me, careful not to let it show.

My mother, Clara, asked offhandedly, "You said you're seeing someone? How far along is it?"

The whole room's attention swung back to me.

I glanced at Orlando.

He held the smile on his face, but his fists curled tight without him noticing.

I spread my hands and laughed:

"He went back home to get married. So right now, the two of us have exactly no relationship."

Everyone blinked, not sure how to follow that.

My father muttered something and patted my shoulder gently, comforting me.

The smile stayed on Orlando's face. So did his clenched fists.

Romina lit up and threaded her arm through mine. "Sister, you really don't want the engagement?"

"Of course not! It's not the Middle Ages!" I couldn't have sounded more certain.

A second later I added, "And like I said, the offer stands. If you feel guilty, just cash me out."

Everyone assumed I was still joking and laughed along.

I was the only one stewing. How were they all this slow on the uptake?

More comments rolled in.

[truly the villainess, money-crazed to the core!]

[I'm just waiting! no way she doesn't go crawl to the male lead later and play the victim!]

My father laughed and clapped my shoulder. "That's my girl, so gracious! The man who walked out on you is a complete idiot!"

A crack split open in Orlando's smiling mask.

A moment later, my mother smiled:

"Romina's not strong, and she looks worn out. Let's wrap up your welcome party here."

"Ophelia, let me show you to your room first."

My room was at the very end of the hall.

I pushed the door open. The room was cramped and cold, a mess inside.

My mother brushed it off:

"Bear with this for now. Romina's lived in her room for twenty years. It wouldn't be right to make her move."

"You're the older sister, and you just got back. You should give her a little grace."

I looked at the room, smaller than Romina's walk-in closet, and nodded. "Okay."

After my mother left, Orlando walked in.

"Effie, I don't want our history getting out. These past five years, I paid you everything I owed you."

He said it slow and deliberate, every word spelled out, like he was talking to someone simple.

"Romina is my Donna. You need to know your place."

My hand went to my stomach on instinct. The test I'd gotten yesterday was still in my purse.

I'd thought coming back to the Bennetts would put us on equal footing.

I'd thought being the real Bennett heiress would finally let us be together openly.

Turned out it was all just something I'd thought.

Something sour twisted in my chest. My nails bit into my palm until they drew blood.

I forced out a smile and looked up at him. "Of course. But you still owe me one last payment to keep me quiet. Thirty million."

He froze where he stood.

I flashed him an OK sign. "Don't forget now, Don Hale. Thirty million."

Then I shut the door in his face.