Chapter 2

On the third day of Sienna's trial run, the Ashfords held a family dinner.

Callum's mother sent me the address and told me to bring the crest ring traditionally worn by the wives of Ashford heirs. She had placed that ring on my hand herself when Callum and I married.

But I knew she had never liked me.

In her eyes, Lucia Bennett had no distinguished family, no meaningful connections, and nothing that could advance her son's ambitions. If Callum had not insisted on marrying me, the ring that marked the Ashford family's future matriarch would never have reached my hand.

The first time I visited the Ashford estate, his mother announced before a table full of relatives that a woman of my background could contribute nothing to Callum's career.

Callum had taken my hand and answered her with quiet resolve.

"Lucia is the woman I'm marrying. My marriage will not become anyone's business transaction."

At the time, I truly believed he would stand beside me no matter what happened.

Now the memory only felt distant.

I looked down at the crest ring on my finger. His mother had put it on me when I joined the Ashfords; tonight, I intended to take it off in front of her and return it for good.

By the time I reached the estate, Sienna was already sitting in my usual place. There was no chair left beside Callum. A member of staff had to bring one from another room and set it at the far end of the long dining table.

Callum's mother smiled as she explained. "Since Sienna is spending the week experiencing life as Mrs. Ashford, the family dinner should be part of it. It is only a few days, Lucia. Don't make everyone uncomfortable."

Callum had also ordered the kitchen to rebuild the menu around Sienna's preferences.

I had a severe peanut allergy. Even after seven years of marriage, peanut brittle and nut-based desserts still appeared at Ashford dinners. In the beginning, Callum had reminded the kitchen. Later, he merely told me to avoid whatever I could not eat.

Yet because Sienna disliked cilantro, not a single leaf appeared on the table.

When she spotted one green fragment floating in her soup, she barely had time to frown before Callum stopped the server.

"Take it back and make another. The smell makes her sick."

The previous year, they had seated Sienna in my place for the first time. When I left the dinner, Callum followed me into the garden.

A chair meant nothing, he told me. Then he held me and promised, "Your place will always belong to you."

This year, I did not even qualify for the seat beside him.

Before the family photograph, Callum's mother looked at my right hand.

"Take off the ring. Let Sienna wear it for a few minutes so the picture looks complete."

Sienna immediately shook her head. "We shouldn't. The ring belongs to Lucia."

But she never looked away from it, and her hand was already extended toward me.

Before I could answer, Callum took my right hand.

"It's one photograph," he murmured. "She'll give it back as soon as we're done."

He eased the ring over my knuckle. The metal scraped my skin, leaving an angry red circle around my finger. Callum lowered his head to inspect the crest for scratches, then personally slid the ring onto Sienna's right hand.

"Everything goes back to normal in seven days," he said, looking at me. "Don't ruin tonight over a ring."

For the photograph, Sienna stood beside Callum while his parents sat in front of them. I was placed at the very edge of the group, nearly outside the frame.

When the photographer asked everyone to move closer, Sienna slipped her arm through Callum's. He did not pull away.

I turned to his mother.

"You can keep the ring."

Her smile stiffened. "Lucia, this is an anniversary game. If you say things like that, you only make the evening unpleasant for the whole family."

I did not explain myself.

A relative who did not know about the game soon posted the family portrait in the Ashford group chat.

[At last, the whole family is here.]

Several relatives commented that Callum and Sienna looked perfect together. Someone joked about whether they planned to hold another wedding.

Callum's mother did not correct them. She merely left a red heart beneath the message.

I looked at the Ashford family chat I had belonged to for seven years and quietly selected Leave Group.

Callum noticed almost immediately.

[I know you're upset.]

[When the game is over, we'll sit down and talk.]

I no longer needed that conversation.