Chapter 2

Audrey brushed off the uneasiness she felt from her family's sudden display of affection.

She attributed their initial attitudes to what had transpired between her and Sophia before she ran away from home.

Sophia had taken over her room, replaced the pink decor with a cold blue tone that she wasn't pleased with, but had to keep her dissatisfaction to herself for peace to reign.

All the dresses she left behind were carelessly packed in a box.

A soft hiss left her lips as she tried checking out the dresses and realized they weren't her size anymore.

“I can share some of my dresses with you,” Sophia said from behind her.

Audrey let out a deep breath of frustration before turning slowly to face her.

She hated her presence so much and it was hard to hide it.

“We'll be sharing a room,” Sophia added with a soft smile, limping towards Audrey.

Audrey tutted. “No need to pretend, it's just me and you,” she said, rolling her eyes.

Sophia reached for Audrey's hand, but Audrey snatched it away before she could touch her.

“I’m your sister, Audrey,” Sophia said, raising an eyebrow. ‘Sister my foot,’ she rolled her eyes in disgust.

Audrey gave her a disdainful look, hissed and went back to sorting out her old clothes.

Sophia sneered behind Audrey's back before settling into a chair, her gaze full of hatred.

Knock knock.

“Come in,” Sophia called out. The door creaked open softly and Mrs. Evangeline walked in, smiles plastered on her face.

“I see you’re bonding.”

“Yes, Mom. Audrey and I were just catching up,” Sophia replied with a small laugh that grated on Audrey's nerves. Audrey shot her an angry glance before turning back to her mother.

“I got this dress for you, Audrey. You need to put it on now, you're meeting someone important.” Mrs. Evangeline said softly, handing her a bag.

Audrey's brow furrowed in confusion.

Sophia's eyes widened, a spark of jealousy flashing in them.

‘Why is mother favouring Audrey that much? And who is this important person?’

“Mom, who is the person?” Audrey asked, eyeing the dress.

It was a beautiful black gown, slanted to the knee. A pair of black heels and a box of silver jewelry also came with the gift.

“You'll find out later, my love,” Mrs. Evangeline said with a smile, gave her a peck on both cheeks.

“A make-up artist will be here to touch up your face,” she added before stepping out of the room.

The moment she was gone, Sophia jumped to her feet and snatched the dress from Audrey's grip. “You don't deserve this,” she sneered.

Audrey yanked it back. “Thought you wanted to keep pretending to be nice.”

Audrey's gaze fell on her bandaged feet, now resting on the floor. A loud laugh burst out of her throat, and she quickly covered her mouth to stifle it.

Sophia's face fell in embarrassment. She raised her feet up again and limped out, making Audrey laugh harder.

Before she could calm down, the makeup artist walked in. Sophia had left the door open, so she just slipped in.

Everything happened so fast, she barely had time to think about it.

The makeup was perfectly done. Audrey barely recognized the beauty staring back at her in the mirror. For a moment, she forgot her worries about the meeting.

Her heels clicked softly as she walked into the sitting room with her mother by her side.

Sophia's face couldn't hide her shock at Audrey's beauty.

‘Guess the makeup got her a new face.’

She actually knew she was finer, and that was probably why she hated her.

Her brothers stared in shock. She was a totally different person from the one they had seen earlier.

“Mom, where is she?” Audrey asked, scanning the room.

“He…” Mrs. Evangeline corrected with a smile.

Audrey's brow furrowed. ‘A he?’

“But why am I the one meeting him….why not Sophia? What does he want from me?”

“You are getting married to him!” Mr. Sterling cut in from behind them.

Shockwaves ran through Audrey and Sophia's bodies.

Sophia's toes curled tight, digging into the floor. Her heatbeat raced with nervousness.

‘Hope Audrey isn't getting married to the same man.’

Audrey chuckled dryly. “So that's why you've been so nice? You wanted to give me away in marriage?”

Her angry gaze swept the room, her fist clenched. “For the family business right?”

Her father's expression said it all. She was getting married for the family business. Audrey's mouth dropped in disappointment. She greatly regretted returning home.

“How foolish I was to think you were simply nice because you accepted me back,” she spat.

She kicked off her heels and threw them across the room, almost hitting Oliver.

She walked to the middle of the room, hands on hips, her face cold as she glared at them.

“I, Audrey, will never agree to an arranged marriage. I will never marry a stranger just for the sake of a business.

Sophia is now your favourite daughter, get her married to the stranger instead.” Her sharp tone left the family exchanging shocked glances.

They knew Audrey to be a stubborn type, but never had she disrespected her father like this.

“If you don't accept this, consider yourself disowned by the family…..”

“Do I look like I care?” Audrey cut her father off, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.

“I was never wanted before now,” she hissed.

She grabbed her heels and moved closer to her father, eyes burning with anger.

Mr. Sterling’s fist clenched beside him as he stared at his unflinching daughter.

“I’m no longer your daughter!” Audrey spat, nose flaring. She turned away and headed to the elevator.

“Then you get to pay the debt!” her father shouted after her.

“You signed the marriage contract nine years ago. You didn't bother to read the rules, but it says if you breach it, you’ll pay the debt of 20millon dollars.

Audrey Sterling, do you have such money to pay?”

A chill ran through Audrey’s spine. She remembered her father made her sign a contract she didn't care to read on her 15th birthday.