Chapter 3

The third round took us back to an old warehouse from five years ago. It was where the Moretti family held its most basic candidate evaluations: route planning, weapons identification, on-the-spot negotiation, and emergency withdrawal.

It wasn't a true trial for the heir, but it determined whether a young candidate could enter the family's inner training program. Cecilia had earned the highest score several times in a row. Mine had always been barely good enough.

Back then, everyone thought she was smart, steady, and born for the Moretti family. They thought I had nothing going for me but a decent face. The moment the scene began to replay, I knew exactly what would happen next.

Cecilia came through the warehouse door. She was younger five years ago, and the helpless look on her face wasn't nearly as polished. The moment the door closed, she threw a candidate seal at me.

"Use my number for tomorrow's evaluation."

I didn't take it.

"I already did the last one for you."

"Then this one should be easier."

"I'm not doing it."

She stared at me, her expression turning cold.

"Evelyn, have you forgotten who you are?

"You're an orphan we took in. You're only still at the safe house because Maria begged for you.

"Do you really think growing up under the same roof as Damian makes you a Moretti?"

I looked up at her.

"I've never thought that."

"Good."

She shoved the seal into my palm.

"The family still hasn't approved Maria's next shipment of medicine.

"The children at the old safe house also need their protection renewed."

A slow smile crossed her face.

"One word from me, and they can stay.

"Or they can be sent away tomorrow."

My fingers slowly tightened around the seal.

"You're using children to threaten me?"

"Don't make it sound so ugly."

She stepped closer.

"I'm only reminding you that if you want to protect something, you have to offer something in return.

"You're good at making trades, aren't you?"

I said nothing. Five years ago, I had taken the seal in the end. Not because I was afraid of her.

Maria had just had surgery, and some of the youngest children at the safe house were still sick with fevers. They couldn't lose that medicine. In the memory, I closed my hand around the seal and said only one thing.

"I'm doing this for Maria.

"Not for you."

Cecilia gave a quiet laugh.

"What's the difference?

"My name still goes on the score."

She turned and walked away. But unlike five years ago, the space outside the door wasn't empty. Damian and everyone else taking part in the trial were watching through one-way glass.

No one could come in. No one could change anything. They could only watch.

Through the glass, I saw Damian's face. He stood perfectly still, his jaw tight.

Cecilia stood beside him, already pale. When the replay ended and the warehouse returned to the present, she spoke at once.

"I was young back then.

"And it was only one evaluation. Later, I..."

"What about the medicine?"

Damian's question came without warning. She stared at him.

"What?"

"The medicine you used to threaten her."

He didn't raise his voice. There wasn't even any obvious anger in it.

"Did Maria really need it at the time?"

Cecilia opened her mouth.

"The family's resources were limited. I only—"

"So it was true."

Damian cut her off.

"You knew she would never gamble with Maria's life or the children's safety.

"So you used them to force her to take your test."

Cecilia's eyes filled fast.

"Damian, are you really interrogating me over a dead woman created by a trial?"

He studied her for a long time.

"I'm only asking what happened."

Her tears never fell after that. I suddenly found the whole thing absurd. When I'd been alive five years ago, I'd asked myself the same question over and over.

If Damian ever learned the truth, would he believe me? Then I died, and he never even got the chance to know.

Now he was finally asking. But I no longer needed his answer.