Chapter 1

Rays of light filtered through the windows to illuminate the lavish interior of a villa, casting Selena Yane in varying shades of darkness.

She tightly clutched the piece of paper that had the word "marry" written on it, her fingers turning white from the force.

Her mother, Martha Tonks, stepped forward to gently pat her shoulder. "Selena, since you drew the lot to marry, you should get ready. In a week—"

Before she could finish, she was cut off by Selena, whose eyes had started tearing up.

"But I already got engaged to Zachary a while ago! Why am I now being asked to marry into the Chiton family instead? And through such a sloppy method as drawing lots?"

Martha didn't get a chance to respond before Liam Yane, Selena's father, approached her with a stony expression.

"The Yane family's marriage with the Chiton family is bound to happen! We only just found your sister not long ago. Could you bear to have her marry off to someplace so far away?

"Michael Chiton is known for his unpredictable moods, and Lucine is nothing like you. How could she possibly handle him when she's so innocent?

"Besides, if you hadn't kept an eye on her back then, how could she have gone missing? Shouldn't you compensate her for all these missing years?"

Each word struck Selena's heart like a heavy blow.

Both she and Lucine Yane were his daughters. He couldn't bear to have Lucine marry into such circumstances, yet he didn't mind Selena in the same situation.

For the past 20 years, everyone had been blaming her for losing Lucine, yet she had only been six at the time.

If Liam hadn't left them alone at the playground, heading off somewhere for a business deal, this wouldn't have happened. However, she was the one who became the target of public scorn, leaving her swimming in guilt for all these years.

Seeing how Selena stubbornly refused to agree, Martha dealt one last heavy blow.

"Selena, you know that Zachary's feelings toward you have changed. Why do you insist on clinging to him?"

In an instant, Selena's nose tingled as bitterness rose in her. She wanted to retort, but didn't know where to even begin.

After Lucine was found and brought back, Liam and Martha's world practically revolved around her.

Feeling apologetic to the sister she had lost for 20 years, Selena had tried her best to make it up to Lucine. The costly jewelry and beautiful clothing she had gifted Lucine could fill the latter's entire bedroom.

Nonetheless, Lucine remained hostile toward her. Not only did she claim that Selena was deliberately gifting her expensive things to suppress her, but she always put on a show of Selena hurting her.

Eventually, Martha and Liam started to distance themselves from Selena.

Only her childhood sweetheart, Zachary Xenakis, remained firmly on her side.

However, Selena wasn't sure when it started, but Zachary had also begun to change. He started bringing up Lucine more often.

"Lucine sure does know how to torment people. Can't she head to the exhibition hall herself? Why did she have to insist on my driving her there? Selena, you're so much more understanding. She can't compare to you at all."

Though it sounded like he was complaining, his actions betrayed him. He began to willingly help Lucine with anything she asked of him. It got to the point where he would abandon Selena for Lucine, time and again.

When Selena remained silent, Liam grew restless.

Furrowing his brows tightly, he began to pace around the living room. Several times, he moved as though to light a cigarette, but every time, he would stop himself. The reason was simple. Lucine hated the smell of cigarette smoke.

Selena had been trying to get him to stop smoking for ages, yet he had never bothered to heed her words.

However, Lucine had easily done so.

A moment later, Liam spoke up coldly. "I'll give you five billion as your dowry. Other than that, you can request anything from me. This is the most I will concede."

Selena raised her gaze, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions that Liam couldn't decipher.

In the next second, Selena's phone chimed with a message.

It was a photo from Lucine of two hands wearing matching rings.

There was no way Selena would mistake the other hand—it was Zachary's.

Taking a deep breath, Selena looked up once more. This time, her eyes were clear and cold.

"I agree to marry into the Chiton family, so transfer the five billion to my account tomorrow. Also, don't tell Zachary that I'm the one being married off."

The usually stern Liam finally smiled.

"But of course."