Chapter 3
In my past life, I’d thrown everything I had at trying to fix Renric, even letting the family business slide completely.
The truth was, Celeste and I lived in totally different worlds-while dad always claimed he loved us equally, only she and Damon were ever included in the trust fund arrangements.
Damon was out there expanding the empire and growing our family wealth exponentially, while Celeste’s annual dividends alone exceeded most people’s lifetime earnings. Meanwhile, I had to practically grovel just to get Dad to cover Renric’s therapy bills.
If I wanted any real power in this family, I’d have to earn it myself. Damon wouldn’t even grant me a face-to-face meeting-just had his secretary toss me some bullshit administrative role and forgot I existed.
Instead of getting bitter about it, I kept my head down and focused on the work.
Turns out I’d never actually tested my own capabilities before, and I was genuinely surprised to discover I had some serious business
instincts.
After I managed to close a deal with an investor everyone else had written off as impossible, Damon finally took notice. He threw me a ridiculously belated welcome party and started assigning me actual projects with real stakes.
The company was stagnating and desperately needed fresh perspective. No matter how much he preferred Celeste personally, he couldn’t ignore results. Gradually, my growing reputation in business circles was starting to eclipse even Celeste’s famous beauty.
The day I came home riding high from another successful deal, Celeste was waiting for me in the foyer. “Aren’t you being a little too
flashy lately?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Meaning?”
“You’re constantly putting yourself out there now, always in the spotlight. Look, I’m not trying to be mean, but a lot of your recent success has been pure luck. When it all falls apart-and it will-you’ll drag the whole Virell name down with you.” She shot a pointed look at Renric, who was standing nearby. “Plus, with those scars, if you keep being so… visible… no decent man is ever going to want you. Maybe you should step back and let me handle the public-facing stuff.”
I didn’t waste time dancing around it: “You’re terrified I’m outshining you, aren’t you?”
She went completely still. “I… what?”
“Cut the act, Celeste. You’ve had everything handed to you your entire life-the trust fund, Dad’s favoritism, the princess treatment. What gives you the right to tell me to sit down and shut up when I’m finally making something of myself?”
Her eyes immediately filled with tears, but I wasn’t done. “And since you want to bring up my scars, let’s talk about how I got them. Remember when we were ten and that man grabbed you? I jumped in to help, but you panicked and shoved me straight into him. That’s how my face got destroyed.”
Celeste pressed her hands to her mouth as tears spilled over. “That’s not… I was just worried about you… how can you say such horrible things about me?”
“Save the waterworks. You’re not the victim here.” I turned to leave, but her sobbing got louder.
“Stop it!” Evander, who’d been hovering behind her like always, pulled her against his chest and glared at me. “Miss Elara, that was completely out of line!”
Celeste clung to him, shaking her head frantically. “No, it’s okay… I’m fine, really…” But her whole body was trembling.
That’s when Renric stepped forward, his face dark with anger. You crossed the line. Apologize to her. Now.”
Chapter 3
I stared at him in disbelief, but he didn’t back down. So I slapped him hard enough that the sound echoed through the hallway. Celeste screamed and threw herself between us.
“How dare you hit him!”
I shook out my hand casually. “Maybe you should train your guard dogs better. Otherwise, they won’t be able to tell who’s the master
and who’s the slave.”
Evander looked ready to explode, while Renric just stood there holding his reddening cheek, staring at me.
I walked away without another word, planning to pack my things and get the hell out of this house for good. But the next morning. someone was practically breaking down my bedroom door. Evander didn’t bother with politeness-the second I opened it, he grabbed my arm.
“Celeste’s been kidnapped! Come with me right now!”
