Chapter 2

Applause erupted. The first dance ended.

Xavier's hand rested naturally on Fiona's waist.

The three childhood friends who came for me were now busy crowding around them with champagne glasses.

Xavier crossed through the crowd toward me.

He lowered his head to look at me: "Fiona's had it rough these years. You came back and easily slid into the heir candidate pool. She worked for years—lost everything because of bloodlines."

"It's just one dance. You've always been generous."

"If tonight gets out," I cut him off, "what will people say? That the Foster heiress is a joke who can't even hold her own event?"

His brow furrowed.

"You overthink everything. Who'd dare laugh at you?"

Seeing my silence, his voice dropped. "Evelyn, you're strong. You can stand on your own. But Fiona's different!"

"If I don't choose her tonight, if I don't show I value her, she becomes the Foster family's abandoned child."

I looked down at the wine swirling in my glass.

He didn't know—the Foster inheritance battle had reached a life-or-death point.

Father's message was clear:

Either marry someone from a family equal to the Fosters, like Xavier Sterling, and let Grandfather kick me out of the running.

Or he'd "arrange" me to some borderland upstart and eliminate the problem permanently.

I'd wanted to stay outside the game a little longer.

But this one dance shattered all my room to maneuver.

Fiona trotted over, eyes hopeful as she looked at Xavier:

"Xavier, could you introduce me to some of the guests?"

"I'm not as thorough as Evelyn."

"She always keeps this little notebook—records which young heirs are rising, which uncles control rare resources..."

She covered her mouth, frowning with self-reproach.

"I—I don't mean she's opportunistic. She's just... diligent."

Nearby, two ladies' smiles faded.

"Recording everyone's value? This Foster heiress... quite the schemer."

"No wonder she made heir candidate in just three years."

Whispers drifted over.

My blood ran cold.

That notebook was homework assigned by Grandfather.

When I first entered the circle, he told me to study the merits of each family's elders...

Xavier had even coached me on it.

But he didn't say a word in my defense.

Let me become the center of the storm instead.

Fiona looked at Xavier regretfully: "Did I say something wrong again? I just admire how capable Evelyn is..."

He patted her hand. "It's fine. Evelyn has a big heart—she won't be mad at you."

Then he led Fiona away to greet others.

"Xav—"

Surrounding whispers drowned out my voice:

"I felt bad for her getting her spotlight stolen, but ugh... turns out she's that calculating."

"..."

I stood in place, freezing from the inside out.

Suddenly remembering that rainy day three years ago when I first returned to the Foster family.

My adoptive parents were considered upper class.

But compared to top-tier families like the Fosters, they weren't truly seen as equals.

The day I was brought back to the Foster estate, Manhattan was drowning in rain.

I stood alone outside the ancestral home.

Grandfather deliberately tested me, refusing to let anyone open the door.

That's when I met Xavier.

He walked over with an umbrella and said: "Just got home? I'll protect you from now on."

Now, his umbrella was over someone else's head.

I set down my glass and turned toward the terrace.

The night wind was cold against my face.

The composure I'd forced earlier cracked at the edges.

Grandfather returns in seven days.

If tonight's events spread, it would definitely cost me points in his eyes.

...

After standing there for a while, I walked back into the ballroom.

Caleb suddenly hurried toward me. "Evelyn, don't go over there."

I followed his gaze.

Those two were still spinning in the dance floor.

He thought I was going to make a scene.

Can't blame him.

Of the three childhood friends, he was the only one who'd survived years with me at the orphanage before I was adopted.

Back then, whenever they handed out apples, I'd fight for the biggest, reddest one.

Once I got it, I'd shove it at him first.

Because he was slow at everything, and I was afraid he'd starve.

Later, my adoptive parents took me in.

I saved every bit of allowance, begged them to pull strings.

Sponsored his expensive art school tuition.

Did everything I could to lift him up into the influential appraiser he is today.

But I was just a wild vine that clawed out of the mud alongside him.

No matter how much support and nourishment I gave—

I'd never compare to that untouchable sun high in the sky.

I stepped around him to leave.

He grabbed my wrist from behind. "Evelyn, if Xavier already chose, going over there now will just humiliate you more."

"Let go!"

I tried to pull my hand back. He gripped tighter.

In the struggle, my already-injured ankle twisted. I lost balance and fell backward.

My back slammed against a pillar and I dropped to my knees, the impact echoing dully.

Searing pain exploded.

Caleb froze. "Why are you doing this? You've had everything at the Foster house these three years. What does Fiona have left?"