Chapter 1
Six years of secret love with my brother Lorian Lancelot.
The day before Valentine’s, I snuck to his office hoping to surprise him.
Instead, I got the shock of my life overhearing a conversation through his half–open door.
“Your stepsister, Lorian–aren’t you over that game yet? When are you finally dumping her? Wait… don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her?”
Lorian’s reply drifted through the crack, that smooth, confident tone I used to melt for now turning my
blood to ice.
“Fallen? For her?” He snorted. “Please. She’s just a free toy that fell into my lap. Who turns down
something that costs nothing?”
“Jocelyn Collins’s the only one who’ll ever be my wife.”
The office went quiet before he continued, each word like twisting a knife in my chest.
“Her mom destroyed my parents‘ marriage. These six years with her daughter? Just my little revenge project. She’s getting exactly what she deserves.”
So that was it. Everything I thought was love was just his sick payback plan.
All those late–night whispers, the promises, the way he’d pull me close when nobody was watching–just
another Oscar–worthy performance.
Well, if that’s how he wanted to play it, I was out.
“Don’t worry about me. Focus on planning my wedding with Jocelyn,” Lorian’s voice continued, growing
colder with each word.
“As for Sylvia Lancelot… I have plenty of ways to make her
I froze mid–step, my breath caught in my throat.
pay.”
