Chapter 2

I eventually got into the car with him.

The Everett Group was one of the top corporations in Lyrendale, with businesses spanning tourism, education, real estate, and more.

Samuel was very clever, and ruthless when needed, but also skilled at winning people over.

As the first heir, he had already entered the company when his father was still alive, eventually becoming the vice president and, naturally, the CEO.

Tonight was about promoting his newly launched entertainment company.

We entered the venue one after the other.

Samuel wore a black suit and gold-framed glasses, standing on stage looking every bit the model businessman, giving a speech.

Below, a crowd of well-dressed celebrities and wealthy heirs ogled him like lovesick fans.

I felt nauseous, rolled my eyes, and walked toward the outskirts of the venue.

The banquet was held at a large estate, which supposedly housed some exotic animals you could only find in a zoo.

I wandered for quite a while but still couldn't find them.

"Ms. Parker, are you lost?"

I looked up to see a man in a dark green suit looking at me curiously.

He was really pale, paler than me.

I raised an eyebrow and gave him a faint smile.

"Do you know me?"

"You're Mr. Everett's stepsister. No one in Lyrendale doesn't know you."

"Are you married?"

He was caught off guard, clearly nervous.

"No."

I folded my arms, casually walked up to him, and stared at him with a sincere expression.

"Marry me. Be my husband. What do you say?"

His face instantly turned red, and I bit my lip, holding back my laughter.

This guy was amusing. He was pretending to be all pure now. Samuel hated me, yet there were plenty of people rushing to marry me.

After all, I was his stepsister and a small shareholder in the Everett Group.

I reached out and touched his burning red cheek, continuing my playful invitation.

"How about we get a marriage certificate tomorrow? Then I'll move into your place."

"Sophia!"

How boring. Samuel had arrived.

The bodyguards behind him escorted the man in the green suit away.

Samuel glared at me with disdain and disgust.

"Are you that desperate? That's the second son of the Grayson family, a useless coward. You like him?"

I couldn't be bothered to speak to him. Just as I was about to leave, he grabbed my arm and jerked me toward him with force.

His grip was strong enough that I stumbled, almost falling.

I broke free, glaring at him.

Then I laughed and wrapped my hands around his neck, gazing at him mischievously.

"Samuel, are you jealous?"

He was instantly enraged.

He grabbed my chin tightly, his strength so intense that I thought my bones might crack.

"You're despicable."

That's all he ever said. It had become so repetitive it was like background noise.

Later that night, he locked me in the small dark room again. In the darkness, he couldn't see my gloomy expression, nor could he see how fragile my heart was.

I left several bite marks on his shoulder, and I guess they were painful, because the next day, when I saw him raise his arm, he winced.

I was pleased and grabbed my bag, ready to go out and have some fun.

The world was small. I bumped into that man again.

He was sitting in a booth, holding a woman in his arms and feeding her alcohol.

The woman looked like a good girl, someone who wasn't from our kind of world.

I sat down casually, smiling brightly at him.

"Hubby, didn't we agree to get our marriage certificate today? Why didn't you show up?"

The whole room went silent.

Lucas was so shocked that he dropped his wine glass, shattering it across the floor into pieces.

"Ms. Parker, you... You're..."

I nodded, acting casual.

"Yes, we'll hold a wedding soon. Everyone's invited, including you, Miss."

The woman bolted, and later I found out that she was a student Lucas had tricked into coming. She was only nineteen, and when I found out, I made sure someone beat him up. He didn't get out of bed for a month.

As Samuel found out, his face was expressionless as he watched me.

"You even hit your own husband?"

"What's wrong? Jealous? Do you want to get hit, too?"

He puffed out his chest and scowled, calling me despicable again.

I raised my hand and poured a glass of water over his head.

"My mother was properly married into your father's family. Got it? If you keep insulting me, I'll cut out your tongue."