Chapter 1

We were the four girls the Sterling family took in.

My foster mother, Mrs. Sterling, had one goal: to groom the most exceptional of us to marry her son, Damian Sterling.

The other three—Lily, Sarah, and Maya—they learned flower arranging, dance, and how to charm Damian.

Me? I learned finance, management, and how to bleed his family’s company dry.

Damian cornered me against a wall, a smirk playing on his lips, smug and sure of himself.

"Playing your little seduction games? I despise ambitious women."

He thought I wanted him.

He had no idea I'd seen too many women who latched onto men, only to end up as discarded, fading roses.

What I wanted was never his love.

It was the power to utterly break free from his grasp.

Later, he truly fell for me:

"You win. I only want you. Stop working so hard, just be my Mrs. Sterling."

I laughed, slapping my resignation letter onto his chest.

"Mr. Sterling, you think I was after the title of your wife?"

"No. I was after *your* position."

Mrs. Sterling summoned the four of us to the main residence for afternoon tea, claiming she had an important announcement.

In the enormous living room, the crystal chandelier sparkled, and the air was thick with the cloying sweetness of expensive diffusers. Lily, Sarah, Maya, and I sat side-by-side on the plush velvet sofa, like a line of products waiting to be appraised.

Our postures were trained through countless repetitions: backs perfectly straight, smiles flawlessly calibrated.

Mrs. Sterling’s well-maintained face wore a gentle smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Children, you've all been with the Sterling family for over a decade now. Each of you has grown into such beautiful young women; I’m truly delighted."

Her gaze swept slowly across our faces, as if she were inspecting her prized collection.

"Damian is of marrying age now, and I’ve watched all of you grow up, so I know you well."

"I’ve decided that one of you four will be chosen to be his wife."

The moment her words fell, the breathing of the three girls beside me quickened.

Lily was the least able to hide her feelings; her cheeks instantly flushed crimson, her eyes practically overflowing with anticipation, hands clutching tightly at the hem of her skirt.

Sarah bowed her head, twisting her fingers into the fabric of her dress, appearing calm but with knuckles turning white.

Maya, however, subtly straightened her back, striking her most poised and impeccable pose.

As if the title of Mrs. Sterling was already hers for the taking.

They all wanted to be Mrs. Sterling.

Only I remained, picking up my coffee cup, gently blowing away the wisps of steam. The dark surface reflected my utterly calm face.

I just wanted to escape this gilded cage.