The Girl He Saved, the Woman He Lost

I left the estate at dawn with cash in my bag.

I had arranged to meet the man my family had chosen for me.

He came from an old family with a respectable name and not much money left to its name, but the family still carried influence in the old circles that mattered.

If he agreed to the arrangement and gave me a clean way out, I would use what I had to help ease the pressure on his family.

For one reckless moment, I considered disappearing instead.

Leaving the city. Leaving all of it behind.

But the thought didn't last long.

Whatever Lucian had done to me, the Vestris had still raised me.

I couldn't repay them by vanishing and turning my name into a scandal they would have to bury.

So I met the family, confirmed the arrangement, and left him the money.

By the time I returned to the estate, the house was already buzzing.

Sofia Bellini was there.

At dinner, she sat between Lucian and Mrs. Vestri, smiling easily, speaking like she already belonged there.

They looked like a family.

I almost turned around and said I'd already eaten.

Then Lucian looked up and said, "Sit."

Just that.

Cold. Flat. Impossible to refuse.

So I sat at the far end of the table, as far from him as I could, and kept my eyes on my plate.

I barely touched my food.

Then something landed there.

A piece of veal.

I froze.

Lucian had already pulled his hand back, his expression unreadable.

"You haven't been to St. Helena Academy in two weeks," he said.

The fact that he had even noticed almost made me laugh.

"I know."

There was no point in going back now. Not when I had already decided to leave.

"Go back to St. Helena. At least there, you might remember how to think before you destroy yourself."

For a second, I just looked at him.

There had been a time when he used to tell me I was smarter than anyone else in the room.

Sofia broke the silence with a soft laugh.

"Don't be so hard on her." She touched Lucian's sleeve, light and familiar. "It's the winter charity gala in the harbor. We should take her with us."

Lucian's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

Sofia turned to me with that perfect, effortless smile.

"You'll come, won't you?"

It wasn't really a question.

I nodded.

By the time we reached the waterfront, the harbor was glowing.

Music drifted through the cold air. Lights spilled across the promenade. The whole gala glittered with money, cameras, and old family names.

I walked a few steps behind them.

I watched Lucian stop at a private jeweler's display and buy Sofia a pair of diamond earrings without asking the price.

I watched her slip her hand through his arm like she had every right to.

Later, at one of the raffle tables, he won a diamond bracelet for her.

The woman running the table smiled as she handed it over. A few women nearby looked openly envious.

Sofia turned then, the bracelet resting in her palm.

"Maybe we should give this to her," she said. "I remember she likes pretty things."