Chapter 2

The next day, I had no intention of going to Jessica's engagement party.

Then I got a call from the nursing aide at the hospital.

Grandma had taken a turn for the worse. She'd been asking for me.

Grandma was the only family member I had left in this world — and the only person in the Cole family who had ever genuinely loved me.

I threw on a white button-down and jeans, grabbed my bag, and rushed to the hospital.

When I got to her room, her bed was empty.

The bed was empty.

The aide was in a panic.

"Ms. Katherine — Barbara came with a few people and forced her out. Said something about an engagement party. Your grandmother still had her IV line in!"

My head rang like a struck bell. A white-hot surge of fury shot straight to the top of my skull.

Grandma had a serious heart condition. She couldn't handle any kind of stress or exertion.

Had Barbara completely lost her mind?!

I called Barbara immediately. It rang for a long time before she picked up. Behind her voice was the thump of music and the buzz of a crowd.

"Hello? Katherine, finally." Barbara's voice was dripping with self-satisfaction.

"Where is my grandmother? Where did you take her?!" I demanded.

"Oh, keep your voice down. She's Jessie's grandmother too, you know. Of course she had to be here for her granddaughter's engagement. We're in the VIP lounge at the top of The Peninsula."

Barbara let out a dismissive snort.

"You want to see her? Fine. Bring the deed to that mansion. You sign it over today, or you don't see her. That's the deal."

"You're using Grandma as leverage?!"

"Don't be so dramatic. I'm doing this for the good of the family. Now hurry up — Julian is about to arrive!"

The line went dead.

I stood there gripping my phone so hard my knuckles went white.

The Peninsula Hotel. A top property of Sterling Group.

I took a slow breath, flagged down a cab, and headed straight there.

The entrance was packed with luxury cars. A red carpet stretched out for dozens of feet, with security so airtight not even a fly could slip through.

I made it as far as the lobby before a guard stepped in front of me.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. The top floor has been reserved exclusively by Sterling Group today. May I see your invitation?"

I didn't have one.

I was reaching for my phone to call Edward's assistant when a sharp voice cut through from the elevator bay.

"Well, well. If it isn't our family's prim little old maid. Can't even get through the front door?"

I looked up.

Jessica swept across the lobby in an obscenely ornate diamond-studded gown and four-inch heels, flanked by a cluster of bridesmaids.

She looked me up and down, her eyes full of contempt.

"Tsk tsk. This is a Sterling engagement party, and you showed up looking like that? Someone might think you're here to collect recyclables."

Her bridesmaids burst into muffled laughter behind their hands.

I looked at her flatly.

"Where's Grandma?"

Jessica rolled her eyes.

"What's the rush? Mom's with her upstairs. Did you bring the deed?"

"I'll ask one more time." I stepped forward, my voice sharp as a blade. "Where is Grandma?"

Jessica flinched slightly at my tone, then puffed herself back up with wounded pride.

"Katherine, what exactly are you so high and mighty about? You think you're still the straight-A golden girl who used to outshine me? Let me tell you something — after today, I'm the mistress of the Sterling family. Crushing you would be like stepping on an ant!"

"Is that so?" I sneered.

"The mistress of the Sterling family? You sure have a big imagination."

Just then, a ripple of excitement spread through the lobby.

"Julian Sterling is here! Julian Sterling!"

Jessica's whole face lit up. She shoved past me, gathered her skirts, and fluttered toward the entrance like a butterfly chasing a flame.

"Julian!"

I turned.

Julian Sterling — Edward · Sterling's only son — walked in through the doors in a tailored suit, surrounded by a team of bodyguards. He was handsome, no question. But standing next to his father, Edward, who carried thirty years of power and hard-won authority in every line of his face — Julian still had a long way to go.

Jessica hooked her arm through Julian's, practically pressing her entire body against his.

"Julian! What took you so long? I've been waiting for you forever."

Julian patted her hand absently, his eyes sweeping the lobby.

When his gaze landed on me, it stopped.