Chapter 2

Victoria stared at Selene for a long moment.

"I don't think we've met," she said, her voice cool. "Whose daughter are you?"

Mrs. Archer scrambled out of her seat. "Mrs. Crane, my husband just took a position at the city clerk's office — we only recently moved to New York. Selene is our daughter. She doesn't get out much, which is why you haven't seen her before."

She didn't say illegitimate. But she didn't need to.

Everyone in that garden already knew. A minor city clerk's daughter — and not even his legitimate one.

Victoria's expression went dark. She said nothing.

She turned to look at Julian.

Julian had already put the gun down. He walked straight across the lawn, past every guest, past every daughter of every family that mattered in this city — and stopped in front of Selene.

He took her hand. Led her to his mother.

"Mom. Selene is kind, graceful, and everything I want. I choose her."

Victoria glanced at me. I could read her face like a headline: this is a disaster.

"Julian," she said carefully, "the ceremony can be unpredictable. One shot shouldn't decide everything. Why don't we have the girls do something else — a second round? Something to make sure."

A few girls nodded. They all knew what a "second round" meant.

Victoria was handing me the win on a silver platter.

Everyone turned to look at me.

Before Julian or Selene could respond, I stepped forward.

"Victoria, the rules of the Rose Ceremony are clear — the shot decides the bride. Julian chose Selene's rose. If we change the rules now, it wouldn't be fair to her."

Julian jumped in immediately. "Vivienne's right. Mom, this is fate. Selene is the one I want. There's no need for another round."

Victoria looked at me with open disappointment. "Vivienne, you know I've always adored you. You're exactly the kind of woman this family needs."

Julian cut her off. "Mom, I've always seen Vivienne as a little sister. I never once thought of marrying her."

Selene squeezed Julian's hand. She shot me a look — quick, satisfied — then put on her apologetic face.

"Julian can be a little blunt. Please don't take it to heart, Vivienne." She paused, then smiled sweetly.

"But if you really do have feelings for him... after the wedding, maybe I could talk him into finding a place for you. We could be like sisters under the same roof."

My mother shot to her feet.

The entire garden held its breath.

Asking an Ashworth to play second to a nobody's bastard daughter?

Mrs. Archer grabbed Selene's arm.

"Shut your mouth," she hissed.

Julian knew Selene had gone too far. He stepped in fast.

"Vivienne, she didn't mean it like that. Selene's just — she's new here, she doesn't understand how things work. She's young. She didn't know what she was saying."

I smiled.

"Julian, we grew up together, so I'll give you this one for free — Selene is actually two years older than me."

"If she still 'doesn't understand how things work' and 'doesn't know what she's saying' at her age, I'd be worried about bringing her into the Crane family."

I tilted my head.

"The wives in the Five Families will eat her alive. And when they do, it won't be the Ashworth name they laugh at — it'll be yours."

Selene's face flushed red. Tears spilled down her cheeks. She turned to Julian with trembling lips.

"I just got to New York — I don't know the rules yet. But Vivienne is supposed to be from a powerful family. Is this how powerful women talk? By being cruel?"

I kept my smile.

"You just got here, so I'll give you a pass. But in this circle? What I just said is considered polite."

"Trust me — the other wives won't be this gentle."

Before Selene could fire back, Victoria's voice cut through like a blade.

"Enough." She looked at Julian, cold.

"You've made your choice. Fine. But hear me clearly — the woman who walks into this family as your wife must know how to carry herself. If she can't, I don't care if she has a ring on her finger. I will never accept her."

The garden was silent. Selene's tears kept falling. Julian held her close, jaw tight.

And I felt nothing.