Chapter 2

The ocean breeze swept away the smoke ring Roman had just exhaled.

He pushed himself upright and walked toward me, unhurried, one long stride at a time.

His shoes struck the wooden deck with heavy, deliberate thuds — each one landing like a blow against my nerves.

"What's the matter? Aren't you going to call for help for your dear little sister?"

He stopped just half a step away, looking down at me.

He smelled faintly of tobacco, and his presence carried a suffocating, oppressive weight.

I forced the panic back down and held his gaze without flinching.

"You didn't call for help either, Roman."

Roman let out a low, quiet laugh, his chest barely shifting with it.

"I don't waste my time worrying about whether other people live or die."

He leaned in, bringing his mouth close to my ear, his voice dropping to barely a whisper.

"But that little sidestep of yours just now? I found that very interesting. Liliana Rose, you're a lot smarter than I thought."

His breath grazed the shell of my ear, and a shiver rolled through me.

I stepped back sharply, putting distance between us.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Roman. Seraphina slipped on her own. I was terrified."

I put on my best look of shock — shaken, helpless — then turned and ran toward the cabin.

"Help! Someone's overboard! Help!"

I screamed as loud as I could, letting just the right amount of panic and urgency into my voice.

Within seconds, the cruise ship's security team and guests came rushing.

Spotlights swept the surface of the water, lighting up Dante and Seraphina clinging to each other in the waves.

A rescue boat was lowered and pulled them both aboard.

Seraphina was soaked through, shaking violently, pressed against Dante's chest and sobbing.

Dante stripped off his suit jacket and wrapped it around her, his face tight with anguish and rage.

He looked up. His gaze cut through the crowd like a blade — and stopped dead on me.

"Liliana! Why did you push Seraphina?!"

He all but snarled the words through gritted teeth.

The guests around us sucked in a collective breath, every pair of eyes swinging toward me.

My eyes went red on cue. The tears followed without effort.

"Dante, you've got it wrong. She slipped on her own. I tried to grab her — I just couldn't hold on."

"You're lying!" Dante exploded, pointing straight at my face. "Seraphina wouldn't even step on a bug — why would she wander somewhere that dangerous on her own? It was you. You're jealous of her, and you tried to kill her!"

Inside, I almost laughed.

Jealous?

I'm the real daughter of this family. Why would I ever be jealous of a fraud who stole what was mine?

"Dante, you need proof before you make accusations." I stood up straight, keeping my voice cool and level. "There are cameras on the deck. Pull the footage — let's see for yourself whether I pushed her, or she fell on her own."

Dante faltered. He clearly hadn't expected me to hold my ground like that.

Seraphina's eyes flickered. She grabbed his sleeve and cried harder, looking more fragile and pitiful than ever.

"Dante, please don't blame Liliana. I really did slip on my own... She only just came back to the Rose family, so it's natural if there's been some tension between us."

That carefully played retreat — looking like she was defending me while quietly sealing my guilt — worked perfectly.

The look Dante turned on me went cold with contempt.

"Liliana, you'd better hope Seraphina is okay. Because if she's not — you'll be in trouble."

He swept Seraphina up into his arms and walked off toward the medical bay in long, furious strides.

The crowd slowly drifted away.

I stood there alone, the cold night wind against my skin — and had never felt so light at heart.

This lifetime, I have finally escaped that ridiculous start. Dante saved Seraphina, and they consummated bond. Now, the Vane Family can never force me to marry him. I am finally free.

Don't celebrate too soon.

Roman appeared behind me without a sound.

He flicked his burnt-out cigarette into the sea and looked at me, the corner of his mouth curling into a slow, knowing smile.

"The waters of the Vane family run deeper than this ocean. Do you really think you can walk away from this unscathed?"

I frowned, staring at him in confusion.

But he said nothing more. He turned and disappeared into the darkened corridor.