Chapter 2

My father’s face instantly dropped.

His stern gaze landed on Callum.

“Cancel the engagement? Do you want everyone in the city to mock the Sterling family, to say we’re untrustworthy?”

Callum frowned, his gaze fixed on my face—specifically, on my dull, grey prosthetic eye.

His tone was distant. “I’m not worthy of Miss Arden. Please, Mr. Sterling, fulfill my request.”

Serena immediately stepped forward, her face full of feigned distress, as she chastised him.

“Callum, how can you say that? You’re hurting my sister’s feelings too much.”

Callum looked at her, his eyes instantly filling with deep affection.

“If I cannot be with the one I love, I’d rather never marry.”

I almost burst out laughing.

What a dramatic display of undying love.

A flicker of joy passed through Serena’s eyes, quickly replaced by her usual thoughtful expression.

“Don’t be impulsive. Have you forgotten those enemies? They won’t spare a struggling man like you. I can’t stand by and watch you ruin your life.”

Callum was visibly moved, his gaze growing even more fervent.

The smile on my lips could no longer be hidden.

“Well, in that case, why don’t both Callum and Jaxon become live-in husbands for Sister?”

“That way, the engagement isn’t broken, and all you ‘lovers’ get what you want.”

“After all, the contract never said Sister couldn’t have two at once.”

“As for who’d be the main husband, and who’d just be a 'plus one' or 'side piece' – well, Sister can decide that herself, can’t she?”

Serena’s face flushed crimson. She glared at me, feigning coyness. “Sister, what nonsense are you spouting!”

My father’s gaze shifted to me, carrying a hint of scrutiny. “You really don’t want either of them?”

I nodded, my voice firm. “No.”

Jaxon and Callum looked at me simultaneously.

Their eyes held the same contempt, as if saying, If even we don’t want you, who possibly would?

My father was silent for a moment, then asked, “Then, who do you want to marry?”

“I want Lucian Thorne, the only son of the Thorne family,” I declared.

The entire room gasped.

My father stood up in shock.

“Are you insane? He’s known as the city’s most notorious playboy! Fortune tellers even say he won’t live past thirty!”

The Thorne family was vast and wealthy, far surpassing our Sterlings.

But Lucian Thorne was idle and dissolute. Two years ago, he’d fallen gravely ill, and all doctors said he wouldn’t live past thirty.

Anyone who married him would suffer a living hell.

Even with the Thorne family’s promise to give their daughter-in-law twenty percent of the company’s shares, no one in high society dared to marry their daughter into the Thorne family.

I calmly looked at my father. I cut straight to the chase.

“I’m willing to marry into the Thorne family for the future of the Sterling family.”

“But you must give me ten percent of the Sterling family’s shares as my dowry.”

The shrewd glint in my father’s eyes sharpened.

His reaction was expected.

His favoritism had never been for me, so how could he willingly give me shares?

I chuckled softly.

“Dad, my appearance is… flawed. If I go to the Thorne family, I’ll be without any backing. If you don’t give me some leverage, how can I establish myself?”

“Besides, how many years can Lucian Thorne live? Once he’s gone, won’t everything of the Thorne family eventually belong to the Sterlings?”

A flicker of calculation passed through his eyes. Finally, he nodded. “Alright, I agree.”