Chapter 2

Dad's expression turned stormy within seconds.

"What is that supposed to mean, Jett?" His voice dropped ice‑cold.

"Our families have worked side‑by‑side for decades. Is my daughter not good enough for you? Do you want to ruin everything we built?"

Contempt showed plainly on Jett's face. "No disrespect, Don Reyes. But my heart belongs only to Melody. Marrying Zara? I would rather die."

Melody turned toward me. Her face read like regret, but her lips twitched with a hidden, triumphant smirk.

"Jett, remember that Zara risked her health to save you. Even if she isn't the one you want, you could at least show her some kindness," she said, patting his shoulder with feigned sweetness.

If she hadn't brought it up, I might have forgotten about that day.

Jett and I were the same age and had grown up together. We'd been childhood friends.

When we were ten, he ditched his bodyguards and dragged me along on a reckless adventure. We ended up captured by a rival crew.

I made a scene to draw the men chasing us away, giving Jett time to escape and get help.

He got away. I didn't.

They threw me into the ocean. Somehow, I survived, but the freezing water left me with lasting health problems.

Jett's expression softened as he looked at Melody.

"I will never forget that day. If you had not noticed we vanished and told your dad fast enough, I would be long dead. You're my hero, Melody."

Then he shot me a hateful look.

"If you stopped taking credit for saving my life, I could have married Melody years ago."

A smug grin crept across Melody's face. She quickly buried it by snuggling into Jett's arms.

I bit down my rising rage and spoke in flat, cold tones.

"If my sister wants Jett that bad but still cannot stop obsessing over Dalton, maybe she ought to marry both of them."

Melody's face flushed bright red. I'd hit a nerve.

"Zara, how dare you say such things? If both men married me, who would even want you?"

"What if I don't want either of them?" I rose slowly, keeping my voice steady.

Both men turned their full attention toward me.

Jett looked at me as if I'd said something ridiculous.

Dalton's gaze sharpened as he tried to figure out who I had become in this life.

I looked away. I wanted nothing to do with a man who had stood by and watched me die in my previous life.

Dad clenched his hand around his wineglass until it shattered.

"Enough! You are part of this family. Your job is a good marriage to boost our power. You think you actually get choices?"

I stared back at him without flinching.

"I know our business in West Mora has been losing money for three straight months. Let me take charge there. I'll expand our market and get the family back on its feet."

In my previous life, Dad had taken my mother's inheritance to 'save the family.' Every last dollar had ended up in Melody's hands.

She lived in luxury overseas, spending money as if it would never run out.

Meanwhile, I was stuck in a damp basement, scraping together every penny to pay Dalton's supposed medical bills.

When money got tight, I swallowed my pride and begged Melody to lend me fifty thousand dollars.

She just laughed. She sent her goons to beat me up and throw me out onto the street.

Doctors said Dalton needed exactly fifty grand for surgery or he would stay disabled forever.

So I did whatever I could to raise the money, even selling my blood.

Even after all that sacrifice, Dalton never treated me with one bit of kindness.

I'd learned my lesson: giving everything to someone who didn't care was a waste.

Given this second shot at living, I would never repeat those old mistakes.

With the marriage arrangement in tatters after Jett's refusal, Dad finally agreed to my proposal.

I deleted Dalton's number from my phone and boarded a flight to West Mora.

Local staff running our family business acted as if I did not exist. To them, I was nothing more than Melody's shadow.

I refused to let it get to me. I let my work speak for itself.

In my previous life, I'd been so consumed by Dalton that I hadn't realized how good I was at closing major deals.

Soon after arriving in West Mora, I secured a major arms contract that everyone had thought impossible. I showed every last person exactly what I could do.

For the first time, the old guard looked at me with genuine respect. I was finally making a name for myself.

I was finished being Melody's side character.

Out of nowhere, the father who basically wrote me off called my phone.

When I picked up all I got was yelling.

"Zara, do you think growing older gives you permission to turn your back on your blood family? The anniversary for your mother's passing is almost here. Why have you not come home?"

My mother was the person I held most dear. I already bought plane tickets ahead of time to return and honor her memory.

On the anniversary day for my mom's death Melody waited for me.

Her smile looked warm, yet heavy envy sat behind her eyes.

"Zara, you push yourself too hard over in West Mora. But a respectable woman shouldn't spend her time around crime bosses and hired guns.

"Rumors are spreading that you're sleeping your way to close deals. You're shaming Dad and dragging our family name through the mud."

Her gaze darted toward Dalton, who stood nearby. Suddenly, something seemed to click.

"I get it now! All that hard work is just a trick to get men's attention.

"That's why Dad sent me. He's already picked a husband for you. Starting tomorrow, forget West Mora. I'll take charge there.

"Stop using these cheap tricks to ruin our family's reputation."

My expression didn't change. If anything, I felt calmer than ever.

"I earned every single one of those contracts. You wouldn't know the first thing about managing them.

"And you expect me to hand everything over? Why would I do that?

"Can't stand that I'm no longer willing to live in your shadow?

"Don't even think about taking what's mine. I owe you absolutely nothing."

Melody never expected such pushback. She trembled, shock flashing across her features.

Still she recovered fast. Tears and loud sobs returned right away.

"Zara, I only worry for you. How can you accuse me this way? I know you always resented how well things go for me. I only wanted to keep you away from hardship..."

I'd had enough of her act. I spun around and began walking away.

Dalton suddenly grabbed my arm.

"This goes too far," he told me.

I looked at his so‑called protective stance and gave a small, bitter smile.

"Apologize to Melody." He acted domineering as always. He tilted my chin forcing me to meet his gaze.

I peeled his fingers off my arm one by one and stepped back.

"Enough with the hero act. I don't need you to defend me, especially not here beside my mother's grave."

His hand hung frozen mid‑air. My cold detachment left him lost for words.

He most likely never imagined I could look toward him with zero feeling.

"You..." His voice came out rough and broken.

I turned my back, gathered my belongings and flew back toward West Mora that very same night.

Before I could board, Jett and Dalton cornered me.

Jett grabbed me by the throat, his eyes blazing with rage.

"You caused all this!" he shouted.

"Melody went to the casino last night to show off. She got conned and lost everything.

"Now people are talking about selling her off to pay her massive debts. She's trapped there!"

His grip tightened.

"You're not leaving until we get her out!"