Chapter Two
Mother lovingly stroked Lilith’s hair.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’ll put the most profitable magitech companies in Heights Tech Park in your name. You’ll also take the family’s heirloom jewelry.”
I watched them coldly and felt nothing.
I had never wanted their hollow displays of favoritism.
I wanted power.
The kind of power that would let me control my own fate and crush everyone who had ever trampled on me.
Contract in hand, I turned and headed upstairs.
Lilith called after me.
“You’d better start preparing, Eve. Getting into the vampire royal family won’t be easy.”
I didn’t look back.
“You should prepare too. Make sure you follow all of Mr. Taylor’s rules.”
For the next three months, the Roland family estate buzzed with wedding preparations.
With two major interspecies marriage alliances being arranged at once, a constant stream of tailors, jewelers, and etiquette instructors passed through the house every day.
But ninety percent of the family’s resources went to Lilith.
Every morning, the roar of a sports car echoed across the grounds.
It was one of Grant’s engagement gifts to Lilith, a limited-edition supercar sold only in select markets worldwide.
Every day, Lilith showed off the gifts Grant sent her on social media: a ruby necklace, a hand-sewn designer wedding gown, and clips of his passionate declarations to the press.
One afternoon, Lilith sauntered into my room with a cup of tea in hand.
“Just look at how well Grant treats me, Eve.”
She deliberately raised her wrist to show off the priceless watch.
“He said he’d buy me the stars if that was what it took to make me happy. Prince Arthur hasn’t even bothered to show his face since the two of you got engaged. All he did was send his butler over with a few dreary pieces of antique jewelry. Life in the royal family is going to be miserable for you.”
I sat at my desk reviewing the vampire Senate’s latest financial reports without even looking up.
“I’m happy you found true love. But old, powerful families are never as simple as they appear. Everything that sparkles has a price, and you may not be able to afford yours.”
“You’re just bitter because you can’t have what I have.”
Lilith rolled her eyes.
“You’re jealous of me. My life is going to be ten thousand times better than yours!”
When it came to the property we would bring into our marriages, our parents made no effort to hide their favoritism.
The Roland family’s three most important mana-energy companies, two luxury estates downtown, and the finest jewelry in the family vault all went to Lilith.
Their explanation was simple.
“Werewolves only care about profit. The more Lilith brings into the marriage, the more Mr. Taylor will value her.”
All I received were several neglected factories that had been losing money for years, a tabloid on the verge of bankruptcy, and a collection of antique paintings that looked impressive but had little real value.
Mother even spoke to me as if she were offering heartfelt advice.
“Eve, the vampire royal family already has everything. No matter how much money you bring, they won’t be impressed. Just behave, do as you’re told, and take good care of Prince Arthur. That will be your greatest contribution to this family.”
“I understand, Mom.”
I lowered my head slightly, pretending to accept everything without complaint.
What they didn’t know was that the day after those neglected businesses became mine, I used my black-market contacts to mortgage the land beneath the failing factories and raise a large amount of cash.
As for the tabloid, I pulled a few strings and transformed it into an intelligence agency specializing in gossip and confidential information.
I wasn’t after money.
I wanted information. I wanted leverage.
The Roland family’s pitiful assets meant nothing to vampires who had lived for hundreds, even thousands, of years.
Control over information was what would give me a real foothold among them.
The night before Lilith’s wedding, our family hosted an extravagant rehearsal dinner.
Grant didn’t attend in person. Instead, he sent his right-hand man with piles of engagement gifts.
Lilith moved among the guests in an elaborate gown, basking in their praise and envy.
After the dinner ended, she came to my room again, smelling strongly of alcohol.
This time, she dismissed all the maids and locked the door behind her.
She walked up to me. There was no trace of false sisterly affection in her eyes now, only naked malice and the arrogance of a victor.
“Tomorrow, we’ll both be getting married, Eve.”
Lilith looked down at me with a vicious smile.
“Do you know why I chose Grant? Because I know Arthur is completely useless. The vampire royal family treats him worse than a servant, and sooner or later, the other princes will try to have him killed. Once you marry him, you’ll be nothing but a disposable pawn.”
She leaned close to my ear and lowered her voice, taking sick pleasure in every word.
“And I’ll be the wife of the richest man in the Empire. He’ll adore me and give me everything I want. Meanwhile, I’ll watch you slowly rot away inside that cold, decaying palace.”
I sat at the vanity and studied her reflection in the mirror. Jealousy and triumph had twisted her face into something ugly.
I wasn’t angry.
If anything, I felt sorry for her.
She had lived two lives, yet all she could think about was winning a man’s pathetic affection.
She still didn’t understand how foolish it was to entrust her fate to a man’s goodwill.
“Lilith.”
I looked directly into her eyes, my voice calm.
“If you’re so sure you made the right choice, then no matter what happens, don’t regret it. And don’t come begging me for help.”
