Chapter 5 Chapter Five

Chapter five.

Two Months.

That was how long it took to stop flinching every time I saw a stranger's face in the mirror. I sat on the plush velvet couch in my new bedroom, humming a mindless tune while the maids flitted around like busy hummingbirds. A newspaper was spread across my lap, but I wasn't reading the weather. I was staring at a training photo of a man I had seen in my nightmares every night for the last sixty days.

"Your sudden obsession with Roan Vane is quite sudden, my lady," Maria, my personal maid, said with a knowing smile as she polished a silver case. "He's quite the handsome man, isn't he?"

"Ugh, yeah," I muttered, flipping the page as if I didn't care.

"And rich! Extremely wealthy!" A younger maid chimed in from the corner, her eyes sparkling. She caught my arched brow and quickly sucked her head, smoothing her apron. "I'm sorry, my lady. I spoke out of turn."

I laughed, a sound that felt a bit too light for the darkness in my chest. "It's fine. He's everything, isn't he? Handsome, wealthy, dangerously hot. The total package."

Maria titled her head, her duster pausing mid air. "Is my lady finally in love?"

I almost choked on my own spit. "Love?" I squeaked, the word tasting like ash on my tongue. "No. I just find him..... interesting. Like a puzzle I want to solve."

Actually, I want to dismantle him piece by piece until there's nothing left, but that isn't your business.

If I started telling people I was actually a murdered socialite from another country trapped in the body of a ginger girl named Eris, my new parents would have me locked in a padded cell before sunset.

I needed to get close to him. But the Vance family and the Hamiltons were worlds apart. We weren't even on the same continent.

"A marriage between you both would be convenient," the younger maid whispered, almost to herself. "Afterall, Mr. Hamilton is I'm quite some serious debt-"

"Lola!" Maria snapped, glaring at the girl.

I froze, the newspaper crinkling under my grip. "What was that?"

"Nothing but gibberish, my lady," Maria said quickly, her face pale. "She doesn't know what she's saying."

I frowned, dropped the paper onto the couch and stood up. I walked over to Maria, crossing my arms over my chest. "What did she mean by that, Maria? Don't lie to me."

Maria gulped, her eyes darting towards the door before she signed in defeat. "Master Dennis has intentions of selling the family mansion and moving to the countryside, Lady Eris. He's currently drowning in debts due to the collapse of the Northern Pipeline project. Between the environmental lawsuits and the lack of investment funds, the bank is circling like a shark."

I rubbed my forehead. Great. Why do I always end up in families that deal with messy things?

"Remind me," I said, trying to sound casual. "What exactly does my father do? My memory is still....patchy."

"He runs Hamilton Oil and Transportation, of course," She explained sadly. "It used to be one of the biggest in the region until the business started crumbling years ago. Without enough funds to modernize the fleet, it's been dying a slow death."

A slow smile crept onto my lips.

Oil and Transportation.

What every business

man needs.

Bingo.

"A marriage?" Dennis Hamilton's face lit up for a fraction of a second before the light died behind his eyes. He sat behind his massive oak desk, looking older than he had a week ago. "Eris, sweetheart, I do appreciate the idea, but I can't risk my only child going into something she's not sure of just because of my failures. I'm the father. I'm the head. I should be responsible for my mistakes."

What a good man. I thought.

The real Eris was surely lucky to have a father who actually cared about her soul instead of her dowry. I felt a twinge of guilt, but I pushed it down. I was doing this for him too.

I sighed and placed my hand over his desk. "Dad, I know what I'm doing. You need the alliance and the capital. You have the power and the connections, but you lack the reach. Don't you think it's wise to form an alliance with someone who can bridge that gap?"

"It is," he admitted, his voice gravelly. "But I can find other means of trade. Not my daughter."

"This mansion was built by our ancestors, father," I said, leaning in. "If you sell it, the Hamilton name is pointless. Even if we rise back up later, it would never be the same," I looked over to Lillian, Eris's mother. "Don't you think so also, mom?"

Lillian stood by the window, she looked like she was on the verge of tears, her handkerchief balled up in her fist. Dennis sighed deeply, looking at his wife. Lilian gave a small, painful nod.

"I believe you're old enough to make your own decisions, Eris," Dennis said, his shoulders slumping. "And I'm more than grateful. I'm proud of you," he paused, his gaze sharpening. "But who do you have in mind?"

I smirked. "Roan Vance."

Their eyes widened in unison. Lillian let out a small gasp. "Haven't you heard the news about him?"

"Dear," Dennis pressed his lips in a thin line. "He doesn't date. He's never been with a woman in public, and the only woman he ever publicly came out with was attacked and nearly killed just a day after their announcement,"

Lillian began to choke as she wiped her years. "Poor Zia West is still in a coma in some security hospital, and there's barely any hope of her ever waking up."

My heart hammered against my ribs at the mention of my own name.

Still in a coma?

He didn't even have the decency to kill me properly. He was keeping my body as a trophy or a shield. It made the fire in my blood burn even hotter.

"I know, father," I said, my voice steady. "But we don't share the same fate. I can protect myself. Besides, our family has something the Wests didn't."

"And that is?"

"The ability to transport anything, anywhere, via our exclusive shipping lanes Roan will accept the offer with both hands. I heard he's looking for ways to expand his empire into the energy sector. He would be more than willing to take my hand in marriage to get control of our fleet."

"He sounds ambitious." Lillian murmured.

"So am I."

The two of them looked at each other, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, Dennis sighed, a heavy, weary sound.

"I sound greedy for even considering this," he whispered. "But let's try..I'll send out the formal inquiry."

"Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Dad. For letting me be part of this."

I stood up and left the room before they could see the look in my eyes.

Yes, thank you.

For now, I finally had a way back. I was going to get close to Roan Vance.....and I was going to destroy him for ruining my life, my sister's betrayal, and for every second I had to spend in a body that wasn't mine.