Chapter 4 Striking Distance

Even though Sera felt annoyed at people who were asking her questions about her relationship with Doreary, she remained polite to them.

Her relationship with Dorian was actually a complicated one. Though they were each other betrothed, she felt that he didn't love her as much as she loved him. Even when she tried to throw herself at him, he had refused her and insisted on taking her home.

She was afraid that their marriage would be called off but that never happened and whether Dore was in love with her or not no longer matter because after she becomes Dore's wife, she would be the richest and most powerful woman in the world and the dirty blood of that maid that ran in her veins would also no longer matter and even if one day Dore finds out the truth of her origin, by then it will too late because she will already be the mother of his children.

"Your father is here," Eleano said to her daughter, and they both looked at the door to see Henry coming in with a smile on his face, and behind him was Vane.

Sera felt her heart skip a beat when she saw him, the thought that in two months this man was going to be hers made her so excited.

Henry took a glass of wine and used a spoon to gently hit it, gathering everyone's attention.

"Thank you all for accepting my invitation. It is a great pleasure to see that you are all ready to be a part of the Sterling family joy, and in two months, my daughter Sera Sterling will finally be married to Vane. Today is a small ceremony because my daughter here was eager to get a ring from her long-time betrothed." Henry said jokingly, causing the guest to chuckle.

Lyra rolled her eyes. At this point, if Henry told them to cry, they would cry. These people would do anything to suck up Henry, not because of his money but his connection to the Vane. Everyone here who has a daughter has secretly tried to set up their daughter with Dore but it has been to no avail.

"Hey."

Lyra turned to see her best friend handing her a drink and scolded "You are late, Jason."

Jason frowned and asked "I'm only here because my mother thinks it is important to accept the Sterling family invitation since they will soon become families with the Vane. No offense but the place is filled with hypocrites."

Lyra took a sip and said, "None taken."

"So this is Vane, it's the first time I've seen him in reality. I heard the man is harder to see than the president himself."

"Is he?" Lyra asked.

"But I get why these people want their daughter to be married to him. He is handsome and rich, any family who gets to have their daughter married to him will be set for a lifetime, even their generation will know no suffering. How Sera got lucky and became the chosen one is amazing"

"I heard my mother saved Dore's grandmother from an accident, so as a result of that, the old woman suggested a marriage alliance when she found out that mother was pregnant with a girl," Lyra said.

"But it's weird though. They are about to get engaged but none of his family members are around." Jason said.

"His mother isn't a huge fan of Sera and his brother is in the military."

"Military? How do you know that?" Jason asked, looking at his friend.

Lyra froze for a moment and then replied with a smile "I'm going to be his future sister-in-law. Don't you think I should know basic things like this?"

"Oh, but if his brother is in the military, then shouldn't he have been known by people? I heard he and his brother don't get along."

"The black viper."

"What?"

"Ryan Vane is known as the black viper."

Jason's eyes widened in surprise as he asked, "You are joking, right? You are telling me that the hero who saved twenty children from terrorists and refused to do any interview is Ryan Vane?"

Lyra nodded with a smile. "And also, the rumors that he and his brother do not get along are lies." Though she had never met Ryan in person, she had listened to a video call between Dore and Ryan, and it was so obvious that the two brothers loved each other.

"For a sister-in-law, you know so much about the man."

"Future sister-in-law, they aren't married yet and let's change the topic," Lyra said, suddenly feeling irritated.

It was finally time to give the ring, and Ethan brought out a velvet box from his pocket and opened it, showing a blue diamond ring.

People who saw the ring gasped in surprise at its beauty, and some looked at it with envy. Dore collected the ring and slowly slid it onto Sera's finger, and the guest clapped in excitement.

"I think this engagement should be sealed with a kiss," Eleano said.

"Yes, I agree. Look at the way Sera is already blushing at the mention of receiving a kiss from her fiance." A woman said, hoping to win a little favor from Eleano.

Sera looked at Dore and said, "Maybe we should just kiss to get them off our back."

When Dore didn't say anything and just kept looking at her coldly, she was about to tell him that there was no need to give in when he slowly began leaning towards her.

Was he going to kiss her? It felt as if her dreams were finally coming true. The girl closed her eyes, anticipating a kiss on her lips, but instead, Dore pecked her cheek and coldly asked, "Satisfied?"

Sera flinched a little when she heard his cold voice and wondered if he was in a bad mood today.

Jason, on the other hand, frowned as he looked at Lyra and then at Doreary, he could swear he saw him looking at Lyra when he pecked Sera.