Chapter 2

At this moment, every camera zoomed in on us.

The entire studio fell dead silent. Even the producer forgot to switch the angles.

Tristan panicked under the stage and yelled, "Sera! Stop this nonsense! Come back here!"

Xavier stood not far away, watching me with cold eyes.

Under the endless flashing lights, the delivery guy slowly took off his helmet.

An incredibly handsome face was revealed. His features were sharp, his jawline perfectly defined.

Most striking of all were his eyes—deep, mesmerizing, and utterly captivating.

"Are you sure about this?"

His voice was clear and smooth, not sounding at all like someone who spent his days rushing through the streets.

I nodded. "I'm sure."

He smiled faintly. "Alright. I'll marry you."

The moment he said that, Tristan tried to rush onto the stage, but Xavier pulled him back.

"If you go up there now, you're just playing into her hands."

"What do you mean?" Tristan asked.

Xavier sneered. "She's just doing this to spite us. She's been spoiled her whole life. There is no way she'd actually marry a guy who delivers food..."

I heard him, but I didn't say a word.

Tristan, Xavier, and I had grown up together, completely inseparable.

Until five years ago, when I went abroad for college. I threw myself into my studies, and my contact with home slowly dwindled.

My parents grew depressed because of my distance, and the Vance house lost its warmth.

Then, Chloe appeared.

She was the granddaughter of my maternal grandmother's cousin. Her eyes and brow bore a slight resemblance to mine.

After her parents died in a car crash, my parents immediately took her in.

Chloe was lively, sweet, and knew exactly how to please people. She quickly won the hearts of everyone in the family.

Slowly, the Vance house became lively again because of her, while I, far away in another country, seemed to be forgotten by everyone.

Until two years ago, when I finished my degree and came back.

I thought I would be greeted with the joy of a long-awaited reunion. Instead, I found my family keeping their distance, terrified of making Chloe jealous.

I still remember the night I got back. I stood outside the door and heard my mother comforting Chloe.

"Chloe, you will always be our daughter. Nothing will ever change that."

"Your sister has been abroad for too long. Who knows what she went through to make her so cold and stubborn? She's nothing like you, my sweet girl."

At that moment, I felt like I had been plunged into an ice bath, frozen in place.

The news that the Vance heiress was marrying a delivery guy spread like wildfire, quickly trending on Instagram and Twitter.

When I got back to the villa, the family was gathered in the living room, chatting.

After hearing Tristan's recap of the show, my father slammed his hand on the coffee table. "Ridiculous! That brat has completely embarrassed the Vance family!"

My mother, organizing her newly bought luxury hauls, glanced at him casually. "Don't yell at Sera when she gets back. Otherwise, she'll make the whole house miserable again."

"She's definitely just throwing a tantrum because her brother made a fool of her on the show. That's why she said she'd marry that delivery guy."

"She doesn't even know his background. How could she actually marry him? She's not stupid!"

Chloe started crying tears of self-pity beside her. "Mom, it's all my fault. If Tristan hadn't stood up for me, Sera wouldn't have done this..."

My mother lovingly wiped her tears with a tissue. "Oh, sweetie. Ever since your sister came back, we've made you compromise so much just to keep her happy."

"Today was just a little joke. It's no big deal."

My father chimed in, "Chloe, this isn't your fault!"

"Your sister is just acting out. She won't actually throw her life away."

Saying that, my mother picked up a brand-new Chanel bag and handed it to Chloe. "Here, sweetie, see if you like this color. Take it before your sister gets back and tries to steal it from you!"

As she spoke, her eyes caught me standing in the foyer.

The bag slipped from her hand and fell onto the sofa with a thud.

Meeting my gaze, everyone's faces filled with awkwardness.

If this were the past, I would have thrown a massive, hysterical tantrum.

I would have demanded to know why my mother treated me like a thief, when I had never tried to steal anything from Chloe.

I would have screamed at my father and brother, asking why they only had eyes for Chloe.

But maybe I was just too exhausted lately.

Or maybe, because I had already decided to leave, I no longer expected anything from this family.

Under their tense glares, I didn't say a single word. I turned around and walked upstairs.