Chapter 2

Thinking back on everything from the night before, Aurelia silently clenched her fists. She didn't need Damien's pity. As the heiress of the Vance empire, she had no reason to fear being unwanted. If Damien didn't wish to marry her, there would be no shortage of others who did. "Dad, there's no need to talk me out of it. Theo is a good man—I can feel it. He truly likes me. As for Owen and the others, they only obey me because they were raised as my child husbands—they never had a choice." Aurelia lowered her thick, long lashes, letting them hide the sorrow in her eyes. But she quickly pulled herself together, lifted her chin, and said firmly, "Dad, there's one more thing. Since I'm not marrying any of them, there's no reason for us to keep supporting them. Freeze all their accounts. Cut off all of Sloane's cards. The Vance family doesn't support freeloaders." Harrison nodded. "Alright. If you're not marrying them, they have no reason to stay. On your wedding day, I'll have them all removed from the Vance residence. I won't let any of them grow ambitious and try to take what's rightfully yours." After finishing her conversation with Harrison, Aurelia stepped out of the study. But as she reached the top of the stairs, she ran straight into Sloane. "Aury, I heard you're going for horseback-riding lessons this afternoon. Can I come with you?" Sloane's eyes sparkled as she trotted over and slipped her arm through Aurelia's, swaying it playfully like a spoiled child. "I want to learn how to ride, too. Please, Aury. Take me with you?" If it had been before, Aurelia would've agreed without hesitation. She wasn't the type to be stingy. She might have even offered to pay for Sloane's riding lessons if she were in a good mood. But now, with everything from the night before still fresh in her mind, a wave of nausea surged in her chest. Overwhelmed by disgust, Aurelia yanked her arm away and snapped, "Stay away from me!" She hadn't pulled away that hard, but Sloane exaggerated her stumble, and with perfect timing, went tumbling down the stairs. "Sloane!" Damien's panicked voice rang out from the bottom of the stairs. Aurelia rushed to the banister, only to freeze at the sight of all her husbands gathered at the foot of the staircase. "Aurelia, how could you be so cruel?" Milo Sterling, the hottest-tempered among them, was the first to speak. "What did Sloane ever do to deserve being pushed down the stairs?" "Milo, stop," Sloane said, tugging gently at his sleeve. "It wasn't Aury's fault. I just… lost my balance." She spoke in a guarded, tentative tone, and as she continued, her eyes began to redden, as though she'd just borne the weight of an unspeakable injustice. And, of course, it worked. Every glance from the husbands toward Aurelia now brimmed with silent accusation. Especially Damien—his gaze was so frigid, Aurelia couldn't even bring herself to look him in the eye. But he didn't say a word. He cast Aurelia a cold glance, then turned and walked away with Sloane in his arms. He didn't give her a single chance to explain. Aurelia smiled bitterly. It was fine. She didn't want to explain anymore anyway. No matter what she said, none of them would believe her. That afternoon, the horseback-riding lesson was supposed to be just her and Damien. But when Aurelia arrived at the horse racing track, she was surprised to find Sloane already there. Sloane gave her a sweet, almost apologetic smile. "Aury, Damien told me to come. But don't worry. I won't get in your way. You two can ride together. I'll just have the coach guide me separately." Her words sounded sweet, but Damien didn't leave Sloane's side for even a moment once the lesson began. He personally adjusted her saddle, then lifted her onto the horse with one arm. Sloane didn't know how to ride, so Damien patiently taught her, guiding her every step of the way. When she grew tired and wanted to dismount, Damien dropped to one knee, letting her step down using his shoulder. The sight cut through Aurelia like a blade. Back then, she had once mounted a horse using Damien's shoulder, too. But he hadn't offered it willingly. Harrison was there that day. He had said, "A real man stands tall for everything—except the woman he chooses to kneel for. "Damien, kneel. Let Aury use your shoulder to mount the horse. And remember this—from now on, Aury is your everything. Only she is allowed to step on you—no one else."