Chapter 2 1

A soft knock at the door instantly cleared my mind. The notebook in front of me blurred, and I pushed it aside. I would come back to it later.

"Come in, Mom," I said, already certain who was standing outside my bedroom.

She stepped in unhurriedly and paused in the doorway, staring at me in open disbelief. Her gaze traveled slowly from head to toe, widening every time it landed on yet another detail she clearly found unacceptable.

I had only returned late last night after a less-than-successful exam session, and I had already managed to disappoint one of my parents.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, noticing the way Mom wrinkled her perfectly made-up nose. I still couldn't understand why she had dressed up and done full glam for a funeral instead of, well, a fashion show.

"Why the glasses? Where are your contacts?" she demanded, already rifling through my wardrobe as if she might magically uncover something more appropriate.

I had gone through my old clothes recently, and what I was wearing was honestly my best option. Everything I'd brought with me was completely wrong for today-bright, eye-catching outfits had always been my weakness.

"I lost my last pair of contacts, so the glasses will have to do. I'll stop by the optometrist and order new ones as soon as I can."

"Unbelievable. Is there really nothing better?" she snapped, spinning sharply toward me. She looked from me to herself and back again, as if comparing us in some invisible mirror.

"Oh no, Mom. Don't even think about it," I said firmly, rising to my feet. "Your clothes won't fit me. I'm a whole head taller than you."

"That's only because of the heels," she scoffed, already heading for the door. "Take that disaster off. I'll bring you my pantsuit-I just bought it."

I would have gladly traded the awful black T-shirt and leggings for something more feminine, but there was no time to run to a store.

She returned a few minutes later with a stunning suit, but I didn't even bother trying it on. One glance was enough to know it wouldn't work. My waist was much slimmer than hers, while my hips were wider. The jacket wouldn't close over my chest, let alone sit properly over the silk blouse underneath.

The eco-leather headscarf, however, was actually beautiful. I'd seen something similar in a recent runway collection. Snatching the soft triangle from her hands, I tied it over my head, deliberately knotting it under my chin so no one would recognize me.

"This is a nightmare. Take it off immediately!" she exclaimed. "Nadya, I know it's a funeral, but all our acquaintances will be there. We're going to the store. Now."

"There's no time," I said, grabbing my purse from the table. "Let's go. I can survive one day like this."

"This is unbelievable. Both Darvins will be there, and you look like-"

At the mention of those two, my face tightened. Two arrogant peacocks who had poisoned my life since childhood. I despised them. As soon as the funeral and the reception were over, I would leave immediately. My exams were finished, my courses completed, but I still had one unresolved issue-my economics professor had refused to give me an A despite flawless answers. At this point, it was a matter of principle. I would prove that I deserved it.

"Mom, please don't start again about those two. You know Dad is on my side, and if I tell him-"

"Fine. I get it. Let's go," she said irritably, nudging me toward the door.

The driver was pacing on the porch and hurried forward when he saw us. He opened the rear door and politely offered his hand to each of us as we got into the car. He was new-I didn't even know his name. I'd been away too long; familiar routines and faces now felt strangely foreign.

"What are you planning to do today?" Mom asked as the car pulled away.

"I want to meet Nina. We haven't seen each other in forever, so we decided not to put it off any longer."

"You can invite her to dinner. We'll have guests, so be home by eight."

"Who?" I asked quietly, then repeated more firmly. "Who's coming?"

"It's a secret," she replied with a mysterious smile. "By the way, your father called this morning."

Of course. A sudden change of subject. Which meant the guests wouldn't be pleasant. Please-just not my unhinged cousin and his hysterical mother. I really didn't want to see them today.

"When will Dad be back from his trip?"

"He said early next week. He misses you. You're hardly ever home..."

"I'm studying," I shot back. "Two more years, and then I'll come back and help him with the company."

"That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about, Nadya," she said hesitantly, fidgeting with her purse. She was clearly nervous, trying to say something important but unable to get the words out.

"If this is about me continuing a modeling career-no," I said firmly. "I only do it because I don't want to live off you, and it pays well."

"That's not it, but... never mind. We'll talk at home."

She fell silent as the car turned into the parking lot of the city cemetery and came to a stop.

An enormous crowd had gathered to say goodbye to Makar Darvin. As long as I could remember, I had liked him. He reminded me of my grandfather-just as kind, just as warm. He had built an immense fortune and somehow remained human. Business ruins people, but it hadn't broken him. He was proof that success didn't have to cost you your soul-and the reason I now supported myself completely, without relying on my parents.

His grandsons, however, were another story. Two spoiled, arrogant heirs who believed they were superior to everyone else on this planet.

I stepped out of the car and followed my mother toward a cluster of familiar faces. I hung back, lingering at the edge of the crowd. The funeral procession moved slowly along the path, and I walked near the end. When it stopped and people formed a semicircle around the grave where Makar would soon be lowered, I still couldn't fully grasp what was happening.

But when I reached the front row, I couldn't hold back the tears. Mom appeared beside me just in time, placing her hands on my shoulders, trying to comfort me while crying herself.

Then it hit me-like a live wire.

My entire body jolted as I scanned the crowd, searching for the source.

There they were.

The Darvin brothers.

One looked at me as if he wanted to kill me. The other openly mocked me, dragging his gaze over me without shame. Their grandfather was being buried, and they were staring at me like that... I couldn't even find the right word for it.

"Mom, I'm not feeling well. I'm going to step aside," I said, forcing my way backward through the crowd, desperate to escape their eyes.

"Are you alright? Do you need help?" she asked, gripping my hand.

"I'll wait by the car. It's just... too much for me here."

"Alright, sweetheart. But if you feel worse, ask Victor to take you to the hospital."

I nodded and headed toward the exit.

Turning around at that moment was a terrible mistake.

The older brother was following me.

"What am I, paranoid now?" I muttered under my breath. Maybe he felt unwell too and had decided to leave.

I tried to convince myself of that-but still quickened my pace, weaving between rows of gravestones. At one point he disappeared from sight when I glanced back again.

A sigh of relief had barely left my lips when I ran straight into an obstacle that hadn't been there just seconds ago.

"Where do you think you're going?"