Chapter 2 2

The clinking of silver forks against fine china echoed in the Hogan family dining room. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard to Aspen.

She sat at the long mahogany table, staring at the bowl of untouched oatmeal in front of her. Her thighs still ached from the night before, a secret pain she kept hidden beneath her demure posture.

Corinne Hogan, her adoptive mother, forced a tight, plastic smile. She reached over with a silver ladle, adding a scoop of fruit to Aspen's bowl.

"Eat up, Aspen," Corinne said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "You look pale. We have a lot to discuss after breakfast."

Aspen knew exactly what that discussion was. The forced marriage. The sacrifice.

Before Aspen could reply, her phone vibrated against her thigh, hidden in the pocket of her skirt. She slipped her hand down, her thumb pressing the side button to wake the screen.

It was a notification from a blank app icon. One word.

Patience.

A jolt of electricity shot up Aspen's spine. Deron. He was watching. He was waiting.

She slid the phone back, her expression remaining perfectly blank. "Thank you, Mother," she murmured, keeping her eyes downcast.

Heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway. The dining room doors swung open, and Julian Sterling walked in. He wore a tailored navy suit, the sickeningly sweet scent of his designer cologne preceding him.

He hadn't been invited to breakfast. He was here to see Sloane, to plan their future after they threw Aspen to the wolves.

Julian stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Aspen sitting there. His eyes darted nervously, a flicker of guilt quickly masked by his usual arrogant smirk. He adjusted his left cuff-a nervous tick he always had when he was lying.

"Julian," Vance Hogan said, wiping his mouth with a linen napkin. "You're early."

Julian cleared his throat. "I wanted to catch Sloane before she went out."

Aspen didn't shrink away like the old Aspen would have. She slowly lifted her head. She bit the inside of her cheek hard, letting the sharp pain force a sheen of tears into her eyes.

She stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. She walked toward Julian, her steps hesitant, playing the role of the broken, desperate girl to perfection.

"Julian," Aspen said, her voice trembling just enough to sound pathetic. "Can we talk? Please. About our engagement."

Julian stiffened. He looked down at her, seeing the fragile, teary-eyed girl looking up at him with pure adoration. His chest puffed out slightly. His ego couldn't resist the worship.

Corinne and Vance exchanged a panicked look. They had planned to break the news of the Fitzpatrick marriage today. If Aspen was still publicly clinging to Julian, forcing the issue now would make them look like monsters tearing apart a reconciling couple.

Corinne opened her mouth to intervene, but Aspen beat her to it.

She turned to her adoptive parents, letting a single tear roll down her cheek. "Dad, Mom, I know you've been worried about Julian and me. But please, give me a little more time. I want... I want to try one more time. I love him."

She reached out and grabbed Julian's hand, her fingers gripping his tightly. Her stomach churned with nausea at the contact, but she held on.

Julian, blinded by his own vanity, squeezed her hand back. He looked at Vance. "I'll handle this, sir. Aspen and I just need to clear the air."

Vance's jaw clenched. He shot Corinne a warning glare, shaking his head slightly. They had to wait. They couldn't risk a hysterical scene right now.

"Fine," Vance grunted. "But don't take too long. We have the Hamptons dinner tonight."

Aspen lowered her head, hiding the cold, predatory smile that stretched across her lips. She had bought the time she needed. The Hogan family's ambush was delayed.

She let go of Julian's hand, pretending to be overwhelmed by emotion. "I... I need to lie down. I have a headache."

She turned and practically ran out of the dining room, leaving Julian standing there feeling like a benevolent savior.

The moment Aspen reached the staircase landing, the tears vanished. Her face turned to stone. She wiped her cheek with the back of her hand, disgusted by her own performance.

She walked into her bedroom and locked the door. The heavy click of the deadbolt was the only sound in the room.

She walked over to her vanity. Tucked beneath a false bottom in her jewelry box was a small, black micro-USB drive. It felt heavy in her palm, its cold metal edges biting into her skin.

It contained the recovered data from Julian's old laptop. High-definition security footage from a hotel room. Julian and Sloane, sweating and thrashing together in bed.

In her past life, this video had surfaced too late. After she was already destroyed.

This time, she was holding the detonator.

She looked at the garment bag hanging on her closet door. Inside was a dull, beige dress Corinne had picked out for her. The "bridesmaid" dress. The dress meant to make her invisible next to Sloane tonight.

Aspen picked up her phone. She opened the encrypted app and typed a message to the blank ID.

The show begins at 9 PM. Don't be late.

Three seconds later, the screen lit up.

Acknowledged.

Aspen slipped the USB drive into the hidden lining of her clutch purse. Her pulse throbbed in her jaw, a steady, rhythmic beat of anticipation. She sat down at the mirror and began to apply her makeup. Her eyes in the reflection were sharp and merciless.

Tonight, she wouldn't be the sacrifice. She would be the executioner.