Chapter 1 The unexpected gift

"Happy birthday, Sinclair Princess."

Nova had heard that line so many times tonight it was starting to wear her out.

As the only child of Dominic and Victoria Sinclair, the nickname felt glued to her whether she liked it or not. She offered the same practiced, closed-lip smile in return, letting the words brush past her without taking it to heart. Her cheeks were already starting to hurt from faking it for so long.

"See?" she muttered to Chloe, who stood a respectful half-step behind her right shoulder. "I told you it was a shareholder meeting. I'm just the mascot."

"You're the guest of honor, Miss Nova," Chloe corrected gently, her voice a quiet anchor. "And you look beautiful. Everyone can see that."

"They see the dress, Chloe. Not me." Nova adjusted the heavy strap of her diamond-encrusted gown. She caught the eye of a woman she vaguely recognized as a duchess from some small European country and gave a slight, regal nod. The duchess smiled and nodded back. The performance was flawless.

The hall was filled with many glamorous dresses and suit jackets, but she didn't mind the crowd tonight.

For twenty-two years, her birthdays had passed without her father. It was either a last-minute merger in Singapore, an unavoidable board meeting in Dubai or a critical contract signing in Berlin. The excuses were always business. She used to pretend it didn't bother her, but it did. Every year.

This year was different because he had shown up. And for a small moment, she'd let herself hope it meant something.

"The Sinclair Princess in the flesh! My dear, you are a true asset to your father." A man with a too-firm handshake and breath that smelled of expensive scotch leaned in.

Nova's smile tightened. An asset. Like she was a new machine he'd bought.

"Thank you," she said, her voice cool.

As he moved away, she leaned back toward Chloe. "An asset. He might as well have patted me on the head and checked my teeth."

"He meant well," Chloe smiled.

"They all mean well," Nova sighed. "It doesn't make it less exhausting. And also, I can't feel my feet in these shoes. This party is torture."

Chloe whispered back with a smile. "Just a little longer, Miss Nova. The party will be over soon."

Nova kept scanning the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of her father, wishing he would walk over and wish her a happy birthday.

Her mother found her instead. "Nova, darling, stop slouching. And smile with your eyes, for heaven's sake. You look like you're at a funeral." Victoria's gaze swept over her daughter. "Adelaide Carnegie is here. Be particularly pleasant."

"Why? I haven't seen the Carnegies in a decade. Since when are we 'particularly pleasant' to them?"

"Since your father and Jeffrey have become very important business partners," Victoria said, her tone leaving no room for debate. "Now, come. Let's not keep her waiting."

Adelaide stood rigidly, inspecting the room like she owned it. She looked Nova up and down like she was inspecting livestock.

"Nova, darling, happy birthday," Adelaide said, giving her a quick, cold hug. "My, you've grown up."

"Thank you, Mrs. Carnegie," Nova said, her polite mask firmly back in place. "Thank you for coming."

"We wouldn't have missed it for the world," Adelaide said, still studying her. "We're all so thrilled about the new arrangement."

Nova felt a prickle of unease. "Arrangement? What are you talking about, Mrs Carnegie?"

"For you and my son, of course!" Adelaide let out a light, artificial laugh. "Don't play coy. A smart girl like you must have seen this coming."

Nova blinked. "Seen what coming? I don't understand."

"My son, Henry. Your fiancé. He's autistic, you know. But very high-functioning, of course. A genius with numbers, just like his father. The Napa estate will be perfect for the two of you. Much more fitting than that secret beach house you bought in California."

Nova froze.

How did this woman know about that house?

The only people that knew about the house was Chloe and maybe her dad, because he seemed to know everything.

Before she could form a word, the sound of a fork hitting a glass cut through the noise.

Ding, ding, ding.

Everyone quieted down. Nova looked up and saw her father standing on the stage with a microphone, wearing his biggest smile.

"Friends! Thank you for coming!" his voice boomed through the speakers. "Tonight, we celebrate my daughter's special day!"

Nova felt her fingers tighten around her gown.

"Not only is it the 23rd birthday of my precious daughter, Nova..." He paused for the applause. It was thunderous. Nova held her breath.

"...but tonight, we celebrate the future! The future of our family, and the future of Sinclair Enterprises!" He paused, and then continued. "Which is why I am delighted to announce Nova's engagement to Henry Carnegie!"

The room erupted in applause. People were clapping and smiling at Nova. She just stood there, frozen.

She saw her mother clapping. Chloe's shocked face. Adelaide smiling like she had won a prize.

They all knew. They'd planned this whole thing without telling her.

A hot anger started to push through the shock.

For the first time, she believed that her dad was here to celebrate her birthday and make up for all the times that he was absent, but of course he wasn't. It was always business as usual, and he proved that yet again.

"W-what's going on?" The words came out quiet at first.

Her father kept talking, not hearing her.

"HEY!" she yelled.

The clapping stopped. Every head turned to stare at her.

"Dad, what are you doing? Did you just... sell me?" Her voice shook. "You're marrying me off to some guy I've never even met?"

Her father's smile vanished. "Nova, not now."

"Not NOW? When were you going to tell me, Dad? On my wedding day?" I can't believe this..." Her voice broke.

Her mother grabbed her arm. "Nova, stop it!"

She shook her off. "You knew! You knew Dad was going to do this. You even knew the guy he was selling me off to is autistic, and you were just going to make me marry him for his money? Who said that's what I want? Is that what I am to you? A business deal?"

Tears of anger streamed down her face now. "If you wanted me gone that badly, you could've just let me go to California! But no, you had to sell me off first!"

She spotted a waiter holding a tray of champagne. She grabbed a glass and threw it as hard as she could at the giant ice sculpture of her father's company logo.

The glass shattered. The sculpture cracked right down the middle and crashed to the floor.

The room erupted in a series of gasps.

Nova looked at her parents' shocked faces.

"I'd rather die than stand for this."