Chapter 2 Here for you.

The venue for the birthday banquet was flooded with people. The grand ballroom of Imperial Luxe Hotels glittered with luxury and class, the chandelier overhead bathing the crowd in golden light. Celebrities adorned in diamonds and velvet graced the space like royalty, while high-ranking officials, tech moguls, and nobility sipped champagne, whispered secrets, and exchanged calculated glances. After all, the event was hosted by none other than Nathaniel Drazic-the golden heir of the Drazic dynasty. With his influence, the guest list was a showcase of prestige.

Back at the Ombersley estate, Sheryl Lancaster sat in front of her vanity, clad in a masterpiece of a gown.

It was a custom Velvique original-an off-shoulder midnight blue dress with a deep thigh-high slit and a plunging neckline dusted with hand-embroidered sapphire petals. Her makeup was light, ethereal-smoky silver eyeshadow that highlighted her icy blue eyes, and nude lips glossed to perfection. Her long black hair was swept to one side in an elegant old-Hollywood wave, pinned with tiny diamond-encrusted clips. She looked like something out of a dream.

Yet, despite her appearance, her heart pounded in worry.

She glanced at her phone again.

Still no message.

"Nathaniel, where are you?" she whispered, trying to quell the storm in her chest. Just as she picked up the phone to call him, it rang.

Nathaniel.

Relief rushed through her. She answered instantly, a thousand worries crowding her voice.

"Nathaniel! Are you okay? What happened? Why haven't you texted? I was worried something happened to you on the way!"

There was a long pause on the other end before his voice came, low and unreadable. "Sorry, Sheryl. I should've messaged."

Her brows furrowed. Something was off.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Don't worry about it."

She paused, inhaling deeply. Perhaps it was a surprise. He'd hinted about a proposal, after all. Maybe he was just trying to cover his tracks. She smiled softly. "Are you coming to pick me up?"

Another pause.

"About that... I'm sorry. Something came up. Can you go to the hall yourself? I'll meet you there. I promise I'll explain."

She blinked.

"But-"

"Not now, Sheryl."

His tone was firm. Cold. Foreign.

Her heart dropped.

He hadn't called her by her full name in years. Never without affection. Never like this.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Alright... I'll see you there."

Click.

He hung up.

Staring at the blank screen, Sheryl felt an invisible dagger twist in her chest. Her mother's cruel voice echoed in her mind:

If you think Nathaniel will ever settle for someone like you, you're dreaming.

She clenched her fists.

"I'm probably just overthinking," she whispered to herself.

She stood up, smoothing the fabric of her dress. Glancing at her full-length mirror, she whispered, "Happy birthday to me."

Just as she reached for her purse, the rumble of several engines caught her attention.

Peeking through her curtain, her eyes widened.

A sleek row of luxury cars had pulled up to her estate gates. Leading the pack was a white Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut-a limited-edition masterpiece worth over $3 million. Behind it were a Rolls Royce Boat Tail, a Lamborghini Centenario, and a glossy black Bugatti Divo.

Her brows shot up. She hesitated.

Was this Nathaniel's doing?

Her phone buzzed with a text: "Your ride has arrived. Come out."

She rushed outside, only to freeze as the Koenigsegg's door opened.

Out stepped a vision.

Tall, confident strides. Bleached ginger shoulder-length wolf cut hair. Multiple piercings gleamed in the light-silver hoops, black studs, and a chain earring that dangled like rebellion. Clad in a deep emerald velvet pantsuit with exaggerated shoulders, cinched waist, and glossy black dress boots, Bethany Wolfe, her step sister, looked like a K-drama heartthrob and a Vogue model had a lovechild.

Sheryl blinked.

"Who...who are you?"

Bethany's laugh rang out like jazz. She strolled toward Sheryl and grabbed her into a half-hug. "It's me, big sis. Your younger sister. Damn, don't I look cool?"

Sheryl gaped, eyes wide. "Your hair... did Alexander let you-"

Bethany cackled. "Pfft! As if he could stop me. But enough about me-look at you! You look like a freaking goddess in that dress. Is this Velvique?"

"Limited edition," Sheryl said, finally smiling.

Bethany gave an exaggerated whistle. "You could make angels sin."

Sheryl flushed.

"I thought you had a shoot today?"

Bethany shrugged. "Organizers postponed to Wednesday. I had no excuse left. Figured I'd better show up before you cut me off in your will."

Sheryl's heart clenched. Without thinking, she hugged her.

"Thank you for coming."

Bethany softened. "Always, big sis. Always."

Moments later, Bethany stepped into her role like a gentleman. She motioned for Sheryl's house staff to load the gifts, then with a dramatic bow, opened the car door. "Your chariot, madam."

Laughing through her tears, Sheryl slipped into the plush interior.

Thirty minutes later, their car rolled through the private gates of Imperial Luxe Hotels.

The moment the reporters spotted the Wolfe family plate number, chaos broke loose.

Camera flashes exploded like fireworks. Voices shouted over each other. Security rushed to form a human shield, but the damage had already been done.

Bethany glanced at Sheryl, squeezed her hand. "Let's give them a show."

She was first to exit.

The press gasped.

"It's the Young Madam Wolfe!"

"She's even more handsome in person!"

"Who knew androgyny could look this divine?!"

"Is that a Tom Ford velvet suit?"

"Her hair! My God!"

Bethany gave them a wink and a wave, before circling around and-to everyone's shock-opened the door for someone else.

Louboutin gold stilettos hit the pavement.

A gasp.

And then the frenzy tripled.

"Who is she?!"

"She's breathtaking!"

"Wait... is that Sheryl Lancaster?!"

"Bethany Wolfe just opened the door for her... who the hell is this woman? What is her relationship with the heiress of the Wolfe household?!"

Sheryl stepped out, calm and poised, her smile soft, calculated. Her necklace caught the light-a rare moonstone set in platinum. She turned slightly for the cameras, one arm linked with Bethany's.

Bethany leaned toward her and whispered, "You've got a fandom now."

Sheryl chuckled, eyes still on the flashing lights. "Nah. They're here for you."

"Correction," Bethany murmured, brushing Sheryl's hair from her shoulder. "We're here for you. Birthday girl."

The sisters walked forward together, hand in hand, toward a storm they had no idea was waiting inside.