The first thing Lucille did once she got better was calculate how much the Dortmans had spent on her over the years.

She sat at her table, adding up all the expenses she had incurred since she joined this household. Everything from her living costs to tuition fees added up to three million dollars.

Her late father’s inheritance and old property were worth two million dollars, and she had saved a few dozen thousand from her part-time work. It seemed she had to find more work before she left to make up the difference.

Lucille’s expertise was photography. With that in mind, she found some freelance jobs online. Before long, she had eight offers for everything from wedding photos to graduation shoots.

She accepted every job and worked from day to night. She was too tired to even stand up straight, yet she did not breathe a word of complaint.

It was because her mother told her Dan had been divorced even before they met. He just never made it in public.

In other words, they had dated and married as consenting single adults. She was never his mistress.

Neither she nor her mother had ever wanted the Dortmans’ fortune. Lucille was planning to leave now, but she did not want River to keep misunderstanding her mother, not when Victoria was staying put.

That was why she had decided to pay back everything she owed her stepfather.

She worked her butt off for a week and managed to scrape together three thousand dollars. Just when she was about to slow down her hustle, she suddenly received a huge order.

Someone wanted her to take some photos at a birthday party. They offered her two thousand dollars for it.

Of course, the high commission came with a price. Apparently, the photos had to impress the birthday girl, and they would only pay up once she was a hundred percent satisfied with them.

Lucille took the offer without hesitation. She needed to gather the money ASAP.

On the day of the birthday party, she arrived at the location with her camera only to see a bunch of familiar faces.

The one in the princess dress and crown was none other than Sophia. River stood next to her in a black suit, and Lucille’s heart jolted when she saw them together.

River frowned when he saw how exhausted she looked. “Why are you accepting jobs like this? Isn’t it your dream to become an award-winning photographer? Our parents give you an allowance, don’t they?”

“I’m an adult, and I like this kind of work. That’s why I accepted the job.”

River’s expression turned colder. He was about to tell her off when Sophia hastily interrupted. “Lucy, River’s just worried about you. Don’t pick a fight with your brother.”

Sophia even hugged her arm and pulled her into the party hall, saying she wanted to see what Lucille’s photography skills were like.

Despite her polite praises, she worked Lucille to the bone. Lucille could not stop for even a second all night, pressing the shutter until her finger went numb.

She took almost five thousand photos, but Sophia still was not satisfied. She insisted on Lucille taking a bird’s eye view shot even though the latter was exhausted.

Lucille carried her heavy equipment to the third floor, put up her tripod, and then aimed her camera at the center stage.

Looking through her camera, she watched River step onto the stage. He personally put the necklace that was allegedly a family heirloom around Sophia’s neck.

Sophia smirked in the direction of the third floor and then jumped into his arms. Lucille knew she was doing this to show off to her.

The entire night, Sophia had done everything to publicly display her affection with River. She brought her glass of champagne to his lips, dragged him to the dance floor amidst cheers from the crowd, and complained that her calves were sore so he would give her a massage…

Lucille had thousands of photos of them like this, close as lovers. She was already numb.

She quickly took a photo of them hugging. Before she could click the shutter again, Sophia stood on her tiptoes and kissed River.

Lucille’s hand paused. Her hollow eyes briefly cleared up, and she focused her lens.

In the HD footage, River froze up too. After three short seconds, however, he pulled Sophia into his arms.

He put his hand on the back of her head and pressed her close, deepening the kiss!

“Wow, what a sweet couple!”

“Looks like they’ll be getting married soon. Hahaha, I’ll finally get a daughter-in-law!”

Her stepfather’s voice behind her woke Lucille from her daze. She quickly took a few more pictures of the highlight of the night.

River and Sophia soon parted. Sophia waved toward the third floor with a bashful smile. “Thanks for everything, Lucy! Let’s stop here!”

Lucille heaved a sigh of relief and brought her equipment downstairs, returning to her parents’ side.

Victoria was holding Sophia’s hand and smiling at her. “Dan and I encountered some delays along the way and ended up a little late. I hope you don’t mind, Sophia.”

“Of course I don’t! You came right on time. We haven’t distributed the cake yet.”

Dan patted his son’s shoulder with a proud smile. “I’m glad you found the love of your life, River. Since you gave Sophia that necklace, isn’t it time you invited her family over? We should start discussing your wedding.”

Sophia turned bright red, looking at River with love overflowing in her eyes. She then looked at Lucille. “I’m okay with anything, but I don’t have many friends here. I may ask Lucy to be my bridesmaid.”

Lucille was busy rubbing her sore hands, so she did not hear what Sophia said. It was only after Victoria nudged her and repeated the request that she understood.

She raised her head, her expression still calm and even. “Sorry, I may be busy from now on. I won’t be able to attend the wedding, but I wish you and my brother all the best. Welcome to the family, Sophia.”

Sophia, Victoria, and Dan’s smiles widened. On the other hand, River gave Lucille a dark look, his smile slowly fading.

Having completed her long and painful commission, Lucille went straight to her bathroom as soon as she got home. After washing up, she dragged her weary body to her bedroom.

The moment she opened her door, before she could even go in, a powerful pair of arms pinned her against the corridor wall. River rained kisses down her neck, still wet from the shower, leaving a trail of red marks in his wake.

His sudden assault almost caused Lucille to scream. She pressed her tongue to her throat, swallowing her cry as she tried to dodge his kisses.

The more she tried to evade him, however, the harder he kissed her. In the end, he even grabbed her chin.

She struggled desperately, the terror in her eyes deepening with the footsteps coming up the stairs. “You’re crazy!”

River scoffed, his eyes bloodshot as he whispered into her ear. “Yeah, I’m crazy. Go on, why don’t you scream? Show everyone our relationship. Show them how you melt under your stepbrother’s kisses.”

The footsteps stopped and then headed back down the stairs. Lucille’s heart finally settled back in her chest.

She used all her strength to push away his arm pinning her to the wall and ducked away from him, her voice still trembling with fear. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

River followed her with his dark gaze. “I should be asking you that. ‘Welcome to the family?’ What the hell was up with that?”

Lucille paused. She did not get it. He only approached her to get revenge, so why was he bothered by something so trivial?

“What’s wrong with me saying that? You two are getting married, aren’t you? You even kissed in front of me!”

“Lucille Shaw! I told you, we’re just acting! I only kissed Sophia because I saw our parents!” He seemed to be actually angry now, his tone brash and harsh.

Lucille could not tell if he was just pretending. Even so, she instinctively believed he was still acting, so she nodded. “Yes, I know. You’re an amazing actor!”

So when was this show going to end? He had already broken her heart. Wasn’t that enough?

Lucille did not say the rest out loud. She just blinked, the tears she had been holding back spilling forth.

She was too tired to continue this charade with him anymore. Why wouldn’t he let her go?

Her words and sudden tears caused River to panic. In the four years they had been together, he had never seen Lucille look so helpless and upset.

No matter what happened before this, she would only ever smile brightly at him — because she never wanted him to think she was losing faith in their love.

He did not know what exactly had happened, but he still hugged her on instinct. “I’m sorry, sweetie. Don’t cry, I shouldn’t have done that. I only lost control because you welcomed her into the family.”

After that, he tried to kiss her again. He was even gentler than usual, but Lucille pushed him away again.

“Period.”

“Even after so long?”

“Yes, probably because I had a fever that day.”

Worry flashed through River’s eyes when he remembered how weak she was during her fever. He stopped pressuring her, instead carrying her into her room tenderly. He turned off the lights and hugged her in bed.

Lucille was too tired to keep her eyes open. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

River stared dazedly at her peaceful sleeping face under the night lights. A bunch of messy memories ran through his head. It was only at three in the morning that he finally brushed a tender kiss on her forehead and drifted off to sleep.

The curtains were not drawn. The morning sunlight woke River up.

Lucille was still fall asleep next to him. She turned slightly, and his numb arm began to feel sore.

River opened his eyes and saw that the clock showed nine in the morning. He was stunned.

Why didn’t his biological clock wake him this time? The family always had breakfast at this hour, so he quickly leaped out of bed.

He opened the door, planning to creep back to his room. However, he had barely taken a few steps before Victoria appeared at the stairs. She froze when she saw him coming out of her daughter’s room in his pajamas.

“River?!”

River could not help but look at his messy clothes. His heart was about to leap out of his chest.

Victoria was starting to put two and two together. Her expression turned stern. “River, why were you coming out of Lucy’s room?!”

River had just woken up, and his brain was malfunctioning. Just as he was at a loss on how to explain, the door suddenly opened behind him.

Lucille appeared, properly dressed. She looked at the two of them calmly. “Morning, Mom. Thanks for waking me up for breakfast, River.”

So it was all a misunderstanding. Victoria’s heart settled back in her chest, and she waved at her children. “Well, hurry up and come down for breakfast.”

“Okay.” Lucille quickly walked to her mother’s side and held Victoria’s hand as they went down the stairs. After that, though, she froze.

Sophia was sitting at the table, waving at her with a smile. “Hi, Lucy! I’m here to discuss the wedding with River. I hope you don’t mind.”

Victoria replied with a smile before Lucille could say anything. “What are you talking about, Sophia? Lucille is River’s sister, and you’re his girlfriend. Why should she mind when you’re discussing your wedding?”

She then gave Lucille a look.

Lucille understood. From now on, she was just his sister. Why should she mind?

She sat at the dining table and listened as Sophia bugged River about their wedding.

“River, how about a garden wedding? Or should we get married at the beach? Do you want a diamond ring, or do you like any other gems…?”