Elia Williams hovered partly behind her father, Dennis, a practiced look of concern on her face. "Dad, it's late, and I'm worried about Winona. I didn't mean to snoop, but when she gets home at this hour, who wouldn't think she might be in trouble?"

Winona saw right through her sister's innocent act. Elia was a born performer—wasted off the stage.

Dennis shot Winona a look, taking in her disheveled state. Without missing a beat, he snapped, "Look at the hour! It's not proper for a young woman to come home looking like that."

Winona met her father's eyes head-on, unfazed by the all-too-familiar confrontation.

"You've always thought I'm the biggest disappointment. Have you ever actually cared what I do? If you really want to know what happened, why don't you ask your precious favorite daughter? She knows exactly what went down."

Elia shook her head frantically. "Sis, I honestly have no idea what you're talking about. I was just worried about you. Please don't be mad, okay? Dad, it's all my fault." She covered her face, looking ready to cry.

Seraphina Cruz chimed in with exaggerated sympathy, "Dennis, Elia's a sweetheart. Winona's too wild—you need to get her under control. I'm just her stepmother, so maybe it's not my place, but I hate seeing Elia so upset."

She poured fuel on the flames, watching Dennis's anger spike at Winona's messy appearance. "You're engaged to the Castros, and this is how you act? Know your place."

At the mention of the engagement, Winona shot Seraphina and Elia a look of pure disdain. "Without this engagement, you would've thrown me out ages ago. At least with it, I'm worth something to you."

As expected, Dennis slapped her across the cheek. Winona didn't flinch. The stinging rang in her ears, but it was nothing compared to the cold ache in her heart. To her, this wasn't a home—just a house she happened to live in.

"This slap is the only language we have left. I'm done." Winona retreated to her room, shutting everyone out.

In Winona's eyes, her mother was the only family she ever had. Her father was colder than a stranger. Over the years, she'd grown numb to the pain. She'd given up on love a long time ago, refusing to follow the same tragic path as her mother—a woman who once believed in love only to end up heartbroken.

Winona figured the whole Alpine Lodge mess would blow over. Little did she know, another storm was right around the corner.

Her father suddenly informed her that he'd bought her some clothes, ordering her to dress nicely for tonight.

"You're almost twenty-four. The Castros are having dinner with us tonight. Make sure you look presentable and don't embarrass me, got it?"

The fancy shopping bag on the bed felt like a joke. It was the first thing her father had bought her since her mom's accident—all to make her a more attractive marriage prospect.

Since Uncle Castro had been her mother's closest friend, Winona resolved not to cause any drama. But she had no idea what her father was really after.

She put on a classy Victorian-style dress, only to end up standing next to Elia, who was decked out in designer fashion. Her own elegant gown suddenly looked plain. Elia and her mother were all smiles, but Winona tuned them out completely.

The Castros had just arrived at the private dining room. Winona hung back, fading into Elia's shadow. She couldn't recall the last time she'd seen Jaiden Castro—he'd matured from the gentle boy she once knew into a handsome young man, though his eyes now held an impatient edge.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Castro," Winona greeted politely. Jaiden's father returned the greeting warmly, but Mrs. Castro gave her a frosty once-over before taking her seat.

It hit Winona right then—they didn't like her one bit, but they were plenty cozy with Elia.

"Dennis, the kids are grown, and we've been friends forever. Let's cut to the chase. I've always been fond of Winona—such a sweet girl. Why don't we set a date and lock in the engagement, huh?"

Dennis was beaming, but Mrs. Castro cut in, her tone sharp. "A sweet kid doesn't mean she grew up sweet. Jaiden is an outstanding young man, and I believe young people should choose their own partners."

"Feelings grow. Winona's a delight—what's the problem?" Mr. Castro replied.

Mrs. Castro let out a dry laugh. "Well then, I've got something here. Let's see if Winona can explain this—so we all know who's actually suitable."

From her purse, she pulled out an envelope and scattered photos across the table. Winona was baffled, not understanding what they were up to.

"Oh my gosh! Are those photos of Winona leaving Alpine Lodge late at night?" Elia gasped, her shock obviously fake.

Mrs. Castro sneered, "Exactly! Engaged, and somebody spotted you leaving looking like that. Care to explain yourself? You're not even married yet—so what exactly were you doing in that hotel?"

Winona clenched her fists, knowing full well Elia had set this trap.

"I didn't do anything wrong. My conscience is clear."

"A clear conscience? These photos show you stumbling out of that lodge looking a mess. It's already causing talk and dragging our name through the mud. Mr. Castro, a girl like this has no business marrying into our family."

Mr. Castro's smile vanished as Mrs. Castro kept on. "She's already acting out before the wedding. Imagine what'll happen after. I won't allow this match."

Jaiden, finally speaking up, added, "Dad, she's already dragging our reputation through the dirt. And with her mother's instability? How am I supposed to hold my head high marrying someone like that?"

Mrs. Castro was dead set. "That kind of daughter-in-law? Unacceptable. The engagement is off. I'm doing you a favor by not making this public—count yourself lucky. That's final."

The room hung heavy with a tense, smothering silence. Dennis Williams felt the weight of those damning photos, his mind flashing back to Winona coming home looking all disheveled—now he knew it was from a hotel. If the Castro family weren't sitting right there, he would've ripped into her for behavior he found straight-up shameful.

Jaiden Castro's father, George Castro, studied the photos for what felt like an eternity before his eyes finally locked onto Winona. "Winona, is that really you in those pictures? I want the truth."

Winona met his gaze head-on. She'd already guessed exactly how this little gathering would play out. "Yes, it's me." She saw the disappointment flicker across his face, and a bitter smile tugged at her lips. Of course. No one here had any intention of hearing her side.

Not that it mattered. In their eyes, she was already branded. No self-respect, right?

"George, since Miss Williams has admitted it, there's really nothing left to discuss," Mrs. Castro cut in, shifting the spotlight with practiced ease. "I know you respect old ties, and our family always honors our word. Dennis, you do have another daughter. Elia would make such a perfect match."

The realization hit Winona like a bucket of ice water. Now she saw it—this whole thing was a mother-daughter setup, all triggered by her stupidly timed visit to the Royal Hotel. She didn't need to guess who leaked those photos.

Her heart turned to ice, but her father's eager voice sliced right through it: "If that's how it is, I have no objections. It all comes down to how the kids feel, after all."

Elia Williams blushed, her voice dripping honey. "I think we should get to know each other first, but I really do like Mrs. Castro. She's just wonderful."

"Isn't she just the sweetest? I knew from the start we clicked. She actually helped me dodge a scam once!" Mrs. Castro beamed, practically glowing.

Hearing they'd already met just sealed Winona's isolation. Her fists balled so tight her knuckles went white, but she kept a polite smile plastered on her face. Jaiden's gaze kept wandering to Elia, and Winona got the message loud and clear.

"Well, it seems everyone's pretty happy with how things are going. Aunt Castro, Dad, Elia, Mr. Castro—have you all made your decision?" Winona's voice came out steady, almost too calm.

Mrs. Castro sneered, "Isn't it obvious? We're not about to let Jaiden marry someone with a reputation like yours. Who knows what you've been up to, dragging our family name through the mud."

"Since you've all decided, I'll share my decision too." Winona's words cut through the tension like a blade.

"Your decision?" Jaiden asked, a flicker of curiosity breaking through his cool demeanor. Her face held that mix of defiance and pride, but it didn't move him. He preferred women like Elia—soft, sweet, agreeable.

Seraphina Cruz watched from the sidelines, smug as hell, thinking Winona's collected act was just for show.

"Oh yes. I, Winona Williams, am officially calling off the engagement my mother arranged with Mr. Castro. Consider it annulled, as of today."

The three women at the table let out harsh, mocking laughs.

"What choice do you even have?" Mrs. Castro scoffed, all warmth gone from her voice. "At least you're smart enough to realize you're nowhere near good enough for our Jaiden."

Her sharp words matched her angular features and those intense, hawk-like eyes.

Winona didn't even flinch. She went on, "The engagement's off, but let me make one thing crystal clear, George Castro: it's me, Winona Williams, who doesn't want your son, Jaiden Castro. Got it?"

Jaiden stared at her like she'd just told the world's dumbest joke. Him? Turned down? He was a Castro, for crying out loud. The idea was laughable.

Winona calmly poured herself a cup of coffee. "Mrs. Castro, your son is the one who's not worthy of marrying me."

She knocked back the whole cup in one go, leaving everyone stunned. The audacity.

Jaiden, a man who commanded respect wherever he went, had never been spoken to like that by any woman. To him, Winona was nobody. He was almost curious how she thought she was going to pull this off.

"Fine! Just don't come crawling back later, crying and regretting what you said today."

Winona shot him a defiant smile. "Don't hold your breath. That day's never coming. Goodbye."

She'd stopped hoping for love a long time ago. All she wanted was a marriage that wouldn't bury her deeper in misery.

The Castro family's outright contempt made it painfully clear: they wanted out of this engagement from the jump. Mrs. Castro already had her speech rehearsed. Winona saw no point in sticking around for more humiliation.

She sucked in a deep breath as she stepped out of the restaurant, the cold hitting her like a slap. With nowhere to go, her mind immediately went to her one real friend—Briana Fernandez.

The moment Briana got her call, she dropped everything and came running, pulling Winona into a hug without asking a single question.

"What's there to worry about? You've got me!" Briana had been by her side all through university. She knew every battle Winona had fought.

Words weren't needed between them—one look was enough.

Inside the buzzing pub, Winona downed drink after drink for the first time in her life, spilling the whole mess to Briana.

Briana waved it off like it was nothing. "So what if they're the Castro family? They're not exactly top dogs in New York City. Who does Jaiden think he is, anyway? With your looks, you could land someone ten times better. Tell Jaiden to hit the road!"

Clinking glasses, Winona managed a shaky smile, a new fire sparking inside her. "You're damn right! If I'm gonna marry, it's gonna be the most powerful man in New York City. They can all go to hell!"

In a rare moment of total abandon, Winona drank until she could barely stand.

"Sweetie, I'm just hitting the restroom real quick. Stay put, okay? Don't go wandering off."

Winona waved her off lazily. Too wasted to register anything, one thought hammered in her head—she was gonna marry the most powerful man.

Staggering, she grabbed onto someone's hand to steady herself.

Zayden Morales, hanging with his buddies at the bar, was just about to dip out early when some girl suddenly latched onto his hand. He was about to snap, but then he clocked that familiar face—tipsy as hell, but definitely familiar.

Her again.

Winona didn't recognize him. Her unfocused eyes roamed over his face, then she broke into a loopy grin. "You're not Briana! But... have we met somewhere before?"

Zayden frowned. First a hotel, now a bar, totally wasted—this woman's life was a whole soap opera.

Seeing him stay silent, she giggled and leaned in conspiratorially. "No, I don't know you. But you're hot, so I'm gonna let you in on a secret."

She threw her arms out wide and announced, "I, Winona Williams, swear today to marry the most powerful man in all of New York City. You hear me? The most powerful man!"

Zayden couldn't stop the smirk curling his lips. Was she... drunk and ranting? Or was she talking about him as the most powerful man?

Was this some kind of act?

Before he could get a word out, Briana rushed over and tugged Winona away. Good-looking as he was, Zayden's whole intense aura set Briana on edge.

She shot him a quick apology. "Sorry about that, handsome! My friend's just really upset and went overboard. Please just ignore her." With that, Briana steered Winona out the door fast.

As Zayden watched them go, he could still hear Winona slurring, "Briana! I'll marry... I'll marry the most powerful man..."

Winona’s drunken words from the night before had been brushed off by her friend Briana as nothing more than stress talking. By morning, the whole thing was water under the bridge—at least in Briana’s mind. But Elia Williams had been emboldened by the chaos she’d stirred up. Now, she grabbed every chance to cut Winona down.

“Weren’t you just the bold one yesterday? I almost thought you’d be too chicken to show your face here today. I’ve been dying to see just how capable you think you are! Winona Williams, someone like you was born to live under my thumb. That’s just the way it is, and you’d better get used to it.”

Once the meeting ended, as if on cue, Winona was left alone with Elia, forced to endure her icy sneers. She clenched her fists, nails biting into her palms, while Elia tore apart the proposal she’d spent hours on, calling it garbage.

“Blowing the Morales deal has consequences. Don’t come crawling to me; you screwed it up all on your own. You’ve pissed them off, and that’s bad for business. So go figure out how to pay for that woman’s hospital bills yourself.”

“That’s not your call! You’re not the head of the Williams family,” Winona shot back.

Elia let out a light laugh, flicking her gaze down to her perfect manicure, then back to Winona with a dismissive sneer. “The Castro family doesn’t want anything to do with you. What are you even good for? Do you think Dad gives a damn about you? He listens to me. And that woman... why does she even bother breathing? She’d be better off dead.”

Winona shot her sister a glare, swallowing her rage for her mother’s sake. Elia flung the documents straight at Winona’s face, the papers smacking her skin.

“Your so-called talents are worthless to me. Skills? Who cares? You’re nothing but an employee. I don’t need to know a damn thing you know—I’m going to be Mrs. Castro soon, way above everyone, especially you. That’s the difference between us. If you can’t lock down the Morales deal, forget about your mother and any place in this family. Get out!”

Elia had dreamed of this moment for years—humiliating Winona, grinding her beneath her heel. She’d never forgotten the bitter sting of being mocked as the bastard child, her entire life cast in shadow by Winona’s existence. From the day she was brought into the Williams family, she’d sworn to strip Winona of everything, to keep her crushed underfoot forever. Her mother had drilled into her: show mercy and you’ll get trampled. The ends always justified the means. And now, the proof was clear: she was the one on top.

Winona stayed quiet, collecting the papers from the floor one by one, her movements deliberate. She shot Elia a frosty look, the corner of her mouth twitching into a smirk. “I never knew picking up my scraps could make you so happy.”

She straightened, showing no sign of bowing or backing down. If Elia thought this was worth crowing about, she could have it. Winona didn’t care.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Elia snapped, shooting up from her chair, her anger twisting the flawless lines of her makeup.

“You don’t get it? Let me make it simple: how’s a crow supposed to understand the flight of an eagle?”

Winona didn’t lower herself to trading insults. She was practical. Getting into it with someone as petty as Elia would only drag her down to that sewer. Sometimes the best answer was silence.

Elia’s furious punch hit nothing but air, leaving her seething with frustration. Winona pushed up her plain black glasses and turned to leave, her exit poised. Elia, refusing to let it end like this, trailed after her, but with the whole office watching, she had to rein in her temper, plastering on a smile as fake as it was polished, her long nails digging crescents into her palms.

Winona always wore a mask of indifference, never letting others see her crack. Even though she’d held her own this time, she knew Elia wasn’t bluffing. If she got to their father first, he’d likely take his anger out on their mother. Winona had to move fast.

She quickly organized her files and headed straight for her father’s office. This couldn’t wait. The secretary rose, announced her, then let her in. Winona stepped inside to find Dennis buried in a stack of papers, his brows furrowed. Had she picked the worst possible time? But then, it didn’t matter. Good mood or bad, the result would be the same.

“Mr. Williams, I need a word about something important,” she said, all business. Normally, Dennis would grunt a reply, but today was different.

“Winona, to what do I owe the pleasure? No need to be so stiff—we’re family. Have a seat.”

The unexpected warmth put Winona on guard. She knew him too well; if he wasn’t plotting something, he wouldn’t be playing nice. Winona kept her polite mask on, taking a seat. The secretary brought coffee and closed the door behind her.

“So, what can I do for you, Winona?”

“The hospital’s been hounding me for payments. And there are advanced treatments in Europe. I talked to a specialist—there could be a real chance for Mom if we send her overseas. I want you to consider it.”

Dennis chuckled. “That’s all? Just medical bills. No problem. I’ll have my secretary wire the money. Sending her abroad? Doable. These things are trivial.”

Winona’s chest tightened. Normally, he’d dodge or stall, crying poor. His easy agreement now? Suspicious. Something was off, but she bit her tongue.

Silence settled between them. Then, “Winona, I know you’re capable. About the dinner last night—I may have been too quick to judge. I shouldn’t interfere in young people’s business, and I’m not going to blame you regardless. As for your sister and the Castros, well, they prefer her. Not much I can do about that.”

“I get where you’re coming from, Dad. Some things just aren’t meant to be. I made that clear yesterday, didn’t I?”

He gave an awkward laugh. “Since your sister’s got her situation settled, I figured I should step up as a father so nobody thinks I’m ignoring my eldest. Your stepmother and I talked it over and we’ve found you a great match. The prospect is very taken with you, and they’re wealthy. You’d live comfortably.”

Winona almost laughed out loud. A golden opportunity, just dropped in her lap? Right.

“I appreciate your concern, Dad.”

“Don’t mention it! Mr. Brooks has his eye on you. His son’s thirty, just a few years older—a perfect fit. The Brooks family is just the two of them. Marry in, and you’d be the lady of the house. A spot most only dream of.”

Winona’s smile froze. Just as she’d guessed. The Brooks family had money and a solid business, but everyone knew Mr. Brooks’s son had incurable congenital disabilities.