Emily grabbed my hand and started pulling me excitedly toward the brightly lit stage. "Come on, Victoria! The ring exchange is over. You have to come say congratulations!"

My stomach twisted violently. I didn't want to go anywhere near that stage, but I couldn't refuse without raising suspicion. Every step felt like walking toward my own execution.

As we climbed the few steps, my eyes immediately found him.

Alexander Sterling.

This was the first time I was seeing him since that night. He stood tall and devastatingly handsome in his perfectly tailored black suit, holding Vanessa's hand. My heart clenched so hard it hurt.

He didn't remember me. Not the way I remembered him.

A part of me felt relieved... but another part broke even more.

Emily pulled me forward with a bright smile. "Brother, meet my best friend, Victoria Morgan. You remember her from school days, right? The cute girl with the bob cut who used to bake you sweets?"

Alexander's sharp gaze shifted to me. For a second, something flickered in his eyes. Then his expression turned cold. His lips curled slightly in clear distaste.

"Emily," he said, his voice laced with disappointment, "I expected you to have better taste in friends. Are you still hanging around opportunists like her?"

My face crumpled.

Opportunist?

I stood there frozen, confused and hurt. What was he talking about?

Emily blinked in shock. "What are you talking about, Alex?"

Alexander's cold eyes locked onto mine. "Look at her. Aren't you the girl from the bar that night?" His voice was low but sharp enough for those nearby to hear. "The one seducing my business partner just for a few drinks? Pathetic."

My heart almost dropped to my stomach.

He saw me that night at the bar...

The night I was drunk and desperate, trying to get a stranger to pay my bill. He must have been there. And now he thought I was some cheap, desperate girl who threw herself at men.

Vanessa's hand loosened around Alexander's arm, and her face relaxed. A satisfied smirk played on her lips.

Emily immediately let go of her brother's arm. "Alexander! Apologize right now! You can't say things like that to her!"

Tears burned my eyes. I couldn't breathe. The pain in my chest was suffocating. I turned to Emily, forcing my voice to stay steady even though it was breaking.

"I... I have to leave. You enjoy the party."

I turned away quickly, desperate to escape. But my eyes met an even more terrifying sight.

My grandfather.

He was sitting in the front row of VIP seats, watching me like a hawk. The moment our eyes locked, I felt ice run down my spine. His cold, calculating stare pierced through me, warning me without words.

Stay in line. Don't cause trouble.

Alexander was still watching me. Emily looked furious as she glared at her brother. "I didn't expect something so horrible from you, Alex. Victoria is my best friend. I will never forgive you for speaking to her like this."

Vanessa let out a cold laugh. "Why are you overreacting, Emily? Alexander didn't say anything wrong. She's just a mistress's daughter. What else would you expect from her?"

Alexander looked at Vanessa, slightly confused. "What do you mean?"

Vanessa smiled sweetly, but her words were venomous. "Her mother seduced my father and had her out of wedlock. She's my half-sister. Just like her mother, she loves throwing herself at powerful men for favors. It's in her blood."

The words hit me like sharp knives.

Emily's face turned red with anger. "Vanessa, shut up. Don't you dare speak about my friend like that again."

I couldn't take it anymore. My vision blurred with tears as I turned and hurried down the steps, desperate to disappear from their sight. My hands instinctively moved to my stomach for a brief second.

I had barely taken a few steps away from the stage when my grandfather slowly rose from his seat. My body froze. The entire hall seemed to grow colder as he walked toward me with measured, powerful steps, leaning on his elegant black walking stick.

Instinctively, my hand moved to wrap protectively around my stomach. I felt the slight tremble in my fingers as I tried to hide it.

He stopped right in front of me, his sharp eyes studying my face like a predator.

"Victoria," he said calmly, his voice carrying quiet authority. "May I speak with you for a moment?"

My legs felt shaky, but I forced myself to nod. "Yes, Grandpa."

He turned without another word and started walking toward the exit. I followed him obediently, glancing back one last time. Alexander's cold gaze was fixed on my back, filled with heavy disgust. The look made my chest tighten painfully.

It's better this way, I told myself. Let him hate me. At least he'll stay far away.

We stepped outside into the cool night air. A black luxury car was already waiting. Grandpa entered first, and I slid in after him. The door closed with a heavy click, sealing us inside.

For a long moment, there was only silence.

"I've seen you hanging around the Sterlings quite often these past weeks," he finally spoke, his tone dangerously low. "Did you forget what I specifically ordered you to do?"

I gulped, my throat dry. "I never did anything wrong, Grandpa. I did exactly what you asked me to do that night at the masquerade party. I haven't crossed paths with him since then. I swear."

He didn't reply immediately. Instead, he lifted his walking stick and tapped the top of it firmly against my shaking knee. I flinched.

"You seem very nervous," he said coldly. "Why is that?"

"It's... it's nothing like that," I whispered, my voice trembling.

His eyes narrowed. "On stage just now, you were looking at him with those eyes. You better not let anyone know what you did two months ago at that party. Do I make myself clear?"

My heart hammered wildly in my chest. I remembered that night so clearly the night I had pretended to be Vanessa, seduced Alexander while wearing a mask.

"I won't tell anyone," I said shakily, my voice barely holding together. "I'll stay away from Alexander. He will never know that it was me that night. Please... just let me live in peace from now on."

Grandpa stared at me for a long moment before he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a cream-colored envelope. He tossed it onto my lap.

"This is your acceptance letter," he said flatly. "Assistant Designer position at Chen Studios. Your money has already been transferred to your account."

My eyes widened in disbelief. He had actually kept his promise.

"Don't show your face in this city again," he continued. "There's no need for you to attend the wedding, even if your little friend begs you to come. Do you understand what will happen if you disobey me?"

The threat hung heavy in the air. I knew exactly what he meant. My mother had disappeared the same way erased completely when she became inconvenient.

I nodded quickly, clutching the envelope tightly. "I understand."

As long as he never found out I had slept with Alexander... as long as no one knew about the baby growing inside me... I could endure anything.

Grandpa had used me to make Alexander agree to marry Vanessa that night at the masquerade ball. Alexander already hated me. There was no need to add fuel to that fire by revealing the truth.

The car stopped. I stepped out without another word, the cool night air hitting my tear-streaked face.

This was my life now.

Carrying the child of the man who despised me, while pretending everything was fine.

After the engagement party finally began winding down, Emily Sterling stepped out of the grand hall, her heels clicking sharply against the marble stairs. She was still fuming, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

Alexander was standing near the entrance, talking on his phone. The moment he saw his younger sister walking down the stairs, he ended the call abruptly and slid his phone into his pocket.

"Emily," he called out. "I'm heading home. Let's go together."

Emily stopped on the stairs and glared at him. "I don't want to go home with you. I'm still mad at you."

Alexander let out a tired sigh and walked toward her. "Are you still holding onto that little comment I made about Victoria?"

Emily's eyes widened in disbelief. "Little comment? You humiliated my best friend in front of everyone! You have no idea how hurt she was."

"I only said what was true," Alexander replied coldly. "She's an opportunistic person. I've seen her throwing herself at men for money and favors. You should be more careful. She might only be friends with you because of our family's status and wealth."

Emily stared at her brother, completely shocked. "I don't understand you at all, Alexander. You're marrying Vanessa for a massive business deal. The entire family is benefiting from this marriage. So when you do it, it's smart strategy. But when someone else does something similar, they're suddenly disgusting opportunists?"

Alexander's jaw tightened. "It's different."

"Sure it is," Emily said sarcastically, folding her arms. "You don't know Victoria at all. You don't know what kind of person she really is. So stop making assumptions about her."

Alexander rolled his eyes. "Are you really going to fight with your older brother for some random woman?"

"She is not 'some woman'!" Emily snapped, her voice rising. "She has been my best friend for the past fifteen years. So yes I will fight you if you hurt her again. I hate you right now. I can't even reach her phone. She must be so heartbroken because of what you said."

Alexander was about to respond when Vanessa walked out of the hall, holding her heels in one hand, looking elegant even in her exhaustion.

"Darling," Vanessa said sweetly, walking straight to Alexander and linking her arm with his. "Could you drop me off at the mansion? My driver is stuck in traffic."

Alexander glanced at her and nodded. "Sure, why not."

He turned to Emily and gave her a warning look. "Be nice to Vanessa," he mouthed silently before guiding Vanessa toward the waiting car.

Emily stood there frozen, watching them leave together. As the car drove away, her eyes filled with quiet fury and sadness.

If only you knew, she thought bitterly. If only you knew how amazing Victoria actually is... how much she has suffered... and how deeply she loved you all these years.

If only Alexander knew how horrible Vanessa truly was behind her perfect smile.

If only he knew how much Victoria's life had already been ruined partly because of this very engagement.

Emily wiped a stray tear from her cheek and whispered to herself, "You have no idea what you're doing, brother."

The city lights blurred past the windows as Alexander drove smoothly through the quiet streets. Vanessa sat in the passenger seat, one hand resting on his thigh, trying to appear affectionate.

"So..." she asked playfully, tilting her head. "What were you and Emily talking about earlier? You both looked so serious."

Alexander kept his eyes on the road. "Nothing important. Just some sibling things."

Vanessa's smile faltered slightly. She looked at him from the side. "Was it about Victoria again?"

There was a faint bitter undertone in her voice, though she tried to hide it.

Alexander glanced at her briefly. "Emily is her friend, so she didn't like the comment I made about her on stage. She was fighting with me over it. If it bothers you, I can apologize to Victoria for your sake."

Vanessa chuckled softly and leaned closer, locking her arm with his even though he was driving. She rested her head on his shoulder. "You don't have to. She's not worth your time."

Alexander was quiet for a moment before speaking again, his voice softening. "I still can't believe this is an arranged marriage by our families. We didn't even meet properly... but I did fall for you, didn't I?"

Vanessa's body tensed.

"I was completely mesmerized by you that night at the masquerade ball," Alexander continued, a small smile playing on his lips. "I couldn't think straight for weeks after that. Of course I would do anything for you, my love."

Vanessa's hand loosened slightly around his arm. She gulped nervously and pulled back a little, giving a weak, forced laugh.

"Y-Yeah... That night was truly special," she said, her voice sounding rehearsed.

Alexander continued, completely unaware of her discomfort. "The way you spoke to me that night... I had never seen or felt another woman like you. Before that party, I wasn't even planning to agree to this marriage. My mother was against it because she believed I should marry for love. Honestly, I never believed in love until I met you that day."

Vanessa gave a dry response, her hands twisting nervously in her lap.

Alexander looked at her sideways. "When are you going to fulfill the promise you made me that day?"

Vanessa froze. "P-Promise?"

"Yeah," he chuckled. "Don't you remember?"

"I... uh..."

He laughed lightly. "You're the first woman I've seen who forgot something like this. I don't know how I should feel about that." He slowed the car and pulled over to the side of the road, turning off the engine before removing his seatbelt.

He turned to face her fully. "You told me that after our engagement, we would book a room and you would show me what the best night of my life looked like."

Vanessa's eyes widened in shock. Her heart started racing. That bitch didn't mention anything like this! she thought furiously, cursing Victoria in her mind.

"Oh! Of course... How could I forget something like that," she said quickly, forcing a smile while sweat began forming on her forehead.

Alexander reached out and gently touched her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb. Vanessa closed her eyes, half expecting him to kiss her or do something more intimate right there in the car.

But instead, he leaned in and softly kissed the top of her head.

"I was kidding," he chuckled, pulling back with an amused expression. "You must have been too drunk that night to remember. You actually promised that if I got engaged to you within three months, you would buy me my favorite ice cream. I've been waiting for that treat."

Vanessa blinked, completely taken aback. A wave of embarrassment washed over her.

"Oh... hahaha," she laughed awkwardly, her face flushing red. "Of course. I'll get it for you soon."

Alexander smirked and started the car again. "I'll be waiting for my treat then."

Vanessa smiled on the outside, but inside she was sweating profusely, her mind spinning with panic and resentment.

That damn Victoria... What exactly happened that night?