Chapter 2 The Price of the Bride

"Condition? You think you are in a position to negotiate?" Penelope scoffed, crossing her arms. "Your father has already decided. You are nothing but a tool for this family."

"Is that right?" Anna smirked. She suddenly moved and slapped Megan hard across the face.

The sound was like a gunshot.

Megan screamed, clutching her face, stumbling back. "You hit me! Mom, she hit me!"

"Anna! Are you crazy?" Penelope shrieked, raising her hand to strike back.

Anna caught Penelope's wrist in mid-air. Her grip was like iron. She squeezed, and Penelope cried out in pain as she felt her bones grinding.

"Listen closely," Anna whispered, her face calm but terrifying. "I am not the girl you bullied three years ago. If you want me to marry the cripple so your precious daughter doesn't have to, you will give me what I want."

"Let go! You lunatic!" Penelope wailed.

"What is going on here?!"

Jonathan Rice stormed into the living room. He saw Anna gripping his wife's wrist, and his face turned red. "Anna! Release her immediately!"

Anna shoved Penelope away. Penelope fell onto the sofa, sobbing. "Jonathan! She's out of control! Send her back to the asylum!"

"Enough!" Jonathan roared. He looked at Anna, his eyes cold. "You should be grateful we found you a husband. The Sterling family is powerful. Marrying William is a blessing for a damaged goods like you."

"A blessing?" Anna laughed dryly. "Then let Megan have the blessing."

Megan turned pale. "No! Dad, I can't marry him!"

Jonathan rubbed his temples. He needed this alliance. The company was failing. "Anna, what do you want?"

"My mother's dowry," Anna said clearly. "Specifically, her jewelry box. Give it to me now, and I will get in the car to Sterling Manor immediately."

"Impossible!" Penelope yelled. "Those jewels are worth millions! We sold some, and Megan wears the rest!"

"Then Megan better start packing for her wedding," Anna shrugged, turning to leave.

"Wait!" Jonathan shouted. He glared at Penelope. "Get the box. Now."

"But Jonathan—"

"Do it! Do you want the company to go bankrupt?"

Ten minutes later, Penelope threw a velvet box onto the table, her eyes full of venom. "Take it and get out. I hope William kills you."

Anna ignored her. She opened the box. Most of the valuable jade was there. She ran her fingers through the pieces until she felt something cold and metal at the bottom.

She pulled it out.

It wasn't her mother's. It was a ring. A heavy, silver ring with a double-headed raven crest.

Anna's heart skipped a beat.

This ring... she remembered it. The night she was drugged three years ago. The man in the dark. This ring was on his finger. In the struggle, it must have slipped off and got mixed into her belongings before Penelope stole them.

The father of her child.

Anna clenched the ring in her fist. I will find you, too.

"Well?" Jonathan barked. "Are you satisfied?"

"Perfectly," Anna snapped the box shut. "Don't expect me to visit."

She walked out of the Rice mansion without looking back. A black limousine from the Sterling family was already waiting.

As the car drove away, Anna looked at the raven ring again.

First, the child. Then, that man from that night. Then, revenge.

The car drove for an hour, leaving the city noise behind, and entered a private estate. The iron gates of Sterling Manor loomed like the entrance to a fortress.

The atmosphere here was different. Cold. Silent. Dangerous.

The driver opened the door. "Mr. Sterling is waiting in the living room."

Anna stepped out. She walked into the grand hall. It was empty, except for a massive fireplace.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the shadows.

A massive Argentine Dogo exploded forward, aimed straight at her throat. She barely had time to think before two hundred pounds of pure violence closed the distance.

Anna didn't scream. She didn't run.

As the beast's jaws opened inches from her neck, she sidestepped with fluid grace. Her hand moved in a blur—a flash of silver.

She struck a pressure point behind the dog's ear.

The massive beast whimpered mid-air and collapsed onto the carpet, paralyzed but unharmed.

"Impressive."

A deep, husky voice came from the top of the stairs.