Chapter Two

Amy stared at her screen for a moment, caught between confusion and hope. She’d expected him to ask for more details, at least where they were supposed to meet. Not wanting to risk losing the moment, she quickly sent the address of the VIP lounge along with her digital guest card.

“You won’t have trouble finding me,” she typed.

“I’m the only young woman in VIP.”

She took a deep breath. Straightened her black silk dress. Reapplied her lipstick with shaking fingers then stepped into the hotel.

She headed straight to the VIP lounge she was sure her parents were using. She had paid a lot of money to reserve that spot, and being a Williams only made things easier. That name could work wonders, but she hated that she was nothing without it. Her father always reminded her of that every time she tried to revolt.

"Go out there and you’ll understand what privilege you had being my child. You’re nothing without the power I give you, sweet Amy."

She scoffed as the elevator dinged open, and the first thing that caught her eye was her parents.

Her Father Silver Williams in his signature charcoal suit and terrifying calm. Katrina Williams beside him, a perfect smile etched in place.

Across from them stood a man with hollow eyes and a bare scalp, raising his glass.

“Don’t you think it’s time we toast to the union of our families, Mr. Williams?”

Amy straightened her sleek black dress, the same one she had worn with the intent to disgrace her family right in the hotel belonging to the people she was supposed to marry into.

A sly smirk curled her lips as she walked straight to them. She had thought it through clearly. There was no way she’d let her father sell her out again. She had to stop him, she must.

She was the only person missing at the gathering. Her father smiled. Her mother followed suit, ready to toast to the union while Alfred Lancaster, the golden son of Collins Lancaster, watched.

She couldn’t tell if the young man was happy or sad about it. He only wore a neutral expression, smiling only when the eyes of either of their parents landed on him. Hopefully, he didn’t want this either. Still, if he didn’t, why wasn’t he doing anything to stop it? Coward.

Amy cleared her throat, her gaze flicking away from the empty seat where the man she hired first was supposed to be sitting.

"Why wasn’t I invited to a gathering that clearly concerns me, Dad?" she asked, her lips curved in a composed smile as she walked toward them. This wasn’t how she had planned to confront her father. She was supposed to be a table or two away, laughing with her rented boyfriend as he dropped to one knee in a dramatic proposal. But he’d canceled. Plans had changed. Now she was counting on Plan B—and praying he showed up on time.

Every eye turned to her as her mother shot to her feet, stunned by her unexpected appearance.

“What are you doing here, Amy?” Her Father asked, his voice full of warning.

“Why, Dad? I can’t show up to a hotel anymore?” She tilted her head, smiling razor-sharp.

Her mother gasped at her words. That was the first time she had ever talked back to him in front of people outside their immediate family.

“Amy…” her mother started, but her father raised his hand to stop her and motioned for her to sit.

“You can be anywhere, my darling,” he said with a smile, playing the perfect father. “But I didn’t think you were unaware we’d be here tonight, dear.”

Of course, how could she forget? He had told her to stay home like the obedient daughter she was expected to be, while they finalized the marriage arrangements with the Lancasters. She was supposed to sit quietly, accepting that her life wasn’t hers to control.

She had let him make all the decisions before—but not anymore. He had gambled with her life long enough, and there was no way she’d let him keep doing it, especially when it came to her marriage. She would fall in love on her own terms, not be forced into it.

She nodded. “Sorry to interrupt, Dad. I was actually supposed to meet someone here. My boyfriend.” She flashed a cheerful smile, her gaze swept across the table, pausing on the seat next to hers. One she had reserved, adding, “I had this feeling he will be proposing tonight.”

Her father's smile faltered, shrinking into a glare. Around the table, her mother, Alfred, and the Lancasters gasped in shock.

“What in heaven’s name is your daughter talking about, Silver?” Mr. Lancaster barked, his voice rising. “I didn't invite you here just to humiliate my son and me!”

Her Father had chosen what he believed was the best family, one with enough resources to elevate their status. The thought made Amy’s stomach twist with a mix of disgust and anger. She could only hope the man would show up on time. She’d made the mistake of not asking where he was. What if he wasn’t even nearby? She swallowed hard, forcing herself to stay composed. He had said fine, that had to mean he was coming… right?

“Please, calm down, Mr. Lancaster,” Her father said, trying to maintain control. “I assure you—”

“Don’t give me that crap! You heard her, she said she had a boyfriend! Someone who was going to propose to her! You heard that!” Lancaster bellowed, his temper flaring.

“You need to calm down, David,” her father said, trying to maintain control. “Don’t listen to her. There’s no way my daughter has a boyfriend I don’t know about. I have her watched closely by my trusted men. Whatever she’s saying is just to get under my skin, and I honestly don’t understand why. I raised her to be obedient.”

Amy’s lips parted, her fingers trembling uncontrollably. He had her watched? A dry, bitter laugh escaped her as her eyes burned red, struggling to hold back tears.

“What do you take me for, Dad?”

“You will shut your mouth and head home this instant!” he snapped, finally turning to face her. “Do you really think I’ll buy this ridiculous story? Like it or not, you’re marrying Alfred, and that’s final!”

Amy straightened, ready to stand her ground this time. “Then you’ll be shocked, Father. I don’t need your approval to be with the man I choose.”

She turned to the fuming Lancaster and his clueless son. “Maybe Father had some other daughter in mind, because I’m sorry, I’m not the one he planned to sell off.”

Silver Williams has had enough. Rage contorted his face as he marched toward her, hand raised high, ready to strike.

But that moment, the heavy double doors of the VIP room burst open with a commanding force, the sound echoing like thunder through the hall. A gust of cool air swept in, curling around the stunned guests. Every head whipped toward the entrance.

And there he stood.

Tall, unbothered and impossibly composed in a sharp black suit, his presence alone making the room feel suddenly too small. His eyes locked on Amy with razor-sharp focus, like she was the only person in the world.

Silver’s hand froze mid-air.

He was nothing like Amy imagined. He was more.

Unapologetically bold. Devastatingly handsome. The kind of man who could silence a storm with a single glance.

And he walked, no, owned his way across the room, not sparing anyone a look. His eyes never left hers.

Then, without hesitation, he reached her, slipped an arm around her waist with effortless confidence, and kissed her.