Chapter 2

Riley's POV

"Ungrateful bitch. A dog we'd raised for ten years would have more loyalty."

I stared at the scrolling comments on my phone screen, each word slicing into my heart. My apartment was a disaster. I sat slumped on the floor, still wearing the black leather jacket from the awards ceremony, my tears long dried up.

The video had hit 15 million views. The moment I smashed the trophy replayed endlessly with headlines like: "Texas Orphan's Mental Breakdown," "Mechanic Girl's American Dream SHATTERED," "Bitch Who's Nothing Without the Brennans."

"Women like this should be kicked out of high society."

"Riley Santos? Sounds like some bottom-feeder immigrant name."

"Ten years of freeloading and she still has the nerve to throw a tantrum. What a disgrace to her dead daddy."

That last comment made my blood run cold.

They wouldn't even spare my dead father.

"Ring ring ring—"

The phone again. Screen showed: Colt Brennan.

I counted the call log—52 missed calls.

When the 53rd started ringing, I answered with shaking hands.

"Riley! Thank God you finally picked up!" Colt's voice was urgent. "Where are you? Don't read that online garbage—I'll handle it."

"Handle it?" My voice was hoarse. "How? By telling them I'm actually your girlfriend?"

"Riley, let me explain. Madison and my engagement was arranged by our families. It doesn't affect our relationship. You're my most precious family."

Family.

Those two words hit my chest like a sledgehammer.

"Family?" I laughed bitterly. "What kind of family am I? Your sister? Or your dirty little secret?"

"Don't say that..."

"Then YOU say it!" I stood up, my voice starting to crack. "After all these years, you've never given me a real identity. What AM I to you?"

Long silence on the other end.

"You're... you're very important to me. More important than anyone."

"Important enough that you're marrying someone else?"

"Marriage and feelings are two different things, Riley. I need Madison to stabilize family relations, but my heart..."

"Where IS your heart?" I cut him off. "With me? Or with that five-carat ring?"

"Riley, you have to understand my position. I'm the Brennan heir—some things are beyond my control."

"Beyond your control?" Tears spilled over again. "Were you out of control last night in my bed too?"

"That's different..."

"HOW is it different?" I was breaking down. "You made me think that day had finally come! Then the next day you publicly announce your engagement to someone else!"

"I never promised anything!" His voice turned impatient. "Riley, you need to be realistic. The gap in our social status..."

"Social status?" I was stunned. "So that's the truth? I'll never be good enough for you?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Then what DID you mean?" My voice turned ice-cold. "Make it clear, Colt. What exactly am I to you?"

He was quiet for a long time, then delivered the words that shattered me completely: "You're someone I need to protect. I have a responsibility to take care of you. That's more important than love."

Responsibility. Taking care of.

Not love.

"I don't need your responsibility." I screamed hysterically. "I need LOVE."

"Love is too much of a luxury, Riley. What we have is more solid."

"More solid?" I laughed through my tears. "Solid enough that you can kick me aside anytime to marry someone else?"

"I'm not kicking you aside! You'll always be my most important person!"

"Then what's Madison? What is she?"

"She's... she's my wife. She will be."

Wife.

Something I could never be.

"I get it now." I wiped away my tears. "You want a pet who'll never leave."

"Don't talk like that!" His voice suddenly turned stern. "Riley, you need to remember your place. Our family took you in and gave you everything."

"So I should be grateful?"

"YES." He said it like it was obvious. "Without me, you're nothing. In this city, without my permission, you couldn't even find a job."

"You think I'm scared?"

"I'm reminding you of reality. Where would you go without me? What do you HAVE?"

I looked at myself in the mirror—red, swollen eyes, disheveled hair.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe without him, I really was nothing.

But...

"I have my self-respect." My voice grew steady. "That's enough."

"Riley, don't be impulsive. We can maintain the status quo. You can still live there, I'll still take care of you..."

I said mockingly, "As your mistress?"

"Not a mistress. Family."

"Family doesn't sleep together."

"That's just... our special relationship."

Special relationship.

Not love, not friendship, not family.

A relationship that was nothing.

"Enough." I closed my eyes. "Colt, we're done."

"Done with what?"

"Everything. This shameful relationship, this twisted dependency, everything that made me lose myself."

"Are you INSANE? Riley, without me you're NOTHING!" He screamed hysterically.

"Maybe." I said calmly. "But at least I'll be myself."

"You'll regret this!"

"We'll see about that."

I hung up.

Then I opened my contacts and blocked Colt's number.