"One billion dollars. And I want it in writing that I'm no longer a Vaughn." My mother's champagne flute froze halfway to her lips. My father's face turned the color of old meat. And my sister Mira—perfect, golden Mira—looked at me like I'd just sprouted a second head. "Elara, don't be ridiculous," Mom said, recovering first. She always did. "This is a family matter. We don't discuss money like some sort of... transaction." I laughed. Actually laughed. "That's exactly what this is, Mother. A transaction. You want me to marry Cassian Blackwood to save Mira's engagement to the Hale family. I'm setting my price." The dining room felt smaller suddenly. The crystal chandelier above us seemed to dim, like even it couldn't bear to witness this conversation. Dad slammed his hand on the mahogany table. "You ungrateful—" "Ungrateful?" I cut him off, my voice steady despite the rage burning through my veins. "You're asking me to marry a man you've called a monster for twenty years. A man whose family destroyed three companies last quarter alone. And you think I should do it out of the goodness of my heart?" Mira's eyes were wide, filling with those perfect tears she could summon on command. "Elara, please. If the Hales find out about... about what happened, they'll cancel everything. The merger, the wedding, everything Dad's worked for—" "What you did, you mean," I said softly. She flinched. Good. "The Blackwoods are willing to take you," Dad said, his voice tight. "They need a Vaughn daughter for their own merger. It's you or nothing. Mira is already promised to Rowan Hale." Rowan. Just hearing his name felt like swallowing glass. "Then it's me," I said. "For one billion dollars and complete legal separation from this family. I want my name removed from every document, every trust, every mention. As far as the world is concerned, I was never a Vaughn." "You're insane," Mira whispered. Maybe I was. Two weeks ago, I would have married Cassian Blackwood for free if it meant helping my family. Two weeks ago, I still believed in things like loyalty and love and the goodness of the people who shared my blood. Two weeks ago, I hadn't been tied to a chair in an abandoned warehouse while my own sister watched. "Do we have a deal?" I asked. My parents exchanged a look. The kind of look that said they were calculating, weighing options, deciding if I was worth a billion dollars. I already knew the answer. "Fine," Dad finally said. "But you sign the marriage contract first. The money comes after." "No." I stood up, smoothing down my black dress. "The money transfers the moment I sign. And I want Marcus Chen as my lawyer to review everything. Not your people. Mine." "You don't have people," Mom said coldly. "I do now." I walked toward the door, each step feeling like shedding skin. "Elara, wait," Mira called out. Her voice was small, frightened. "I'm sorry. For everything. I never meant—" I turned back to look at her. Really look at her. She was beautiful. She'd always been beautiful. Golden hair that caught the light, blue eyes that seemed to hold innocence itself, a smile that made people want to protect her. I used to love her. "Save it for someone who still believes you," I said. Then I walked out of the Vaughn mansion for what I hoped would be the last time. My phone buzzed in my clutch. Unknown number. *The car is waiting outside. We have much to discuss, Miss Vaughn. - C.B.* Cassian Blackwood. My future husband. The man everyone feared. I looked back at the mansion one more time. Through the window, I could see my family still sitting at that table, probably already planning how to spend my sacrifice. They had no idea what I was planning. Neither did Cassian Blackwood. I got into the black Mercedes waiting at the curb. The driver didn't speak, just pulled away from the only home I'd ever known. My phone buzzed again. This time, it was a news alert. *BREAKING: Rowan Hale Announces Engagement to Mira Vaughn. "She's Everything I've Ever Wanted," Says Billionaire Heir.* I deleted it without reading more. Rowan Hale had made his choice two weeks ago when he looked at my bruised face and called me a liar. Now I was making mine. The car drove through the city, heading toward the Blackwood estate on the outskirts. Toward a man I'd never met. Toward a marriage that was supposed to destroy me. They were all about to learn something important. I was done being the expendable daughter. And I was very, very good at playing dead until it was time to strike. ---