Chapter 2

Archer raised an eyebrow, his smirk sharpening. "Maybe it's because his fiancee refuses to come home year after year, and all it took was one word from me to bring Claire here. Must sting a little.

"You know, Blake, you might want to lower your standards a bit. We've got plenty of housekeepers around here. Pick one, and Grandpa gets to see a granddaughter-in-law every single day."

He nudged the housekeepers toward me as he spoke. Every one of them was a no-nonsense professional type, all well into their 40s. It wasn't a suggestion. It was humiliation dressed up as a joke.

The room erupted in laughter, but I was watching Claire.

She covered her mouth, laughing along, and when she spoke, she didn't even bother hiding it behind concern. "Archer's just looking out for you. Maybe you should take him up on it. I think you'd be a good match, honestly."

I looked down at the wooden box in my hands. I thought about the first time I'd seen the bracelet inside it, how thrilled I'd been, thinking she was finally picking out a gift for Grandpa, that she was finally ready to come home with me.

Now, I just felt pathetic.

I slammed the box onto the ground and said, "Claire, we're done."

Her eyes went wide and she reached for me instinctively. "Let me explain. It's not what you think."

The guests circled in, murmuring among themselves. "What's the matter with him, smashing things? He can't stand seeing his own brother do well?"

Archer scrunched his face into the wounded expression he'd perfected over the years. "Blake, even if you're jealous, you can't just humiliate my girlfriend like this in front of everyone."

"You pick on me all the time, and I deal with it, but she's right here. I'm begging you—just leave me a little dignity."

A few words, and he had me pinned under every scornful stare in the room, cast as the petty bully who couldn't stand to see his brother happy.

Claire pulled her hand back and looked at me like I was a stranger. "I didn't realize the CEO of Altius Capital was this much of a tyrant behind closed doors.

"Imagine what would happen to your stock price if this got out. I'm willing to let the bracelet thing go, but I think you owe Archer an apology."

Ever since Grandpa took him in, Archer had played every angle to turn the family against me. More than once, he'd deliberately hurt himself to make it look like I did it.

Every relative in this house believed the same story, that I bullied him and always had. And he played the victim like he was born for the part.

He'd tried it once at Claire's company, too, back when he interned there. She saw right through him that time and fired him on the spot without a shred of sympathy.

"If you think cheap tricks like these are going to drive a wedge between me and Blake, you're dreaming," she told him then. "Nothing anyone says is ever going to turn me against my fiance."

But now, she was looking at me with disgust. She believed every lie Archer had ever told her about me, completely and without question.

My fists clenched, and the words barely made it out. "You're taking his side? Claire, then what am I to you?"

She refused to meet my eyes, her tone cutting and final. "I'll say it one more time. I don't know you. Keep spreading lies about some relationship between us, and you'll be hearing from my lawyers."

Archer, seeing her rally to his defense so fiercely, grew bolder. He grabbed my hand with a look of mock sympathy.

"That's just how my girlfriend is. She won't let anyone mess with me. Don't take it personally.

"Since she's here, just apologize. Otherwise, she's not going to let this go when we leave, and that won't be fun for you."

Every word dripped with satisfaction.

My knuckles cracked as my fists tightened. I lunged forward. "Archer, drop the act. You think being a homewrecker is something to be proud of?"