Chapter 1

Rowan's POV

The air went still.

Damian instinctively moved Serena behind him and hurriedly straightened the collar their kiss had left twisted.

My nails dug into my palms.

"Rowan, listen to me..."

He stepped forward, shielding Serena with his body. "This was my fault. I lost control. Blame me, not Rena."

I gave a quiet laugh. "Rena?"

His throat worked as his gaze slipped away, guilt flashing in his eyes. "Don't do this. Serena is... she's genuinely a good person. She's smart, hardworking, and has earned everything herself. Whatever happened between our parents wasn't her fault. Don't judge her for it."

"Judge her?"

I bit my lower lip until I tasted blood. "Damian, have you forgotten what you said?"

One month earlier, on the day Serena transferred to Ashmere University, Damian had draped an arm around my shoulders and scoffed. "Your father's illegitimate daughter? Incredible. Don't worry. I avoid people like that on sight. I won't even look at her."

He had lowered his head and brushed his cheek against my hair. "You're the only one in my heart. No one can take me from you."

Later, when Serena tried to sit with us for a group assignment, Damian immediately gathered his books and moved to the back row.

He wouldn't touch the papers she offered him. He pushed them back with the cap of his pen and whispered to me, "Stay away from her. Trouble follows people like that."

Back then, I had tightened my hold on his hand and felt completely secure.

Only thirty days later, Serena had become "a genuinely good person."

My eyes burned. I tipped my head back and forced the tears down.

"Damian."

I stared at him, my nails cutting deeper into my skin. "Her mother had an affair with my father and helped destroy my mother. Now you're protecting her?"

Damian froze for a beat, then frowned. "Rowan, stop being unreasonable. This is different."

"Different?"

A laugh escaped me even as the tears fell.

I raised my hand and slapped Serena across the face. The crack rang through the room.

Her head snapped to the side, but she said nothing.

Damian's eyes reddened. He seized my wrist. "Rowan Hawke, have you lost your mind?"

I twisted free and slapped him too. "And what about you? You're helping the other woman's daughter humiliate me."

He didn't dodge. Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth, and his gaze turned cold.

He released me, stepped back, and laughed through clenched teeth.

"Rowan, your father is arranging a business marriage. He has only two daughters to offer: you and Serena."

He wiped the blood from his lip and sneered. "The man is fifty-two. Marry him and you'll spend your life trapped with someone old enough to be your father. Keep acting like this, and I'll cancel our engagement right now and marry Serena instead."

The pressure around my wrist vanished.

I looked at his reddened eyes, and every bit of strength drained from my body.

"Cancel it."

His pupils tightened. "What did you say?"

My mouth curved into a bitter smile. "You think threatening to marry her will frighten me?"

I wiped my face. "Wonderful. Now I don't have to end the engagement myself."

His lips parted, but Serena lightly tugged his sleeve from behind him.

He immediately turned his head and murmured, "Don't be afraid."

I backed up until the doorframe pressed into my shoulders. "Protect her all you like from now on."

Then I turned and left.

As the door closed, I heard Serena say softly, "My sister is angry."

Damian answered, "This isn't your fault. I handled it badly."

I leaned against the hallway wall, and the tears finally fell.