Would Lucian Fall for Her?

Julian looked no closer to an answer.

He frowned at Pearl.

“Have you offended someone?”

Before she could speak, Vivian came to her defense.

“She’s only just returned to the country. Who could she have offended? This must be one of Stella’s enemies. Someone who can’t stand seeing our family do well, taking it out on my daughter.”

“Exactly.” Pearl sounded resentful. “It’s all that bastard’s fault. When she comes back, I’m making her kneel in front of me and beg my forgiveness.”

If I ever came back, the first thing I’d do was break her legs.

“Enough, sweetheart. Don’t be upset.” Vivian had already planned her daughter’s next move. “There’s an official charity gala tonight. All the important families in Fairhaven will be there. Dress nicely and go with your brother. Meet people. Especially those young men from the really powerful families.”

Only then did Pearl smile again.

Determined to outshine everyone at the gala, she had a full series of beauty treatments.

From her hair to her toenails, every inch was polished to perfection.

“Mom, which dress should I wear?”

She was agonizing over several extravagant gowns when Vivian came downstairs carrying a rose gown.

“Sweetheart, do you like this one?”

I recognized it immediately.

My dress.

Pearl’s eyes shone.

“It’s beautiful.”

Of course it was.

I had designed it myself, for the day Julian and I held our formal wedding celebration.

“Mom, that’s Stella’s dress. Should Pearl really be wearing it?”

For once, Julian said something decent.

Vivian snorted.

“It’s a dress. Everything she has belongs to this family anyway.”

He drew his mother aside and lowered his voice, looking uneasy.

“Letting Pearl wear a dead woman’s dress… Couldn’t that attract something?”

I laughed bitterly.

So much for decency.

He was afraid of being haunted.

Vivian didn’t care.

“What is there to fear? So what if she wears Stella’s dress? Even if the girl’s ghost comes back, what could it do? We’d keep her under our feet just as we always have.”

I looked down at my useless spirit form.

Anger mixed with grief.

I was dead.

And I really couldn’t do anything to them.

Pearl adored the rose gown. She hurried to put it on, then preened in front of the mirror like a peacock displaying its feathers.

Her figure was similar to mine, but her features were too delicate to carry the vivid drama of the roses.

She couldn’t do the dress justice.

Julian came over and seemed momentarily distracted by the reflection.

Then his gaze shifted to her face.

To the dark red beauty mark beneath her left eye.

I knew he was remembering me.

He knew she wore my skin.

That the mark was mine too.

There was actually a trace of longing in his eyes.

As though he missed me. As though he regretted letting me go.

It made me feel filthy just to see it.

“Mom, if Lucian sees me dressed like this, do you think he’ll fall for me?”

Pearl linked arms with Vivian and asked excitedly.

She was still dreaming about him.

His looks and his position were exceptional. Despite his reputation, there was never a shortage of women willing to throw themselves at him.

“Of course.” Vivian stroked her daughter’s flawless face proudly. “However difficult he is, he’s still a man. With a daughter as beautiful as mine, it’s only a matter of time. Unlike that idiot Stella.”

The moment she said my name, her expression changed.