CHAPTER ONE
Celine Duvall
The house was too quiet for a place that once echoed with laughter. Silence had a way of lingering—thick, heavy, the kind that clung to her skin long after the funeral guests had gone home.
Celine Duvall stood by the tall windows of her bedroom, watching the city wake beneath a pale dawn. The skyline glittered like nothing had changed. Cars still moved, lights still blinked, and Duvall Industries—his empire—still rose above it all, proud and relentless.
But everything inside her had shifted.
Her husband, Nathaniel, had been gone for three years.
Three years of waking up alone. Three years of putting on her makeup like armor before stepping into a world that demanded she never falter.
_______
TWO MONTHS AGO
Dawn had walked into her office with the confidence only youth could possess.
"Mom, since I'm done with high school, I have a whole vacation planned with Nora and Nova," Dawn had said, excitement dancing in her voice.
Celine leaned back slightly in her chair.
"Okay. Go on. I'm listening," she said quietly.
Dawn had explained every detail of the trip to Paris—the places they would visit, the hotels they would stay in, the little cafés they planned to try, perfect for shopping, the art would be best for Nova and most especially its a city of love. Her enthusiasm filled the room like sunshine through glass.
When Dawn finished, Celine opened her banking app and deposited a large amount of money into her daughter's account.
"You have my permission," she said calmly.
Dawn's eyes lit up.
"But with one condition."
Dawn's smile paused.
"No alcohol. You're still young."
"Mom!" Dawn protested dramatically. "I'm nineteen. I'll be turning twenty in five months."
Celine allowed a small smile.
"Five months is still a long way, darling."
⸻
Dawn Duvall's POV
Dawn rushed upstairs afterward and immediately called Nova, her best friend since they were five years old.
"Hey bestie!" Dawn said in a playful voice as soon as the call connected. "I just spoke to my mom and it went well!"
On the other end of the phone, Nova sounded relieved.
"Yeah, I did too," she replied. "And it also went well on my end."
"Well, that's great! I'm almost done packing my things."
There was a pause.
"Well… I'm already done," Nova said. "My mom helped me pack."
Dawn laughed lightly.
"Well, cute and heartwarming."
Nova didn't respond immediately.
A strange silence followed.
Dawn imagined Nova standing there frozen like a statue of solemnity.
That's weird, she thought.
But she brushed it off.
Tomorrow was going to be the beginning of the best trip of their lives.
⸻
THE NEXT DAY
Both Nova and Dawn had a flight to catch at six in the morning.
The Duvall mansion was already alive with movement.
Dawn hurried through the hallways while Elton, the family's long-serving butler, carefully carried her luggage.
"Please be careful with that one, Elton!" Dawn called.
"Of course, Miss Dawn," he replied politely.
She quickly combed her long curly black hair, applied moisturizer, and swiped lip balm across her lips before rushing downstairs.
Her brothers were already waiting.
Rowan sat behind the wheel of the car. As the eldest, he naturally assumed leadership in everything. No one ever argued with him when he made a decision. His personality was stoic, ambitious—calculated. Since their father's death, Rowan had stepped into the role of acting CEO of the family's real-estate empire.
Asher slid into the seat beside Dawn and grinned.
"So where are you going again?" he teased. "Remind me."
Dawn rolled her eyes.
"Oh please."
"And don't forget to send me pictures," he added. "Lots of pictures."
Then he leaned closer.
"And no boys. It should only be you and Nova."
"Got it," Dawn laughed.
Minutes passed.
Julian was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Julian?" Dawn asked.
Right on cue, the front door opened.
Julian stepped in with slightly messy hair and sleepy eyes.
"Here," he said, holding out a small gift box. "Mom said I should give this to you."
"Speak of the devil," Asher muttered.
Dawn opened the box.
Inside was a pair of elegant black Prada heels.
Her eyes softened.
"Aww… she remembered."
"Can we go now?" Rowan asked calmly.
"YES," everyone answered at once.
The car pulled out of the long driveway and began heading toward the airport.
Halfway through the drive, Asher looked at Dawn.
"What about Nova? I thought she was going with you."
"She is," Dawn said. "But she's meeting me at the airport. Her parents are dropping her off."
"Ohhh," Asher nodded. "Alright then."
⸻
Nova's POV
"Nova, what are you still doing upstairs?"
Her mother's voice cut through the house like a blade.
"We have to be there before the Duvall family arrives. We cannot look like people who arrive late."
Freya Carter stood near the bottom of the stairs with crossed arms.
"Here I am, Mom," Nova said calmly as she descended the stairs. "We can go now."
She forced warmth into her voice.
She didn't want to give the impression that her mother's pressure bothered her.
Freya Carter was her mother.
At least… biologically.
Sometimes Nova wondered if that was the only connection they truly had.
"Do you want them to think we're incapable of arriving early?" Freya continued sharply. "You better listen to me today."
Nova stayed silent.
"You better behave," her mother went on. "And make sure you don't do anything to ruin Dawn's trip. Even if she is wrong and you are right—keep quiet."
Nova nodded slightly.
"Nobody wants to hear you complain. Remember, we still need privileges from the Duvall family since we have nothing."
"Yes, Mom," Nova replied quietly.
As she stepped down the last stair, she saw her father seated in the hall.
Sebastian Carter.
Her stomach tightened instantly.
"I'm ready to leave for the airport, sir," she said.
She walked toward him but stopped several feet away, lowering her head slightly.
Sebastian barely looked up from the documents in his hands.
Then he spoke.
"Make sure you don't embarrass me like you always do."
Nova's fingers tightened around the handle of her suitcase.
"Get internal information about their company," he continued coldly. "Especially the decisions Rowan is planning to make."
Nova's heart sank.
"So I can act quickly and get my hands on some of the company's assets."
He leaned back.
"Make sure this trip is worth my time."
Nova felt the words land like stones.
"No distractions. Keep your head in the game."
He looked directly at her now.
"And if you make me lose good money… you won't like what happens."
Silence filled the hall.
Nova swallowed slowly.
"Yes, Father," she said.
The words tasted bitter.
Inside, every part of her rejected the idea. Dawn was her best friend. They had grown up together, shared secrets, birthdays, laughter.
But refusing him was not an option.
She had learned that lesson long ago.
"Good," Sebastian said dismissively.
Nova turned away.
As she walked toward the door, a storm of emotions churned inside her—anger, humiliation, resentment.
Contempt.
But she kept her face blank.
Freya followed her outside.
Neither of them spoke during the drive.
⸻
At the Airport
The airport buzzed with the quiet chaos of early morning travel.
Passengers rolled suitcases across polished floors. Flight announcements echoed through the terminal.
Nova stepped out of the car slowly.
Her white suitcase followed behind her—decorated with drawings of flowers of every kind imaginable. Roses, lilies, tulips, daisies—painted in vibrant colors that made the suitcase look almost alive.
It was the only cheerful thing about her morning.
"Remember what your father said," Freya reminded her.
Nova nodded.
Then she turned toward the entrance.
And there she was.
Dawn stood near the check-in counters, waving both arms wildly.
"NOOOOVA!"
Her bright smile was impossible to miss.
For a moment, Nova simply stared.
Dawn looked genuinely happy.
Excited.
Free.
Nova felt a painful twist in her chest.
All I wanted was to enjoy this trip.
But her family had already turned it into something else.
Another mission.
Another transaction.
Another attempt to claw their way back into elite society.
Nova forced a smile onto her face.
Then she waved back.
Dragging her flower-covered suitcase behind her, she walked toward Dawn.
And as Dawn pulled her into an excited hug, Nova made a silent promise to herself.
Maybe… just maybe… I'll still find a way to enjoy this trip.
Even if the world around her refused to let her.