The icy winter air cut through my lungs like a blade.


    As if I were a hunted prey, about to be devoured by my own hunter. My head was pounding. In moments like these, memories dissolve, thoughts shut down, and only survival remains.


    I barely opened my eyes. Snowflakes, large and heavy, fell onto me. I tried to lift my head, but my entire body felt like lead. And then I felt it. A red, piercing gaze that drilled a hole into my memory.


    The snow swirled around me, and then… that thing moved. It lunged toward me in an instant.


    Shit!


    I gasped and let out a scream as the crystal glass beside me shattered into pieces.


    — Come on, Lucy! — my friend, Ellie, clutched her chest, glaring at me. — You scared the hell out of me!


    I was still trying to steady my breath, pressing a hand against my forehead.


    — I swear, it felt like a vision. It was so real…


    My eyes flickered to the remains of the glass. Ice-blue shards lay scattered across the marble floor.


    — Or maybe, — Ellie raised an eyebrow — you just haven’t been sleeping again, and you dozed off while I was talking to you.


    I smirked.


    — Oh, right. Totally not the horror movies you’ve all been forcing on me lately…


    — Oh, don’t be such a delicate soul! — Mary chimed in, fixing her lipstick in the massive, gold-framed mirror.


    I rolled my eyes.


    — Hilda, please clean this up.


    My housekeeper stepped forward wordlessly and got to work.


    — I think the nonstop partying is to blame, — Ellie crossed her arms.


    — I don’t even remember the last time I had a proper night’s sleep… — I sighed.


    — Well, you won’t get one tonight either! — Mary grinned, tucking her red lipstick back into her purse.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    — Thank God three hours of sleep is enough to enjoy the finer things in life. — I adjusted my hair and got up from the bed.


    — Thanks for staying over, girls. See you tonight at the usual place!


    They were the best. Not because of my name, not because of my wealth, but because of me. Money makes life easier, but it doesn’t make it perfect. And no amount of money could have bought the friendship we had since childhood.


    — I assume Scott and Dave are coming with us? — Ellie asked.


    — No… Dave will be spending the night with Lucy’s thighs instead! — Mary smirked and winked.


    I raised an eyebrow but then burst into laughter.


    — Ohhh, honestly, I’d rather be spending the night with his thighs… — Mary sighed, gazing out the huge window.


    Outside, my uncle was walking one of his business partners to the car. Our estate was massive, swarming with security. My uncle was obsessed with keeping me— and his carefully built empire— safe at all costs.


    — Oh, come on, Mary, stop messing around! — Ellie scolded, but then hesitated. — Although… I kind of get it.


    The two of them were practically glued to the window like two love-struck flowers. Understandable. My uncle was a handsome, refined man. The kind that made women turn their heads.


    But they didn’t know what I knew.


    His heart was full of love, and he gave me everything I ever wanted… but he wasn’t a saint. No one in our family was. We didn’t consider ourselves ruthless or criminals, but over the years, we had learned how to seize every… not-so-legal opportunity to build a seemingly clean fortune.


    — Alright, if you two are done drooling over my uncle, can we move on with the day?


    — Is this your fancy way of telling us to get lost? — Ellie laughed.


    — You can stay if you manage to peel yourselves off the window.


    — Alright, alright! See you tonight!


    They giggled as they left the room, their laughter echoing in the hallway. I, however, turned back to the window. My uncle’s guest was driving away in a convoy of cars. Something about it caught my attention.


    As I adjusted my hair in the mirror, the door creaked open.


    — I see you had fun last night. — The man entered with a faint smile and settled into one of the leather armchairs.


    — Same plans for tonight?


    — I love when you answer your own questions, Uncle. — I grinned.


    The housekeeper entered.


    — Lunch is ready. The dining room is prepared.


    — Will you join me? — he asked.


    — Of course. — I nodded.


    At the table, as we ate, he looked up at me.


    — How’s business?


    By “business,” he meant the real estate company he had set up mainly for money laundering— and put me in charge of.


    — Everything’s going smoothly.


    After a moment of silence, I smiled.


    — But tonight, I want to celebrate something else. My interior design firm just got approved.


    My uncle nodded, genuinely pleased.


    — I’m happy for you. Interesting direction…


    I saw the pride in his eyes. I had always seen him as a father figure. He had always supported my ambitions.


    But I knew what was coming.


    — I just hope it won’t distract you too much… You know, if duty calls…


    The air froze around me.


    My fingers tightened around the fork, as if I wanted to strangle the only piece of cutlery in my hand.


    He knew I didn’t want this.


    He knew this wasn’t my life.


    And yet, in our family, no one could escape their inheritance.