Chapter 2 Arrived At The Moore Estate

Three days later, a sleek black Rolls-Royce glided to a stop outside the Wilson estate, its glossy exterior glinting in the morning sun.

Marissa eyed the only car sent by the Moore family and sneered with a biting remark, "Someone might be marrying into Ariosa's wealthiest clan, but trash will always be trash."

Craving the sight of Nicole's letdown, Marissa didn't hesitate to barge inside the dressing room.

Inside, Nicole stood by the window in a simple white gown, the fabric unadorned but immaculately cut. The dress, though modest, only heightened her quiet allure. A gentle breeze caught a strand of Nicole's loose hair, making her seem ethereal, almost untouchable.

Her tall, graceful figure was impossible to ignore-tender skin aglow in the soft light, every curve hinting at effortless confidence. Nicole's delicate features-eyes serene, lips pressed in quiet determination-were the kind that made people stop and stare.

A flash of jealousy darkened Marissa's gaze, but she smothered it beneath a brittle, mocking smile.

Marissa dismissed Nicole's beauty with a cold glare. None of it would matter once Nicole was shackled to a dying man, trapped in a marriage that would drain every ounce of hope from her.

"Nicole, you're so kind-sacrificing yourself for me," Marissa cooed, her tone syrupy sweet. "Don't worry, once I marry into a powerful family, I'll make sure you are supported."

Nicole didn't spare Marissa a single glance, unwilling to disgust herself.

Marissa's lips curled in silent outrage, jaw tight as she fought not to explode.

"Hurry up already. The Moore family's car is waiting-unless you'd rather lose your big chance?" Cathy flicked Nicole a frosty, contemptuous stare.

Nicole had always been the unwanted daughter, dragged back from the sticks only because her looks were useful. If not for that, Cathy would've thrown her out years ago.

"I want my shares in three days," Nicole stated, her voice cutting through the tension. "If you don't deliver, you'll regret it."

With zero faith left in her so-called family, Nicole let her ultimatum hang in the air and slid into the waiting Moore family car without looking back.

...

Looming on the horizon was the impressive Moore family estate. No opulent ceremony awaited Nicole's arrival. The car pulled up to the villa's entrance and drove off. A stoic butler stood at the door to receive her, his expression unreadable.

He escorted her down a long, echoing hallway lined with cold marble and austere portraits before stopping at a guest room. "Please wait here, Ms. Wilson. Let us know if you require anything," he said politely.

Nicole gave a nod, her composure unshaken. "Alright."

She sank onto the supple leather sofa. She drummed her fingers along the armrest, lost in a tangle of plans.

A sudden, almost imperceptible rustle broke the silence-a sound that prickled the hairs on her neck. Tension coiled through her body. She twisted around, heart pounding, and her gaze locked onto an enormous arctic wolf charging straight at her, its pale fur a blur, jaws parted in a silent snarl.

The wolf's feral eyes pinned her like prey, hunger and malice gleaming in their depths. It leapt, claws splayed and teeth bared for her throat.

Instinct took over. Nicole's eyes narrowed to icy slits. She dodged sideways in a flash, the wolf's claws grazing the cushion where she'd just been. Landing lightly, she rose, her entire body coiled and poised, her stare as glacial and unforgiving as winter steel.

The wolf spun, frustration warping its snarl. Its lips curled back to reveal dagger-like teeth, a rumbling growl echoing from deep in its chest.

With a savage, desperate force, the wolf lunged again, twice as fast and twice as reckless.

Nicole didn't budge. She braced herself, timing her move to the heartbeat.

The instant the wolf sprang, she snatched its head in both hands, twisting with fluid precision. Using its own momentum, she slammed the wolf down, pinning it beneath her knee. One hand clamped the writhing head, the other braced against its snarling jaws. Her eyes burned, cold and defiant, more untamed than the wild animal beneath her.

With a swift, practiced flick, she pulled out a gleaming silver needle, plunging it precisely into a nerve just behind the wolf's ear.

A guttural, wounded yelp tore from the wolf's throat as its body buckled, all ferocity draining away in seconds.

Nicole didn't hesitate-her hand darted for a second needle, movements fluid and deliberate, every muscle coiled to end the threat for good.

"That's enough." A sudden voice, smooth and magnetic, broke through the charged silence. His words cracked like a whip, edged with authority that brooked no defiance.

Shadows had crept into the room while Nicole was locked in combat, cloaking everything in a dusky gloom.

A tall, impeccably dressed man emerged from the doorway, silhouette framed by the last shards of light outside.

He clapped his hands once-sharp, decisive-and the overhead lights snapped on, scattering the darkness in an instant.

Nicole's gaze snapped up, meeting the cold, handsome face of the stranger. His lips were drawn into a thin line, and his sharp, dark eyes locked onto her without blinking.

He loomed over her, surveying her with the air of a detective who already knew too much.

A flicker of panic raced through Nicole's chest. Had her identity as a replacement been discovered already?