Broad-shouldered and long-legged, he stood tall and straight, exuding an


    effortless authority. Every movement radiated a quiet intensity, like a sword still sheathed-dangerous and untouchable.


    Ste''s eyes flickered with recognition.


    Sellers.


    The man Mr. Burton had introduced as her potential match—and the future head of the Burton family.


    He certainly looked the part: imposing,manding, with a presence that filled the room.


    Ste offered him a polite nod, but made no move to greet him further.


    Maybe Sellers had never seen her photo. To initiate conversation out of the blue would feel far too forward.


    She was about to slip away when his voice stopped her.


    "Ste."


    Her steps faltered. She looked up, meeting his gaze.


    "You know me?"


    Sherman looked down at her, lips barely moving as he spoke.


    "Ste. Ex-wife of Haynes. Mother of Keen O''Brien. Daughter of Skyler."


    Ste''s expression softened as she studied the man in front of her.


    Somehow, an old memory-one she thought she''d long forgotten-floated up from the depths of her mind.


    Back then, when Sherman had deliberately sought her out, he''d briefly mentioned his family.


    He''d told her the person he admired most was his uncle.


    In Sherman''s words, his uncle could do just about anything. Sherman''s dream, back then, was to be a racecar driver.


    It was his uncle who taught him everything he knew about cars.


    Once, almost offhandedly, Sherman hadmented that he thought his uncle and Aurora would make a perfect match.


    When Ste asked why, Sherman dodged the question and, instead, invited her out to try racing.


    Ste had never been interested in racing. She didn''t even know how to drive fast.


    But Sherman kept urging her, insisting she try something new, promising he''d teach her himself.


    Caught off guard by his enthusiasm, Ste eventually agreed.


    From then on, Sherman often brought Ste along when he went racing with his friends.


    At first, her poor driving was met with endless ridicule from his circle.


    Sherman always scolded his friends for their jokes, but he couldn''t silence them


    all.


    In front of Sherman, they''d hold their


    tongues. But the moment he wasn''t around, the mocking only got worse. t belongs to sw


    She remembered someone


    sneering, "Why is Sherman hanging around with such a delicate woman? Can''t even drive-what a disgrace! If I were her, I''d have died of


    embarrassment by now."


    Back then, Ste genuinely considered Sherman a friend.


    She didn''t want him to be ridiculed because of her, so she signed up for a driving


    course.


    The track belonged to the same club where Sherman and his friends raced, so she inevitably ran into them.


    Each time, they''d taunt her,paring her to Aurora, or goading her into races.


    She was just a beginner; of course she lost, every single time.


    Theirughter only grew louder.


    In those moments, they seemed to forget they were beating someone who''d only just started.


    But about six monthster, theughter faded.


    Eventually, not a single one of them dared mock her again.


    Sherman had noticed her efforts and invited


    racing event-he''d even signee


    raciner to enter an amateur


    up himself.


    He told her Aurora would be racing, too.


    By then, Sherman had fallen out with Aurora, vowing that together, he and Ste


    would beat her.


    Ste didn''t refuse.


    She had no interest inpeting with Aurora for victory or defeat.


    But she understood: friendship deepened when you shared the same passions, spoke the samenguage.


    And yet...