The Heiress They Tried To Bury

Breakfast Trap

I smoothed down the skirt of my pale blue dress, took a deep breath, and turned the doorknob. The grand staircase seemed longer than usual, each step down leading me closer to the den of the people who had murdered me.

As I walked into the sunlit breakfast room, the smell of fresh coffee and toasted bread filled the air. Celeste was sitting at the round marble table, scrolling through her phone. When she heard my footsteps, she looked up, her face bright with a radiant smile.

"There you are!" Celeste gasped, clapping her hands together. "Look at the sideboard, Sera. Roman had the florist deliver those lilies. He remembered they’re your favorite."

I looked at the massive bouquet of white lilies. In my past life, I thought it was romantic. Now, I just remembered that lilies were the flowers people brought to funerals. How fitting.

"They're beautiful," I said, forcing my lips to curve into a bright, joyful smile. "Roman is always so thoughtful."

"He really is," Celeste said, her eyes tracking me as I poured myself a cup of black coffee. "You look a bit pale today, Sera. Did you sleep poorly? Your engagement gala is next week. You need to look perfect."

"Just a silly nightmare," I replied, sitting down across from her. I took a slow sip of the coffee, letting the bitter taste steady my nerves. "But I'm completely fine now. Just excited."

"You should be," Celeste said, though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "By the way, Father mentioned something last night before he left for his business trip. He said he’s announcing your new position at the Valecrest Group during the gala. Is that true?"

Ah. There it was. The first drop of venom.

"Oh, did he?" I asked, playing innocent. "Father keeps so many secrets about the company. He did mention he wanted me to start taking on more responsibility."

Celeste’s fingers tightened around her phone. "A Director position, Sera. That’s a huge jump. You’ve only been working in the charity department. Don't you think it’s a bit... much for you? The stress might be bad for your health."

"I think I can handle it, Celeste," I said sweetly. "Father believes I'm ready, and I want to make him proud."

"Of course you do," Celeste muttered, her voice dropping a fraction of an octave before she forced her cheerful tone back. "I just worry about you. I wouldn't want you to fail in front of all of our high-society guests."

Before I could answer, the heavy double doors of the breakfast room opened. Martha stepped in, followed closely by Roman.

He looked exactly as he had five years ago—handsome, polished, and wearing a tailored grey suit that made him look every bit the successful young businessman. When his dark eyes found me, a warm, affectionate smile broke across his face.

"Good morning, my beautiful fiancee," Roman said, his voice smooth like velvet.

I felt a violent jolt of disgust in my stomach. My muscles tensed, wanting nothing more than to grab the hot coffee pot and throw it directly into his lying face. But I forced my hands to stay loose. I forced my eyes to widen with adoration.

"Roman!" I chirped, standing up to greet him. "You’re early."

"I couldn't wait to see you," he murmured, walking over to me. He reached out, taking my right hand in his. He bowed his head, his warm lips brushing against the skin of my knuckles.

A wave of pure nausea rolled through me. His skin felt like a snake sliding across mine. I wanted to scream, to yank my hand back and scrub it with boiling water. But I held my breath, keeping my smile firmly locked in place.

"The lilies are gorgeous," I whispered, pulling my hand away gently to gesture toward the sideboard, pretending to be shy. "Thank you."

"Only the best for you, darling," Roman said, turning to nod at Celeste. "Morning, Celeste."

"Morning, Roman," Celeste said, her voice a little too bright, her eyes lingering on his face just a second too long. "I was just telling Sera how lucky she is."

"I'm the lucky one," Roman said, pulling out a chair next to me and sitting down. He looked at my plate. "You haven't eaten anything, Sera. You need to keep your strength up."

"I wasn't very hungry," I said, pouring him a cup of coffee. "So, what did you want to discuss about the catering for the gala?"

"The French menu," Roman said, leaning in. "I think we should go with the truffle steak. It sends the right message to the board members who will be attending. Don't you agree?"

"Whatever you think is best, Roman," I said, watching him carefully.

In the past, I thought this meant he cared about the details of our future. Now, I saw it for what it really was. He was already trying to impress the board of *my* father's company. He was already planting his flags on my territory.

"Perfect," Roman smiled, reaching over to pat my hand. "I knew we’d see eye to eye. We always do."

"Yes," I said, staring at his hand on mine. "We always do."

"You two are just sickeningly sweet," Celeste laughed, though the sound was hollow. She stood up from the table, smoothing her skirt. "Actually, Sera, that reminds me. I have a little surprise for you to help with your stress and your pale skin."

I looked up at my sister. "A surprise?"

"Yes," Celeste smiled, walking over to the kitchen counter and picking up a beautiful, small tin container with silver floral patterns. "I went to that boutique tea shop downtown yesterday. The one that imports rare herbs from Asia. I bought you a special blend of white tea."

My heart stopped.

The silver tin. The floral pattern.

In my past life, three years into my marriage with Roman, I started getting terribly sick. I had constant migraines, stomach pains, and chronic fatigue. The doctors could never find the cause. Celeste used to visit me every single week, bringing me a freshly brewed cup of a special, rare tea she said would help me sleep.

I drank it for two years. I drank it right up until the day they stole my estate and ran my car off the cliff.

"It’s supposed to improve your immune system and clear your mind," Celeste said, walking back to the table and placing the silver tin right in front of my saucer. She leaned down, her face close to mine, her eyes gleaming with a strange, dark affection. "I want you to start drinking it every single morning, Sera. I made sure to buy a whole year's supply just for you."