Chapter2
1376 Words
Chapter Two
Perfect Daughter
The Hastings mansion looked exactly like the kind of place people stopped to admire from outside.
Tall white walls.
Massive glass windows.
Luxury cars lined neatly in the driveway.
Everything about the house screamed wealth and perfection.
And Liora hated it even more this morning.
She walked into the dining room wearing an oversized hoodie and messy hair, clearly not in the mood for conversation. Unfortunately for her, the entire family was already seated at the table.
Including Velora.
Of course.
Velora sat beside their father with a tablet in one hand and coffee in the other, looking effortlessly put together in a cream-colored blouse and black skirt. Even at eight in the morning, she somehow looked like she belonged on the cover of a business magazine.
Liora resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
“Good morning,” Velora said softly when she noticed her.
Liora hummed in response and dropped into the empty chair across from her.
Their mother immediately frowned. “Liora, at least try to look presentable during breakfast.”
“It’s breakfast, not a board meeting.”
“That attitude is exactly the problem.”
Liora grabbed a piece of toast. “Good morning to you too, Mother.”
Their father barely looked up from his phone. “You’re late.”
“I didn’t realize attendance was compulsory.”
“It is when your family is speaking about company matters.”
There it was again.
Company matters.
That was all anyone in the Hastings family ever cared about.
Velora glanced briefly at Liora before sliding a document across the table toward their father. “The investors approved the merger proposal.”
Their father’s expression immediately softened with pride. “I knew they would. Excellent work, Velora.”
“Thank you.”
Simple.
Effortless.
Like always.
Liora chewed slowly, already losing her appetite.
“Honestly,” their mother added, “I don’t know what we’d do without you.”
Liora laughed quietly under her breath.
Nobody asked what they’d do without her.
Nobody ever did.
Their father finally turned his attention toward her. “Liora, have you finished reviewing the Davidson reports?”
“I was planning to.”
“You were planning to?” His brows pulled together. “The meeting is tomorrow.”
“I know.”
“Then why aren’t they done already?”
Before Liora could answer, Velora spoke gently. “I can help her with it later.”
And somehow, that irritated Liora even more.
She didn’t want help.
Especially not from Velora.
“I said I’ll handle it,” Liora replied sharply.
A small silence followed.
Their mother sighed tiredly. “Why must everything become difficult with you?”
Liora stared down at her plate for a moment before standing abruptly.
“I lost my appetite.”
“Liora…”
But she was already walking out of the dining room before another lecture could begin.
The sound of her heels echoed through the hallway as frustration burned inside her chest.
Every single time.
Velora breathes and suddenly she’s perfect.
Meanwhile, Liora felt like she had spent her entire life trying to prove she was enough.
And somehow still failing.
By noon, Hastings Corporation was already buzzing with activity.
Employees moved quickly through the large building carrying files, laptops, and coffee cups while assistants rushed between meetings.
Liora walked through the office lobby wearing sunglasses despite being indoors, mostly because she didn’t feel like talking to anyone today.
Unfortunately, that plan failed immediately.
“Good afternoon, Miss Hastings.”
“Morning, Miss Hastings.”
“You look beautiful today, Miss Hastings.”
Liora forced polite smiles as she continued toward the elevator.
The moment the doors opened on the executive floor, she spotted Velora speaking with two senior managers near the conference room.
And of course, everyone looked impressed by her.
Liora tried walking past unnoticed.
“Liora,” Velora called.
Too late.
She turned slowly. “Yes?”
“The Davidson files are on your desk. I organized them for you.”
Liora blinked.
“You went through my office?”
“I was only trying to help.”
“There you go again.”
The managers nearby exchanged awkward glances before quietly excusing themselves.
Velora frowned slightly once they were alone. “Why are you upset?”
“Because you always do this.”
“Do what?”
“Act like I can’t handle anything myself.”
Velora looked genuinely confused. “That’s not what I’m doing.”
“It’s exactly what you’re doing.”
“I was helping because Dad is stressed about tomorrow’s meeting.”
Liora laughed bitterly. “Right. Because God forbid I make a mistake.”
“Liora…”
“You know what’s funny?” she interrupted quietly. “Nobody expects perfection from me anyway.”
Velora’s expression softened immediately. “That’s not true.”
“It is.”
For a second, guilt flashed across Velora’s face.
And somehow that made Liora even angrier.
She didn’t want pity.
Without another word, Liora turned and walked toward her office.
The moment the door closed behind her, she exhaled heavily and dropped into her chair.
Her phone buzzed almost instantly.
Camille.
Liora answered with a sigh. “What?”
“Well, good afternoon to you too.”
“I’m working.”
“No, you’re irritated. There’s a difference.”
Liora rubbed her forehead tiredly. “What do you want?”
Camille’s voice suddenly turned teasing. “So… I did something.”
“That already sounds dangerous.”
“I found out where Liam Knight is tonight.”
Liora froze slightly.
She hated how quickly her attention sharpened at the mention of his name.
“And why exactly were you looking for him?”
“Because your ego got bruised yesterday and now I’m entertained.”
Liora rolled her eyes despite herself.
Camille continued, “There’s a private networking event tonight at the Monarch Hotel. Apparently Knight Holdings is attending.”
Liora leaned back slowly in her chair.
A networking event.
Meaning Liam would be there.
For a moment, she remembered the way he looked at her in the club.
Calm.
Unreadable.
Completely unaffected by her.
The memory annoyed her all over again.
“You’re thinking about going,” Camille said knowingly.
“No, I’m not.”
“Liar.”
Liora stared out through the glass windows of her office.
Truthfully, she didn’t even understand why she cared so much.
It wasn’t like she actually liked Liam.
She barely knew him.
But something about him refusing to fall at her feet bothered her deeply.
Maybe because everyone else did.
And Liam didn’t.
“When does it start?” she asked casually.
Camille burst into laughter. “I knew it.”
“I’m only asking.”
“Seven o’clock.”
Liora ended the call a few minutes later and tossed her phone onto the desk.
Then she looked toward the Davidson files Velora had arranged neatly for her.
Perfectly organized.
Perfectly labeled.
Perfectly Velora.
A bitter smile touched her lips.
Sometimes it felt like her sister was good at everything without even trying.
And maybe that was why Liora constantly felt like she was losing a competition nobody else seemed aware they were playing.
That evening, the Monarch Hotel glowed beneath the city lights.
Luxury cars lined the entrance while wealthy businessmen and elegantly dressed women filled the grand ballroom upstairs.
Liora stepped out of her car wearing a fitted black dress that hugged her figure perfectly.
If Liam Knight planned to ignore her again tonight, she intended to make it difficult for him.
The moment she entered the ballroom, conversations, soft music, and clinking glasses surrounded her.
Her eyes scanned the room carefully.
And then she saw him.
Standing near the bar in a dark suit once again, speaking calmly with a group of investors.
Even from across the room, he carried that same quiet confidence that irritated her.
As if sensing her stare, Liam looked up suddenly.
Their eyes met.
This time, he didn’t immediately look away.
A slow tension settled in the air between them.
Then finally, one corner of Liam’s mouth lifted slightly.
Not a smile.
But close enough.
And strangely, that tiny reaction felt like victory.
- Writer
