Chapter 1

When Edward Hawthorne bought the villa for me, he let out a casual sigh. "You and Rose have the same taste. She likes the modern style too."

He picked up a goblet from the kitchen island and leaned leisurely against the custom sofa, savoring the memory.

Once upon a time, this villa was supposed to be our love nest. Instead, it had become the place where he and Rose Nolan rekindled their old romance.

He flashed a teasing smile. "To be honest, Rose is way more captivating than you. She's got the body and the voice, and she's far more uninhibited."

He hooked his arm around my waist, completely ignoring my simmering rage.

"It's been ten years. Can't you get over her?" I asked.

He looked me in the eyes and said, "I'm still going to marry you, of course. You are the virtuous one, after all. It's just that... girls like her are simply more captivating. They have that extra spark."

He laughed with reckless abandon. "Don't look so miserable. If it bothers you that I have someone else in my heart, I'll find a way to call off the merger between our families."

I pressed my lips together, humiliated. I had chased him for years, only to realize I was nothing more than a back-up plan.

*****

Edward smiled teasingly as he glanced at the portrait hanging in the living room. It was a photo of Rose, his childhood sweetheart.

"I didn't pick up your calls during my last birthday party because I didn't want Rose to get jealous," he said. "The thought of you marrying me always makes her clingy. She insisted we make a night of it."

He stared at me, his tone casual.

I stood there, my eyes stinging with tears.

During my years abroad, I had always prepared his birthday gifts in advance. Even after my family fell from grace, I still picked out the priciest watches for him.

That year, I had flown back specifically for his birthday. I waited all night, but he never got back to me.

It was his childhood friend who told me he was with Rose. They hooked up and couldn't keep their hands off each other.

Reflecting on it now, Edward seemed to still be savoring the memory. "I didn't expect you to fly all the way back.

"But Rose's got moves you just can't compete with. You know she's a dancer. Her figure and complexion are on a whole other level compared to yours. Sometimes, I just can't get enough."

My fingers wouldn't stop shaking. "Didn't you promise your grandfather you'd only ever love me?"

Edward gave me a quiet look. His words were cold. "Vivian, ever since your family went under, you've changed. You don't have that charm you used to have as a socialite, and you've really let yourself go."

He looked up at me, his tone matter-of-fact. "You know how it is. Men are visual creatures. A woman like Rose is hardly anyone who could say no to. Even back in your prime, you couldn't hold a candle to her."

He let out a sigh and gave a mocking chuckle. "What? Are you mad?"

He strolled over nonchalantly and took my hand. "But isn't your love for me just because I'm the heir to the Hawthorne fortune? If your family hadn't hit rock bottom, I bet you'd have just as many flings as I do."

I turned deathly pale, struggling to catch my breath. A chill swept through my entire body.

We had spent ten years together, growing from teenagers into adults. He used to look at me with such tenderness. For a moment, I actually thought I had finally come out on top over Rose.

Just as I was about to speak, Rose called him.

"Edward, I want a villa too," Rose pouted. "Why does that bitch get one and not me? Don't you love me anymore?"

Edward laughed, humoring her. "Careful now, my wife might get angry."

A sharp sneer came from the other end. "Wife? You mean that bitter woman living in a loveless marriage?

"Once you tie the knot, I'm going to drag you over here every night. We'll paint the town red while she's left all alone in that empty house."

Edward didn't disagree. He just chuckled and called her a "naughty girl."

After hanging up, he asked me calmly, "So, what's it going to be? You know I'm not changing my ways, but I won't leave you high and dry, either."

He pulled a credit card and the property deed from his bag. "The money, the house, the stocks, they're all yours. You just stay out of my business with her."

The rage I'd been suppressing finally boiled over. I grabbed a glass from the table and smashed it onto the floor. Like a woman possessed, I began shattering every ornament in sight.

The scene felt like déjà vu, pulling me back to the moment years ago when the Hawthornes almost went belly up.

Fifteen years ago, the Sterling family was in its prime, while the Hawthornes were facing total ruin. Their capital chain had snapped, and creditors were breathing down their necks.

Back then, seeing how sharp they were, my grandfather decided to lend a helping hand. That was the only reason the Hawthorne family managed to pull through.

After that, the relationship between our families really started to heat up. The Hawthornes were always over at our place, and Edward and I naturally grew close.