Chapter 1

The day the Pierce family went bankrupt, I was the only one who stayed with Samuel Pierce.

For years, I followed him through every rough night and every setback, and I stayed with him while he clawed his way back.

But on the day he finally took back everything he'd lost, there was someone new standing beside him—his childhood sweetheart, Charlotte Quinn.

I had fought alongside him for fifteen years. Charlotte had waited for him for fifteen years.

When she found out about me, she smiled and told Samuel, "There was never any 'going through thick and thin'. She only stayed because she knew you'd make a comeback, and if you don't believe me, test her. She'd rush to marry you."

And of course, Samuel came to me. "Fifteen years by my side. Tell me what you want."

I said, "I want to leave."

He went back to her and laughed, "She's playing hard to get. She's even more calculating than I thought."

But I really did leave.

Later, Samuel turned the whole city upside down looking for me.

*****

The moment I returned from my overseas assignment, I rushed straight to Pierce Manor.

But Thomas Foster, the butler, stopped me outside the study.

I froze. "Thomas, I'm here to report to Mr. Pierce."

He gave me a strained smile. "Ms. Hawkins, Mr. Pierce said no one is allowed inside."

I blinked. "Not even me?"

"Not even you." Thomas hesitated before quickly adding, "His words, not mine."

A light, playful laugh floated out from inside the study, catching me completely off guard. My whole body stiffened.

Everyone said Samuel had a childhood sweetheart who'd waited fifteen years for him.

Was the woman inside her?

I tightened my grip on the report in my hands and turned to leave.

Then a woman's voice drifted out, bored and careless. "She's just a bodyguard. Pay her off and be done with it."

My steps stopped cold.

At least Samuel didn't agree.

"Lottie, she stayed with me for fifteen years," he said quietly.

I let out a small breath.

But Charlotte laughed, "Sam, don't tell me you actually think she stayed out of loyalty. Did it ever cross your mind that she backed you because she knew you'd rise again?"

Silence settled in the room.

I stood outside the door, hearing her continue. "Now that you're back in power, this is exactly what she's been waiting for. If you don't believe me, test her. She'd jump at the chance to marry you."

I wanted to hear the rest, but Thomas tugged at my sleeve.

"Let's go," he whispered.

And whatever came after that, I never heard.

*****

That night, Samuel came to see me.

The first thing out of his mouth was a question. "Fifteen years by my side. Tell me what you want."

My heart sank.

I had already made up my mind before he arrived.

If he acted like he used to, I would pretend I never heard that conversation outside the study.

But if he tried to test me, I would leave.

Trust didn't break when the truth came out. It broke the moment someone decided to test you.

"I don't want anything," I said.

"You sure?"

"I'm sure."

His brows drew together as he stared at me, the tip of his cigarette glowing and dimming in the dark room.

"Oh, actually, I have something in mind," I said.

His expression shifted, as if everything suddenly made sense. "Go ahead."

"I'm leaving."

Ash fell from his cigarette, silent as snow. His expression darkened even more.

I continued, "Mr. Pierce, you've taken back everything that belonged to you. You don't need my protection anymore."

I stood up. "It's time for me to go."

Beside me was a suitcase I had packed long ago—the same one I carried with me on that overseas assignment.

I never even opened it after returning. It was perfect for walking away.

Moonlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, outlining the sharp lines of his face.

He gave me a shallow smile. "If that's what you want."

He walked out before I did, never looking back.

Outside, I heard him talking to his men—voices muffled, except for one line that cut through the silence with perfect clarity.

He sneered, "She's playing hard to get. She's even more calculating than I thought."

People said that one of the most effective tricks in dealing with others was pulling back to move forward.

A common trick in dealing with people was to step back so you could move forward.

If someone owed you more than they could deliver, you asked for less—sometimes a lot less—and somehow you still came out ahead.

But that was still a game, and it only worked when both sides saw a clear benefit.

When I stayed beside Samuel at ten years old, there was no profit, no future to bet on.

But I was still the same person I had been back then.

Samuel, however, was no longer the boy who had held me in his arms and begged me to never leave him.