Chapter 1

As the boss, I stood alone on stage at the Crown Night Club's anniversary celebration in Ravenport.

Damian Wolfe, the Wolfe Clan's heir and my boyfriend of six years, suddenly strode in, arm in arm with a girl dressed in a white gown.

She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and then deliberately loosened the clasp on her wristlet, letting the black card peek halfway out.

My name was embossed right there on the card.

The whole room fell silent. Everyone watched me, waiting for me to explode, to embarrass myself, or maybe to swallow my pride like I had for the past six years, all for Damian's so-called greater good.

In their clan, human partners were always treated as less than.

Damian walked up the steps and said Maggie had just come back and didn't know the rules. He hoped that I wouldn't take it to heart.

He forgot that the black card was linked to the inheritance my mother left me.

Six years ago, I gave it to him so his clan wouldn't look down on him.

Now, six years later, he used it to keep another woman.

I called security and froze all his family's privileges right there in front of everyone.

Because three days ago, I'd already submitted a new engagement application.

It wasn't for Damian. It was for someone Damian would have to bow to whenever he saw their name in the clan records.

*****

Ten minutes earlier, Maggie Reed was standing by the champagne tower, smiling as she asked, "Vivian, which suite does Damian usually stay in? He told me I could use it whenever I wanted."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for the ladies nearby to catch every word.

Some of them snickered, while others idly flipped through the notes in my hands, all waiting to see if I'd swallow the embarrassment like I always did.

Damian only stood there, letting it happen.

He even helped Maggie fix her white shawl.

I put down my notes and hit the intercom button.

In no time, a dozen bodyguards in black suits swarmed around Damian and Maggie.

The champagne tower shimmered with gold in the night, and Damian stood at the center of the crowd, his voice lowered.

"Vivian, are you done causing a scene? Maggie just got back. She's trying to experience things. I don't care how assertive you are at work, but tonight, you need to show some respect for the Wolfe Clan."

I stared at him, and suddenly, his tone from every time he told me to endure it over the past six years echoed in my mind.

Six years ago, when Crown Night Club was starting to make a name for itself in Ravenport, the Wolfe Clan had its hands on half the power in the city's elite circles.

Damian promised me that as long as I stuck by him, he'd make the whole Wolfe Clan recognize me as one of their own.

So I paid off his debts, covered for him when things got awkward, and picked up the pieces after every family event.

I even handed him the black card tied to my mother's inheritance.

I used to think I was fighting alongside him and helping him build his future.

But in the end, I realized I was bankrolling his betrayal.

I tossed my phone straight into the ice bucket beside me.

My phone's screen was still lit up, displaying the threatening message Damian had sent me.

I told the manager, "Bring me the microphone."

I stood high above on the stage, surveying the guests below.

I spoke up, "Ladies and gentlemen, from this moment forward, Crown Night Club is officially freezing all VIP privileges for the Wolfe Clan. That includes luxury suites, exclusive car service, and unlimited spending privileges."

A low murmur rippled through the crowd.

Maggie's eyes suddenly reddened, but she clutched her wristlet even tighter.

She tilted her chin up, her voice carefully controlled—loud enough for the people around to catch every word.

She said, "Vivian, I'm sorry. I didn't realize the card was so important to you. Damian said you two have been together for six years, and you're family. I thought... you'd see me as family, too."

Damian bent down, shielding her protectively in his embrace, his eyes locked on me over the shoulders of the bodyguards.

He snapped, "Vivian, don't forget without the Wolfe Clan's connections, Crown Night Club wouldn't be where it is today. What you're doing now is ruining your own future."

"My future is never about relying on the Wolfe Clan's charity," I shot back.

I turned to my assistant, Joe. "Announce the charges."

Joe swiped across the tablet.

The massive LED screen began to flash with a dense stream of records.

Joe said, "Over the past three days, Maggie has used Ms. Vivian Lane's black card to spend a total of 500,000 dollars.

"That includes tonight's white dress, two sets of jewelry, the penthouse suite's flower arrangements, and a bill marked 'styling design for Wolfe Clan heir's lady'."

All eyes were on Maggie.

She gripped her wristlet tighter and buried herself in Damian's arms.

I spoke into the microphone, "Damian, you've always treated everything that's mine as if it belonged to you.

"But starting today, you need to learn that not everything is yours."

Damian rushed onto the stage, furious and completely losing his cool.

A black Maybach pulled up at the club entrance.

The door swung open, and Charles Peyton stepped out in a perfectly tailored black suit.

Without stopping, he walked right up to me and took the microphone from my hand.

"My fiancée, have you finished clearing the place?" Charles said.

His voice commanded the room, bringing instant silence.

Three days ago, I presented the engagement contract to Charles.

He only asked one question, "Are you sure you won't change your mind?"

I answered, "I'm sure."

Damian froze in place.

"Uncle Charles, why are you here?" Damian asked.

Charles stepped aside, blocking the cold wind from the doorway to shield me.

He turned to Damian and said, "The Wolfe Clan can be arrogant, but you can't bleed others dry and expect them to stand by and wait for you."

Damian whipped out his phone and dialed his mother, Ann Wolfe.

Ann's voice came through the speaker. "Damian, what is Vivian throwing a tantrum about? Tell her if she doesn't treat Maggie like her own sister, she'll never get her name in our clan records!"

Charles leaned in and spoke into the phone, his voice calm and steady, "Good evening, Mrs. Wolfe."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Charles continued, "She doesn't need to be in your clan records.

"Her name will be added to my list of protected partners.

"As for her title, after the ceremony, she'll be Mrs. Peyton."

With that, he ended the call.

Maggie gripped Damian's sleeve, her voice trembling. "Damian, did Mr. Peyton misunderstand? I really didn't mean to take anything that belongs to Vivian."

Charles didn't even spare her a glance.

He turned to the manager and said, "Pack up all of Maggie's things from the penthouse suite and send them straight back to Damian's residence."

Five minutes later, two black trash bags were dropped at Maggie's feet.

The bags spilled open, sending a pile of bills tumbling out.

On top of the pile was a pink sticky note.

On the note, it said: [Backup dress for Mrs. Wolfe, paid by Vivian.]

Damian let his hand fall, finally releasing Maggie.

Maggie reached out, trying to hold onto him.

He stepped back, leaving her hanging.