Chapter 1

I was a noble lady from Ravensburg, and my father was the infamous prime minister everyone loved to hate.

But Cohen Haley, whose whole family was ruined by my father, just couldn't resist climbing over the walls of the prime minister's residence to sneak into my boudoir.

Later, I found myself pregnant before marriage. In a panic, I barged into the Haley family, desperate to find Cohen.

But Cohen was sprawled lazily on the settee, his gaze playful, his tone cold and indifferent.

"Emmalyn, you're not even married yet. Being with a man without a proper matchmaker is a grave sin," he said.

A slow, almost-smile curved his lips, lingering between mockery and indifference.

"You should take care of it yourself," he added.

I stumbled back two steps, staring at Cohen in disbelief. I couldn't believe the look on his handsome face.

All the warmth from before was gone.

Now, there was nothing but casual coldness and contempt in his eyes, and a trace of revenge in his smile.

"Cohen, do you really mean what you just said?" I stammered, disbelief and hurt flashing in my eyes.

The room was shrouded in shadows, and Cohen's dark robe only made his whole presence feel even more icy and forbidding.

"Emmalyn," he drawled, idly turning the teacup in his hand as he arched a brow. "Surely you don't think I'd ever marry you, do you?"

Cohen rose, his demeanor icy and composed, each step toward me deliberate and unfeeling.

"And what makes you think I'd ever marry you?" he said.

A thunderclap cracked outside the Haley family's estate, and the hatred in Cohen's eyes blazed so fiercely it nearly knocked me off my feet.

"You..." My voice caught in my throat, barely audible.

Cohen gave a cold, mocking laugh.

"Emmalyn, ever wonder why I picked you? Because you were always alone in the Grimes family, never got an ounce of love. All I had to do was show a little interest, and you handed me your heart on a silver platter," his tone cruel.

My heart trembled. "That day you saved me..."

"Just a little scene I staged," Cohen replied, smirking, his eyes glinting with ridicule.

"Emmalyn, you're so naive. Nothing like your cunning old man," Cohen sneered.

"I really wonder what your old man would do if he found out Ravensburg's darling daughter is carrying my child, but can't even get through the Haley family's door," Cohen sneered.

"Where would he even put his old face?" Cohen taunted.

He spoke slowly and menacingly, closing in on me with every step.

I stumbled back, my retreat clumsy and desperate.

"Oh, and by the way, I filed a harsh complaint against him at court this morning. The emperor really let him have it, and he was so furious his face went pale," Cohen said.

"Who knows, maybe with this little scandal of yours, he'll be so enraged it'll send him straight to his grave," Cohen sneered.

"If that happens, it'll save me the trouble," he added, his tone cold and indifferent.

I tripped over the threshold and went down hard, landing awkwardly on the floor.

Cohen towered over me, his eyes cold and snake-like, chillingly strange and merciless.

"Miss Grimes, take your time. I'm not seeing you out," Cohen said.

After leaving the Haley estate, I took a deep breath and wiped away the tears at the corner of my eyes.

Then, braving the wind and rain alone, I headed to the Southwind Tavern and ordered a pot of imperial nectar.

On the fifteenth of every month, Oliver Hudson would always be waiting for me at the pavilion by the bridge in Crestville.

I walked right over and sat down next to him, not bothering with any of that noble lady grace.

"I've been telling you all along. Cohen only messed with you to get back at your old man, but you never believed me!" Oliver said.

I swallowed a mouthful of the wine, slow and deliberate.

As I swallowed, a rush of warmth flared through my cold body, making me shudder just a little.

"I never thought... a surprise could turn into such a shock," I murmured.

"So what are you gonna do now? Maybe you should just skip town before this whole thing blows up," Oliver said.

The wine was starting to get to me, and I propped my chin up, lost in thought.

"You can't seriously be planning to stick around until you start showing, just to have your old man toss you a silk scarf and let you die all pathetic in the Grimes family, right?" Oliver pressed, worry sharp in his voice.

"I'm telling you, Emmalyn, Reece would totally do it!" Oliver shot me a look.

I shut my eyes for a moment and whispered, "Maybe it wouldn't be so bad... Maybe I'd get to go back home before you do..."

Oliver's voice shot back, a mix of anger and wounded pride.

"Come on, Emmalyn! You said we were in this together, ride or die. If you go, I go; if you stay, I stay!" he protested.

I waved him off, "Alright, alright, I'm just messing with you..."

By the time I made it back to the Grimes family, it was already past midnight. My maid Kylie was still waiting up for me in the courtyard.

Everyone in Ravensburg knew Emmalyn was the prime minister's only daughter, born to a noble mother, and drop-dead gorgeous.

She was the number one socialite in all of Ravensburg, no contest.

But nobody knew that after losing her mother so young, Emmalyn was just a wildflower with no roots in this grand estate, stuck in a gilded cage, unable to break free, barely hanging on.

Aside from Kylie, there was no one else who'd ever wait up for me like this.

"Miss," Kylie teased, "you smell like booze again. Hold on, let me help you change before you go to bed."