Chapter 1

My family had always been blessed with great genes, and I, Lily Quinn, won the genetic jackpot.

I had the kind of figure that turns heads. Slim with curves in all the right places, and a waist so small one could practically circle it with their hands.

Sometimes, just standing there was enough to set people's imaginations racing.

Amber Sterling was absolutely thrilled with me. She paid a fortune to hire me as the live-in companion for her son, a young man famously known for his self-discipline and... Well, let's just say, pure-minded lifestyle.

Before I moved into the Sterling mansion, she warned me over and over, "Our family has had only one heir per generation. And Edward is especially resistant to temptation. He's more principled than a saint."

Then she laid out the deal. "If you can give him a child and continue the family line, you'll have more money and status than you'd ever need."

More money and status than I'd ever need? I figured it was worth a shot.

But nothing went according to plan.

Soon, I was the one pleading for mercy every single night.

I thought Edward Sterling was supposed to be celibate, devout, and above worldly desires.

So why... couldn't he keep his hands off me?

*****

My mother was a stunning beauty, with curves that could stop anyone in their tracks. She was the most gorgeous woman for miles around.

My father had the home-court advantage. He grew up right beside her since they were children.

He was handsome and cooked like a dream. That was how he stood out from all the other men pursuing her and eventually won her heart.

Thanks to my parents' striking looks, I caused quite a stir the moment I was born. The whole town was talking about me.

People said they'd never seen a more beautiful baby.

When I was little, I was like a doll. Soft, rosy, and delicate, as if carved from marble.

As I grew older, I only became more striking.

My face was like a blooming flower, with arched eyebrows, lips red as cherries, and eyes that could melt anyone's heart.

My skin was flawless, and my waist was so slender one could almost circle it with one's hands.

And my figure? Full, graceful, and impossible to overlook.

I was captivating, alluring in a way that felt as if it was simply in my blood.

By the time I reached my teens, everyone in Riverton knew my name.

On the day I came of age, suitors flocked to our doorstep.

Some came from good families, but many were only drawn by my appearance.

The marriage offers grew more and more generous.

Yet my parents weren't impressed. They'd simply take a broom and shoo them away. "Who do these fellows think they are, hoping to marry our Lily? Not a chance!"

My father ran a family tavern, so we were comfortable and never pressed for money. That also meant my parents felt no hurry to marry me off.

I was their only daughter, and they were more than happy to cherish me for a lifetime.

All they wanted was to find me the perfect match, the most suitable husband in the world.

Then one day, another marriage proposal arrived at our door.

My father assumed it was just another bold admirer, so he grabbed his broom and marched over.

But when he saw who it was, he dropped the broom in surprise. It clattered loudly to the floor.

It was the Sterling family of Riverton.

Old money, almost like royalty, so esteemed that words could hardly capture their standing.

To show their sincerity, Amber herself came to ask for my hand in marriage to her son.

"Ours is a family that believes in one wife only," Amber said gently. "If Edward grows fond of Lily, she will receive the full title and all that comes with it."

She spoke with such warmth and grace, treating us with utmost respect.

My parents glanced at each other. There was truly nothing to object to.

Being his companion may not sound dignified, but this was the Sterling family, no ordinary household.

Everyone in Riverton knew the Sterling men took no concubines or mistresses, only one wife for life.

Even if I began as a companion, if I won Edward's affection and bore him a child, I could someday be his wife.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

My father was but a modest merchant. Yes, we had enough to live well, but our social standing was low.

Under normal circumstances, we wouldn't even have the chance to meet someone from the Sterling family.

Yet here we were, discussing marriage with them. My father could hardly believe it. He was over the moon.

At that crucial moment, my mother called me out to hear my thoughts.

Even someone as refined as Amber was taken aback when she saw me. "Your beauty... truly lives up to your reputation," she murmured.

I offered a soft smile and a curtsy, the fabric of my dress swaying gently, a vision that seemed to catch everyone's breath. My beauty could leave people speechless.

My voice was as sweet as a songbird's, my presence as graceful as an orchid in a quiet valley. "Madam, I am willing," I replied, gentle and clear.

Who wouldn't be? The Sterling family's status was beyond compare.

If not for the rumors that Edward was reserved and untouched, never showing interest in any girl, someone like me, a merchant's daughter, wouldn't have stood a chance to even meet him, let alone share his life.

Amber promised that if Edward and I had not grown close within six months, I would be free to return home.

I wouldn't have to return the betrothal gift, and she would ensure the whole town knew I remained untouched, so my reputation would stay pure, and I could marry well elsewhere.

If I were a concubine, being sent away might harm my name, but as a companion, we could simply part ways cleanly, without shame or scandal.

Truth be told, this arrangement was nothing short of a golden opportunity for me.