Chapter 1
After twenty years of being forced into silence, I was shoved off Mount Everest by my boyfriend Gerry Shaw's beloved girl.
With only a sliver of life left, I dialed Gerry's number. Fighting through my fear, I finally managed to stammer out, "Help me."
There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end, then Gerry exploded in rage.
"What are you plotting against Megan this time?
"You know what? I won't let you fool me again. Even if you were dying right now, I'd just stand here and applaud!" he snapped.
Everyone thought I died that day.
Ever since that day, at the stroke of midnight, my phone would light up with the same message. [Diana, I'm sorry. I miss you so much. Are you doing okay wherever you are?]
*****
Three years later, after making it big, I came back to Crestville for an industry conference.
At the cocktail party, I bumped into Gerry again.
The moment he saw me, he looked utterly stunned.
He started to say something, but I cut him off.
"No need for apologies. I've been living well these years.
"I heard you're getting engaged to Megan Romero. Congratulations," I said.
He hurriedly tried to cover up the engagement ring on his finger, his voice shaky. "Diana, I only agreed because I thought you were gone..."
Before he could finish, my friend whisked me away.
Behind me, his voice carried on the breeze.
I never looked back.
Because down the mountain, I finally met the one who truly lit up my world. From then on, I never had to live in anyone's shadow again.
The party was packed with gorgeous women, but Gerry was like my shadow, sticking close behind me wherever I went.
My friends couldn't help but tease me.
"Diana, you really are a heartbreaker. You just showed up, and that rich hottie was instantly smitten," one of them joked.
"And isn't he the famous Mr. Shaw? Diana, come on, not even a little bit interested?" another chimed in.
Did my heart ever flutter for him?
Back then, it really did.
From fifteen to twenty-five, Gerry was my whole world. If he were reading in the library, I'd be hiding behind the shelves, just watching him.
If he were on stage running for president, I'd be in the crowd, clapping and cheering him on.
Wherever he went, you'd always find me there, too.
All those years, I was like his shadow. He always noticed me, but never once reached out.
Later, when his family went bankrupt, I used my mother's inheritance to save him from ruin.
When he hit rock bottom, I was the one who offered a lifeline. That was when he finally let his guard down and accepted my genuine care.
During the years we were together, his love wasn't passionate, but it was tender and thoughtful.
I kept telling myself, maybe Gerry was just naturally aloof.
But everything changed when his first love, Megan Romero, came back from overseas.
That was when I realized he could look at someone with eyes full of passion and love.
By then, with my help, Gerry had made his comeback and was now a big shot in Crestville's business world.
Megan was hell-bent on taking him from me, and she did everything she could to make my life difficult.
At a charity gala, she splashed wine in my face, then claimed I slapped her first.
At Gerry's birthday party, she pretended to be drunk and acted like someone had assaulted her, only to say later that I was the one who set it all up.
She started a fire in the warehouse, and when I ran out to get help, he accused me of setting the fire just to hurt her.
I tried to explain, my hands twisting in frantic signs, but Gerry didn't believe a single word.
Even when Megan shoved me off Mount Everest, he still thought I was just faking it.
Snapping back to reality, I shook my head at my friends and grinned.
"Not at all. Honestly, my husband is way hotter and way richer than him.
"When it comes to picking a guy, you always save the best for last, right?" I said.
Everyone around us erupted in jealous exclamations.
But the next second, Gerry grabbed my arm, gripping it tightly.
"Diana, what the hell? You got your voice back and didn't even bother to tell me?
"And where have you been these past three years? You were fine all along, so why didn't you reply to a single one of my messages?
"A husband? And he's richer and better looking than me? Are you still mad at me? Is that why you're saying all this, to make me jealous and regret everything?" he pressed.
His words made me laugh out of anger.
I snorted coldly and yanked my arm free from his grip.
"Hate you? Do you even deserve my hatred?
"Gerry, I'm not the same Diana Vaughn I used to be. I don't owe you anything.
"But you? You just keep clinging to me shamelessly. What, planning to ditch Megan and come running back to me?" I sneered.
Gerry froze, and after a long moment, he finally choked out, his voice trembling with panic, "That's not true. Megan and I..."