Chapter 1

I loved Gavin for ten years, only for him to announce his engagement to his mistress, Serena.

On the day of their engagement, they locked me in the basement.

Gavin even locked the iron door himself, coldly tossing out a single sentence through the metal:

“Don’t let her out until the engagement party is over.”

Curled up on the freezing floor, I listened to the cheers and applause drifting down from the banquet hall upstairs. My crippled right hand spasmed violently, the pain so intense it eventually went numb.

When the door finally opened again, they dragged me out and threw me into the pouring rain.

I staggered forward on numb legs, walking aimlessly through the storm.

Until a man stopped in front of me, holding an umbrella over my head.

Dominic handed me a marriage agreement.

“Marry me. I can save your father, heal your hand, and help you take back everything that belongs to you.”

I signed the contract.

Later, when the bankrupt Gavin saw me again, he rushed toward me like a madman, demanding to know why.

Dominic wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed me right in front of him.

“Because now,” he said, his voice icy cold, “she’s my wife.”