Chapter 2

Lila's POV

When Gavin announced his engagement to Serena, the whole city was stunned.

The yacht party doubled as Hartwell Group's annual couture show. It was the height of extravagance.

Everyone envied Serena. She wasn't just marrying the Hartwell heir. Tonight, she was also debuting as lead designer. Her gown, "First Love." The dress of the century.

Under the spotlight, Serena wore that gown with nine hundred and ninety-nine diamonds. She leaned into Gavin's arms, smiling with an innocent, angelic look.

Under the spotlight, Serena wore that gown embedded with nine hundred and ninety-nine diamonds. She nestled in Gavin's arms, smiling with an innocent, angelic look.

And I stood in the darkest corner of the ballroom, watching it all in silence.

That "First Love" gown was something I'd stayed up countless nights to make. My right hand ached so much I couldn't hold a fork. But I sewed every stitch. By hand.

The hidden pattern on the hem was my mother's favorite design from when she was alive.

Gavin once said it was a signature that belonged only to me.

But now, he'd put my work on another woman, making it a symbol of their love.

"Miss Sterling."

Gavin's chief assistant, Aaron, walked up to me and handed me a paper bag.

"Mr. Hartwell said this is what you asked for."

I took the bag and opened it.

Inside was an old fashion design notebook, my mother's keepsake.

And a check for fifty million dollars.

"Mr. Hartwell also said that after tonight, you two have no relationship anymore."

Aaron's eyes held a trace of haughty pity. "Mr. Hartwell hopes you won't appear in front of Miss Vale anymore to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. After all, Miss Vale is now the chief designer of Hartwell Group."

I looked at that check and suddenly found it amusing.

Three years.

I'd been with Gavin for three years.

I wasn't just his mistress. I was also the "ghost designer" for his company's design department.

I'd drawn over a hundred designs for him, launched more than a dozen bestselling collections, and pushed Hartwell's fashion empire to its peak.

The price? Chronic overwork and mental stress had severely damaged the nerves in my right hand. My hand trembled just holding a pen now. I'd completely lost the possibility of becoming an independent designer.

Everyone thought I loved Gavin so much that I was willing to be a mistress for money and status.

Even Gavin thought so.

He thought I couldn't leave him.

He thought that as long as he threw me a little reward, I'd be grateful.

I pulled out that fifty-million-dollar check and, right in front of Aaron, tore it into pieces bit by bit.

"Miss Sterling, what are you doing?" Aaron frowned, his tone carrying a warning. "Mr. Hartwell's patience is limited. Don't be willful."

"Keep this money for Miss Vale to buy candy."

I tossed the shredded paper into a nearby trash can and clutched my mother's notebook tightly to my chest.

"Tell Gavin that as he wished, we'll never see each other again."

I turned and walked out of the ballroom without looking back.

No breakdown, no tears.

So calm it surprised even me.

Outside the yacht, heavy rain began to fall.

The cold rainwater pelted my body, yet I felt liberated.

These three years, I'd endured Gavin's mental torture just to keep my mother's keepsake and pay for my imprisoned father's medical treatment.

He would violently take me in bed while coldly suppressing my career in daily life.

"Lila, besides me, who else would want you?"

"Your hand is already ruined. Without me providing you a team, you can't even make a single piece of clothing."

"Be good and let Serena take credit for this season's designs. She just returned. She needs this work more than you do."

He said the cruelest things in the gentlest tone.

Destroying my confidence bit by bit, stripping away my pride.

Turning me into worthless garbage that could only survive by clinging to him.

But he didn't know I'd never truly submitted.

I was just waiting.

Waiting to get my mother's notebook. Waiting to save enough for my father's medical bills.

Now, my wait was over.

I returned to the villa that had imprisoned me for three years.

As quickly as possible, I packed up everything that belonged to me.

Actually, there wasn't much. Just a few old clothes and some worn books.

As for all those designer bags, haute couture dresses, and expensive jewelry Gavin had given me, I didn't take a single piece.

I found a large cardboard box, packed everything into it, and left it on the living room table along with the villa key.

When I left, I blocked and deleted every contact method related to Gavin from my phone.

I left swiftly, without a trace of reluctance.