Chapter 1
The night before my engagement, a bombshell dropped when Nina Parker, the mistress of my childhood sweetheart Edward Grant, waddled up to my doorstep, her pregnant belly preceding her.
She said, patting her swollen stomach, "Look at this. This baby's gonna be the heir to Grant Group. You and Edward? It's just an arranged deal. There's no way you two'll ever find real happiness."
Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. I was so enraged that my vision went black, and I passed out cold. A month in the hospital followed. It was only after Edward sent a lackey over with a shiny black credit card as a peace offering that I decided to jet off overseas.
Meanwhile, back home, things took an interesting turn. My mom became a regular at Edward's mom's place. Every time she went for a little chat, she'd strut back home with armfuls of jewelry worth millions of dollars.
My dad wasn't one to be left out. He'd often drop by Edward's dad's office, looking for some sense of justice. And each time, he'd leave with a brand-new business project in hand.
It was a truth well-known in our family: Love might be nice, but a thriving career? That was the real deal.
*****
These past few days, news about my engagement to Edward had been all over the internet.
[Obviously, rich people only marry other rich people, so their kids just get even richer.]
[Well, guess my kid will end up working their whole life for some rich kid.]
[LOL, the comment above is oddly calm but totally nuts.]
It wasn't just online—everyone in my social circle was buzzing about my engagement to Edward. People kept saying I'd really pulled out all the stops for the engagement party.
Well, obviously. This whole event was a flex, showing off that the Shaw and Grant families were joining forces. If anyone wanted in on the money train, they'd better get in while they could.
As soon as the news got out, business offers started rolling in.
Today was the day to sign the contracts.
I'd just picked up my pen when the door to the reception room suddenly burst open.
With a frown, I was about to speak, only to see a woman waddling in with a massive baby bump.
My secretary rushed in after her, leaning close to whisper, "She insisted on seeing you. She was causing a commotion downstairs, and I was worried she might do something crazy, so..."
I gave the woman a polite smile. "Could you hold on a sec? I'm a bit busy right now..."
But the woman cut me off, sticking out her belly and looking all smug. "I'm Nina Parker, Edward's girlfriend.
"Obviously, I'm pregnant. And it's Edward's baby.
"Stella, I'm carrying the Grant family's heir. You and Edward are just a business arrangement. You'll never be happy together. Just give up already and cancel that engagement party."
Vincent Lewis, our potential partner, stood up sheepishly. "Ms. Shaw, how about we put the contract on hold? You should handle this first."
At that moment, my father, Bruce Shaw, strode in. "Come on, Mr. Lewis. Let's chat in my office."
He shot me a look and ushered Vincent out.
Nina walked right up to me, chin raised. "You heard me loud and clear, didn't you?"
The news about my engagement to Edward was blowing up online, and my feed was full of it, too. No way she missed it.
Besides, Edward and I had been promised to each other since we were little. Even if she got pregnant first, she was still just the side chick.
Coming here to stir things up was bad enough, but messing up my business on top of that? That was the last straw for me.
Next thing I knew, I blacked out.
Nina screamed, "Hey! What's happening to you? This isn't my fault!"