Chapter 1

On the day my boyfriend married his first love, I boarded a plane to Harbor City.

He didn't care. "Emily is soft. She'll come crawling back in a few days."

Everyone worried I would show up and cause a scene.

But they didn't know that I was going to Harbor City to inherit a fortune. I didn't have time for them anymore.

The day I officially took over the family business, I returned every gift my ex had ever given me and blocked everyone from my past.

From then on, we would never meet again.

*****

It was the ultimate disgrace.

Everyone expected Ryan Lee to propose to me on my birthday, especially since I'd gone all out and had a dress custom-made for the big moment.

He got down on one knee in front of everyone and proposed to Olivia Stone.

For a moment, everyone was frozen. Even the sound of breathing was loud in the silence.

Olivia's eyes brimmed with tears, and she looked around, lost and overwhelmed. "Ryan, isn't it a bit inappropriate to do this on Emily's birthday?"

I kept my face cold and fixed him.

I was hoping he'd tell me it was all a prank.

But instead, he carefully slid the diamond ring onto Olivia's finger, smiling with his eyes. "I know exactly what I'm doing. Right here is fine.

"This way, some people will finally get the message."

Some people? Those two words hit me so hard that I actually stumbled back.

I looked at him, my heart aching. "Ryan, what am I to you?"

Others were outraged as well. "It's Emily's birthday. This is way too much."

Ryan slowly stood up, gathering Olivia into his arms.

He said, "I've told you before, I only ever saw you as a friend. You're the one who kept pushing until I had no choice but to admit we were together.

"If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have proposed to Olivia in a place so beneath me."

I couldn't help but laugh in anger. "Why didn't you tell everyone we weren't together?"

"Because I was protecting your dignity. Everyone in town knows how you chased after me and stirred up drama."

"Then why did you bring me breakfast every single day for three years in high school?"

Ryan scoffed. "I pitied you."

After he said that, the people around us couldn't help but laugh quietly.

"Isn't that basically the same as feeding stray cats and dogs?" someone mocked.

I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my hands from shaking. "So, when you said you'd protect me for life, was it all fake?"

Ryan looked helpless, almost resigned. "Even if it were a dog, after feeding it for three years, I'd feel something for it.

"You didn't have much growing up, so what's wrong with me saying I'd look after you for the rest of your life?

"But the truth is, I never had feelings for you. So please, stop shamelessly clinging to me."

Olivia frantically reached out to cover his mouth. "Ryan, please stop. Emily's always been sensitive. She can't handle this."

"Am I supposed to tiptoe around her for the rest of my life?" Ryan cut Olivia off before she could finish.

He added, "I've made you put up with so much for years. Now that you've agreed to be with me, I won't let anyone look down on you."

Then, right before my eyes, he dragged Olivia away without looking at me.

I rubbed my face roughly, determined not to let a single tear fall.

He always said he loved his freedom and didn't want a relationship holding him back, so we always kept things on the down low whenever we went out.

He let the rumors fly and never bothered to clear things up, so I figured he was fine with it.

I guess I was kidding myself all along.

If it was all a lie, then I'll step aside and let them be together.

The birthday party wrapped up in a rush.

Feeling restless and frustrated, I decided to hit the designer boutique and treat myself to a few bags I actually wanted.

The salesgirl had stepped away for a moment, and I was completely absorbed in checking out the bags when I ran into Olivia.

"Emily?" Olivia called out. "Are you working here now?"

I turned around and saw Olivia looking at me with a mocking glint in her eyes.

I frowned, totally confused.

Yeah, my outfit was pretty basic, but it was not like I looked like a salesgirl or anything.

But Olivia grabbed my hand, putting on that look of fake sympathy. "Emily, I knew you must've borrowed a ton of money and worked all sorts of jobs to throw your birthday party. Please, don't do this again."

I tried to pull my hand back. "You're reading too much into it..."

Olivia's eyes glistened with tears. "Emily, I want to help you. Can't you stop pretending you're above it all?"

I wrinkled my nose in disgust, frowning. "If you want them, go pay for them yourself. It's got nothing to do with me."

She said, "Emily, we're all women here. Look, I know things are tough for you, but could you stop putting me in a tough spot next time?

"I won't blame you for whatever you did before, but from now on, let's cut ties and move on."

"What are you rambling about?" Fed up, I shoved her away as she kept inching closer.

Olivia stumbled backward and crashed into the glass display case behind her.

Before I could react, Ryan came running over and caught her in mid-air, pulling her into his arms. "Olivia, are you okay?"

Then he shot me a furious glare. "Emily, proposing to Olivia was my idea. She had no clue about any of this. If you want revenge, come at me.

"If anything happens to her, my family could destroy you without breaking a sweat."

I pulled my hand back, locking eyes with Olivia's self-satisfied, triumphant look.

She immediately put on a mask of panic, pretending to be scared. "Don't be like that. I found out Emily's working here.

"Maybe she pushed me because she's desperate to hit her sales numbers and hoped I'd buy something to help her out."

Ryan snorted coldly. "In your dreams. I'll report everything that happened today to your manager. Olivia, let's go."

Halfway out, he suddenly stopped and turned back to look at me. "Emily, the more you behave like this, the more I despise you. Enough is enough."

I took a deep breath and said after they'd left, "Whatever."

Anyway, the owner here was a friend of mine. The manager was an employee, nothing more.

The salesgirl who'd been helping me finally hurried over, looking nervous. "Ms. Grant..."

I shook my head. "It's fine. Wrap up the bags I picked out and send them to my usual address.

"And for the damages caused by that other lady today, make sure Ryan covers the cost. I'll let your boss know where to send the bill."