Chapter 1

Lucas Weston and I grew up together, and our families arranged for us to get married.

But just before the wedding, I found out he'd fallen for his assistant, Chloe James.

He wasn't even ashamed. He didn't feel guilty at all. "I hope Natalie has the decency to call off the engagement herself."

Chloe said, "Wouldn't she stir things up with the Westons?"

"I'm the heir to Weston Group. She's just an orphan my grandfather took in. No one's going to back her up."

I couldn't help but laugh in anger. Then I dialed an international number. "Had enough of living abroad? Get your ass back here and take over your family's business."

Lucas was wrong.

He wasn't only losing his shot at being the heir to Weston Group. I was also way out of his league.

*****

One day, I stumbled across a trending travel post online. The most talked-about spot was Giraffe Meadows Resort, famous for letting guests have breakfast with giraffes.

"Lucas, let's make this our first stop on our honeymoon," I said, my heart full of excitement.

Lucas glanced at the post and replied without hesitation, "It's too cold. The giraffes won't come out in the morning. It's not a good time to go."

I paused.

Scrolling down, I spotted a pinned comment: [If the temperature drops below 50°F, the giraffes stay most of the time indoors. Make sure to check the weather so you don't end up disappointed.]

Our wedding was in two months, right in the dead of winter. Lucas was right. It really wasn't the best time to go.

But I never expected him to know it so well.

"Have you been there before?" I asked.

Lucas chuckled. "Why would I go without you? Chloe told me she took her family there once."

He looked up at me, his gaze calm and straightforward.

Chloe James. I remembered her. She was the assistant Lucas hired this year.

Her parents were fixated on having another child, so even in their fifties, they tried everything they could and had another daughter. Now, Chloe was completely responsible for raising her little sister on her own.

Lucas was always cold and reserved, rarely smiling at anyone except me. But now, he'd even put up with listening to Chloe's family stories.

Just then, a clear, bell-like laugh drifted in from outside.

For a split second, something flickered in Lucas's eyes. But by the time I looked again, he was back to his usual self.

Chloe and Mary walked in together, chatting and laughing, but as soon as they saw me, their smiles faded instantly.

Chloe lowered her head, standing there like a scared rabbit.

I turned to Lucas with a playful smile. "Do I really look that scary?"

"Not at all," Lucas said.

There was a softness in his eyes when he looked at me, but as soon as his gaze shifted to Chloe, it turned cold and serious. He started drumming his fingers on his Patek Philippe watch.

"Chloe, you're late again," he said coolly.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Weston," Chloe replied.

She nervously twisted the hem of her shirt, looking so helpless and delicate, like a rain-soaked blossom, so soft and fragile that people couldn't help but want to protect her.

I instinctively looked at Lucas, but aside from a trace of irritation between his brows, his face was completely unreadable.

Remembering he had an investor meeting later, I changed the subject and led him upstairs. "Come on, let me help you pick out something to wear."

"Let Chloe take care of that. That's what assistants are for," Lucas said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek before he went upstairs.

Half an hour later, he finally came downstairs, looking sharp in his suit, except that his necktie was crooked.

I stopped Lucas and straightened it for him.

Then I glanced at Chloe behind him. "Chloe, this is your first time, right? It's okay if you don't have much experience. Let's add each other on WhatsApp. I'll teach you a few ways to tie a tie."

"Okay," Chloe said softly, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

After they left, I went up to the walk-in closet on the second floor. It was a total mess.

A few shirts that should've been hanging neatly were now crumpled together inside the closet.

Lucas was a stickler for order. Everything had to be perfectly arranged, not a single wrinkle allowed. And he absolutely couldn't stand empty hangers in the closet.

I stood there, staring at the mess, completely spaced out.

My mind flashed back to the first time Lucas and Chloe crossed paths.

That day, Chloe accidentally scratched Lucas's brand-new car. Lucas was in a rush and just brushed it off, not even asking her to pay for the damage.

But later, he ran into Chloe again at the company. She was there for a job interview.

I asked Lucas why he chose Chloe to be his assistant.

He replied seriously, "She's got a stubborn streak. When she met me again, the first thing she did was ask for my contact info. She told me she'd land a job soon and could cover the cost.

"I figured someone that determined would be reliable on the job. Plus, her background checked all the boxes for the company."

I teased Lucas, "You two are straight out of a soap opera. Was it love at first sight or something?"

Lucas's expression turned stormy at once.

Just because of that joke, he ignored me all day. In the end, I had to make up with him first.

He pulled me into his arms, holding me close and taking in my scent. "We've been together for years, and you still question my feelings? You're the only one I can completely surrender myself to."

Lucas could always see right through me.

After that, they only interacted at work, and Chloe had a boyfriend. I stopped worrying about it and just put it out of my mind.

But something was off about Lucas today.

My phone buzzed. Chloe had accepted my friend request.

My hands trembled as I opened her social media. Lucas had liked every single post she made.

And during the days Chloe took her sister to Giraffe Meadows Resort, Lucas was on a business trip there at the exact same time.

Right then, my chest felt clogged, like it was stuffed with wet cotton. I could barely breathe, and the heaviness wouldn't go away.

I took a deep breath and sent a message: [I think Lucas is cheating on me.]

The reply came back almost instantly: [If you need me, I'll fly back right away.]