Chapter 1

"Julian... it's so heavy! If I wear this to the press gala tonight, won't your fiancée recognize it? She has that architectural eye of hers."

Julian's deep, familiar voice floated out, smooth, relaxed, and devoid of any tension.

"She won't care. Evelyn's sensible. She knows a company at our level needs fresh, elegant faces for the media. You're representing our primary investor's firm tonight, Serena. You need to shine."

"And what if she asks where it came from?"

"I'll tell her it's a corporate loan for PR," Julian replied easily. "She's so buried in code and server specs she'll believe whatever I say. Stop worrying. You look stunning."

A faint rustle of silk followed, along with the muffled sound of a kiss.

I stood in the quiet office. My hands didn't shake. My pulse didn't spike into panic. But a cold, hollow sensation opened in my chest, vast as an abyss.

Of course, I knew that brooch.

I'd bookmarked it in a magazine three years ago when we were too poor to afford proper rent.

Julian had kissed my temple back then and whispered, "When we go public, I'll buy you ten of those."

He'd bought it.

Just not for me.

Tonight was Mercer Tech's pre-IPO celebration -- the company I'd spent seven years building on instant noodles, cold coffee, and sleepless nights.

I looked down at my own hands. The jagged burn scar on my right index finger still hadn't faded. I'd earned it soldering our first server prototype.

I didn't push the door open. I didn't scream.

I pulled out my phone and called the only lawyer I'd trusted before I met Julian.

"I've decided to leave."

"So we're doing this?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll release the papers."