Chapter 1

Three days before our wedding, I called it off.

"You're throwing eighteen years away because I hooked Chloe's bra?" Ethan let out a helpless little laugh.

I nodded. "Yes."

"It was a wardrobe malfunction, Nora. The dressing room was packed, and she couldn't reach the clasp herself. I was just helping her out so it didn't turn into a pre-wedding disaster."

When I didn't say anything, he sighed and slid a limited-edition Victoria's Secret gift box across the table.

I didn't take it.

From a rundown Appalachian town to Paris, from our naive youth to the peak of our careers.

Eighteen years. It was time to let go.

Seeing my silence, Ethan opened the box himself, revealing this year's limited-edition lingerie set.

"I know you're mad. But Chloe's family. Cut her some slack. It was nothing."

I looked at him, then slowly lifted the delicate fabric.

Right on the cup was a distinct, dried stain. Breast milk.

I let out a dry scoff. "Is Victoria's Secret selling secondhand lingerie now?"

Ethan's face fell.

"I... I had Chloe try it on first."

"She's been lactating since the miscarriage. Her chest is super sensitive right now, and she said the silk felt comfortable. I figured if it worked for her, it'd be perfectly fine for you."

"Why do you always have to hold this over my head? Can't you just let it go for once?"

His defensive tone just left me exhausted.

I turned and pushed the door open—only to startle Chloe, who had clearly been eavesdropping outside. She stumbled and fell to the floor.

"Nora... please don't be mad. I just tried it on for you..."

I shook my head, a bitter smile on my lips.

When did it become the rule that I only got what Chloe had already used, picked over, or discarded?

"So now, even my men have to be test-driven for me?"

Chloe looked up, her eyes wide and trembling. "I'm sorry, Nora. I had discharge again today, so I came to find Ethan."

"I read online it could be a sign of breast cancer. I didn't mean to interrupt, but I'm just so scared. I didn't know who else to turn to..."

She burst into tears, shrinking back as if my gaze was a physical weight pressing down on her.

I stared at her coldly. "Do Richard and Victoria know about this?"

During Chloe's senior year of high school, she had a miscarriage. It was during her hospital treatment that the Carters discovered she wasn't their biological daughter.

That was when they tracked me down and brought me home.

But Richard and Victoria were obsessed with PR and protecting the family brand. To save Chloe's face in their elite circles, they pulled every string. Through lawyers, doctored school records, and aggressive spin, they announced to the world that I was the adult adoptee.

Just a few days ago, I had spotted prolactin injections—lactation inducers—hidden in the house.

My eyes dropped to Chloe's chest.

She went pale, swaying on her feet as if I had just dealt her a mortal insult.

"Nora, what are you implying? I'm already suffering so much. Are you going to run and slander me to Richard and Victoria now?"

"I'm just curious," I said, holding her gaze. "If you think you have cancer, why didn't you go to a hospital? Why come running to Ethan at the office?"

"Nora, enough!" Ethan snapped, pulling Chloe up from the floor. His voice was dark. "She's terrified as it is. Do you have to back her into a corner?"

He looked at Chloe like she was the innocent little angel everyone insisted she was.

I just shook my head.

I had told Ethan countless times how Chloe methodically pushed my boundaries. But in his eyes, she remained pure and untouchable. His golden girl.

One loved to lie, and the other desperately wanted to believe.

A perfect match.

Without another word, I turned and walked away.

I finalized my equity transfer agreement and sent it to Daniel Reed, a friend who could handle my shares.

Daniel called almost immediately. "Nora, why don't you come over to Reed Design Group? We could use a partner who actually understands the business."

I paused.

These past eighteen years hadn't just turned my relationship with Ethan into a toxic mess; they had also forged me into a highly respected design partner in the industry.

I gave a faint smile. "Let's talk about it later, Daniel. I have some loose ends to tie up first."

Back at our Manhattan penthouse, I stood in the center of the living room. Traces of my life with Ethan were everywhere. I stood there for a long time, unmoving.

Then, a knock on the door broke the silence.

Chapter 1

Three days before our wedding, I called it off.

"You're throwing eighteen years away because I hooked Chloe's bra?" Ethan let out a helpless little laugh.

I nodded. "Yes."

"It was a wardrobe malfunction, Nora. The dressing room was packed, and she couldn't reach the clasp herself. I was just helping her out so it didn't turn into a pre-wedding disaster."

When I didn't say anything, he sighed and slid a limited-edition Victoria's Secret gift box across the table.

I didn't take it.

From a rundown Appalachian town to Paris, from our naive youth to the peak of our careers.

Eighteen years. It was time to let go.

Seeing my silence, Ethan opened the box himself, revealing this year's limited-edition lingerie set.

"I know you're mad. But Chloe's family. Cut her some slack. It was nothing."

I looked at him, then slowly lifted the delicate fabric.

Right on the cup was a distinct, dried stain. Breast milk.

I let out a dry scoff. "Is Victoria's Secret selling secondhand lingerie now?"

Ethan's face fell.

"I... I had Chloe try it on first."

"She's been lactating since the miscarriage. Her chest is super sensitive right now, and she said the silk felt comfortable. I figured if it worked for her, it'd be perfectly fine for you."

"Why do you always have to hold this over my head? Can't you just let it go for once?"

His defensive tone just left me exhausted.

I turned and pushed the door open—only to startle Chloe, who had clearly been eavesdropping outside. She stumbled and fell to the floor.

"Nora... please don't be mad. I just tried it on for you..."

I shook my head, a bitter smile on my lips.

When did it become the rule that I only got what Chloe had already used, picked over, or discarded?

"So now, even my men have to be test-driven for me?"

Chloe looked up, her eyes wide and trembling. "I'm sorry, Nora. I had discharge again today, so I came to find Ethan."

"I read online it could be a sign of breast cancer. I didn't mean to interrupt, but I'm just so scared. I didn't know who else to turn to..."

She burst into tears, shrinking back as if my gaze was a physical weight pressing down on her.

I stared at her coldly. "Do Richard and Victoria know about this?"

During Chloe's senior year of high school, she had a miscarriage. It was during her hospital treatment that the Carters discovered she wasn't their biological daughter.

That was when they tracked me down and brought me home.

Just a few days ago, I had spotted prolactin injections—lactation inducers—hidden in the house.

My eyes dropped to Chloe's chest.

She went pale, swaying on her feet as if I had just dealt her a mortal insult.

"Nora, what are you implying? I'm already suffering so much. Are you going to run and slander me to Richard and Victoria now?"

"I'm just curious," I said, holding her gaze. "If you think you have cancer, why didn't you go to a hospital? Why come running to Ethan at the office?"

"Nora, enough!" Ethan snapped, pulling Chloe up from the floor. His voice was dark. "She's terrified as it is. Do you have to back her into a corner?"

He looked at Chloe like she was the innocent little angel everyone insisted she was.

I just shook my head.

I had told Ethan countless times how Chloe methodically pushed my boundaries. But in his eyes, she remained pure and untouchable. His golden girl.

One loved to lie, and the other desperately wanted to believe.

A perfect match.

Without another word, I turned and walked away.

I finalized my equity transfer agreement and sent it to Daniel Reed, a friend who could handle my shares.

Daniel called almost immediately. "Nora, why don't you come over to Reed Design Group? We could use a partner who actually understands the business."

I paused.

These past eighteen years hadn't just turned my relationship with Ethan into a toxic mess; they had also forged me into a highly respected design partner in the industry.

I gave a faint smile. "Let's talk about it later, Daniel. I have some loose ends to tie up first."

Back at our Manhattan penthouse, I stood in the center of the living room. Traces of my life with Ethan were everywhere. I stood there for a long time, unmoving.

Then, a knock on the door broke the silence.