Chapter 1

I was the true heiress of the richest man in Harbore, living away from home, and no one but me knew the truth.

I had loved Leo Whitfield for ten years, but at our engagement party, he chose his first love over me, turning me into the whole city's laughingstock.

He said someone like me wasn't even fit to clean his toilets.

I laughed, and right in front of everyone, I linked arms with his disabled, disfavored older cousin, Ethan Sterling, the rightful heir to Cealwand.

"If you won't marry her, I will," Ethan said.

Later, Leo stood in the rain for three days and nights begging me to come back, only to witness my grand wedding to Ethan broadcast worldwide.

When the priest asked if I would spend my life with Ethan, I took the microphone and said, "Has the final agreement to acquire the Whitfield Group been signed?"

*****

In Harbore's most lavish Regency Ballroom, crystal chandeliers scattered light everywhere, exposing the guests' insincere smiles.

Today was my engagement party, also the day I became the laughingstock of Harbore.

My fiancé, Leo Whitfield, was standing in the center of the ballroom, his arm wrapped around Vivian Lane, the first love who had returned from overseas.

Leo didn't bother to look at me before grabbing the microphone. "Everyone, thank you for coming tonight. But I'm sorry. Ava and I are calling off our engagement."

The whole room exploded in shock.

I stood in the corner, still holding the glass of champagne I'd prepared for him, the bubbles fizzing and bursting along the side.

Samuel Whitfield stormed over, his face dark with anger. "Leo, are you out of your mind? Do you know what you're saying?"

Leo shoved his father aside, his gaze finally fixed on me, with nothing but disgust and impatience. "An illegitimate daughter who isn't fit to be seen in public thinks she can be my wife?"

His voice wasn't loud, but the microphone carried it across the entire ballroom. "Ava, someone like you isn't even fit to clean my toilets. Get lost."

Vivian leaned into him, flashing me a smug, contemptuous smile.

The whispers around me surged like a tide.

"See? A bastard daughter will always be a bastard daughter. She could never really marry into the Whitfield family."

"Ten years? Please. It doesn't hold a candle to Ms. Lane."

"She's totally embarrassed the Harrington family."

My father, Luke Harrington, the current head of the Harrington family, looked like thunder was about to roll off his face.

He wasn't angry because I was humiliated. He cared more about his pride than my humiliation.

He strode over to me, his voice low, cold, and full of orders. "Ava, this farce needs to end. Go apologize to Mr. Whitfield and Leo right now. Say you're not feeling well and the engagement is postponed."

I looked at him. This so-called father sacrificed me for the family's interests at the drop of a hat.

I laughed quietly, but it made Luke's expression grow colder.

"Apologize?" I set my glass down, the base clinking crisply against the table.

Suddenly, every eye in the room locked onto me.

I straightened the hem of my dress and stepped forward, weaving through the crowd, mocking whispers and pitying looks brushing past me with every move.

I didn't go to Leon, nor did I go to my father.

I made my way to the most overlooked corner of the ballroom. There, sitting all by himself, was a man who seemed like he didn't belong in all this glitter and glamour.

It was Ethan Sterling, Leo's older cousin, the heir of the Sterling family from Cealwand.

Word was that, after a car accident left his legs crippled, his family had written him off as a total outcast.

Today, Ethan was only here as Leo's family, a prop in the background.

I walked up to him, and as he looked at me in mild surprise, I bent down. "Excuse me, Mr. Sterling."

My voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to the guests nearby, who were all straining to listen.

"Leo abandons me." I extended my hand to Ethan, graceful and bold, as if inviting him to a dance right in front of everyone. "So, will you take me?"

The whole room went dead silent. Everyone stared at me like I'd gone completely insane.

Leo's face went livid as he stormed over, trying to yank me away. "Ava, have you lost your mind? Are you trying to humiliate yourself more?"

Ethan stayed perfectly still in his wheelchair, looking up at me. For the first time, a ripple of emotion stirred in those deep, unfathomable eyes.

He didn't answer my question. Instead, he threw one back at me. "Do you know who I am?"

"I do," I smiled even brighter. "Someone who's ten thousand times better than him."

Right in front of everyone, I slipped my arm through Ethan's and helped him rise from his wheelchair. Or rather, I didn't help him up. I linked arms with him, and he stood up on his own.

He was way taller than I'd expected. As soon as he stood up, the whole ballroom was instantly dominated by his presence.

Leo froze in place, Luke's eyes went wide in shock, and every guest's jaw nearly hit the floor.

Ethan looked at me, an amused curve appearing at the corner of his lips. "Alright."

Then he clasped my hand, leading me out of that ballroom, leaving behind everything that made me sick. Everyone was left stunned, the whole place thrown into chaos.