Chapter 1

Diana Spencer, the top courtesan at the brothel, had the same face as Tobias Hanover's first love.

Tobias was so obsessed with her, he'd be out all hours and spend a fortune just to see her smile.

After a whole year, he finally paid to free her from the brothel and brought her home to his manor.

That very night, Tobias tossed divorce papers at me without a second thought.

I accepted the papers with relief and made up my mind to leave.

Before I left, Diana stood in front of me, looking all high and mighty.

"My mission's complete. Settle the final payment," she said.

*****

Diana sneered. "Thanks for finding me such a nice place to land. Now hurry up and get out of here."

Diana stood there with her nose in the air, ordering the servants in my courtyard to count up my belongings.

As I was about to move out of the place I'd lived in for six years, I couldn't help but feel a bit lost.

Before I even left, the servants were already hanging decorations at the gate, getting ready to welcome the new lady of the house.

My maid, who'd always stuck by me, brought over an apple pie.

My eyes grew misty. Today was my birthday, and Tobias had actually remembered.

Just as I was about to reach out, a deep, gentle voice drifted over.

"Diana, I made this apple pie just for you. Go ahead, have a taste," Tobias said.

My hand froze in midair, and a chill ran through me.

Tobias watched Diana eating the apple pie with a soft look in his eyes. Only after a while did he seem to remember I existed.

He gave me a mocking glance and scoffed. "What are you reaching for? Did you actually think this was for you?"

Meeting his eyes, I felt like my heart was being shredded into pieces. I felt my heart bleed.

I pulled my hands back, pretending to stay calm.

"I know. We're not husband and wife anymore," I said, keeping my voice steady.

Or maybe we were never really husband and wife to begin with.

Those six years of marriage were filled with pain and heartbreak for me.

Tobias spoke to Diana in the gentlest tone, as if even raising his voice a little might scare her off.

His voice held a kind of tenderness I'd never experienced from him before.

"Diana, how does it taste?" he asked.

Diana held the bowl, her face full of emotion. "You're the heir, yet you made this for me..."

Tobias looked at her with a gentle, doting gaze and affectionately pinched her cheek.

"Honestly, in this whole world, only you and Mary ever get to taste the pie I make myself. I should thank you for helping me finally let go of a lifelong regret," Tobias said softly.

I couldn't listen to another word. Barely holding myself together, I turned and left.

Mary Tudor, Tobias Hanover, and I grew up together.

Tobias and I had our marriage arranged before we were even born. It was a family tradition. Mary was my best friend, the one I shared every secret with.

Back then, everything between us was innocent. But as we got older, our hearts started to wander in ways we couldn't control.

Tobias fell hard for Mary. For her, he broke off our engagement, stood up to his family, and was even ready to give up his inheritance just to be with her.

But Tobias's parents wouldn't hear of it. They forced him to go through with the marriage. And just like that, all those childhood memories went up in smoke.

He tricked me into visiting a chapel to pray and locked me for a day and a night in an abandoned cell.

He said he'd take me hunting, but once we were deep in the woods, he just ditched me without a word.

I got lost, ran into a bear, and was about to be its next meal. If it hadn't been for a hunter passing by, I would've been dead for sure.

The bear bit my leg, and I was laid up in bed for nearly three months, just trying to heal.

But while I was stuck in bed, Tobias was off with Mary, living it up, traveling, and having fun.

As soon as he heard I was finally back on my feet, he sent word that he was truly sorry and had even hired a seamstress to make me a wedding dress.

I rushed over, my heart full of hope.

But when I got there, Tobias just sneered at me. "Rebecca Harcourt, you're really that desperate to marry me? Fine. Put on this wedding dress and go be my lowly concubine in the back courtyard."

The dress was a deep crimson, so bare and revealing. Even the cheapest prostitute wouldn't wear something so degrading.

He forced me to walk away from the marriage in the most humiliating way possible, never knowing how much it tore me apart.

That was the first time I really thought about just letting go.

I told myself I should just give up the marriage. I couldn't force a relationship with Tobias.

But just when I was ready to let go, Mary's entire family was suddenly thrown into prison.

The magistrate took only three days to raid their home and pass judgment.

Everyone from Tudor Manor was dragged out and executed at the palace gates.

Blood pooled across the ground, and I couldn't help but glance at Tobias.

But Tobias was suddenly different. He carefully shielded my eyes, his voice trembling with unexpected gentleness. "Rebecca, don't look. It'll haunt you."

He seemed truly sorry and arranged a grand wedding just for me.

I let myself get swept away by his gentle side and married him, not caring about anything else.

But on our wedding night, I spent it all alone, staring at the empty walls.

The next morning, at the crack of dawn, Tobias dragged me straight to the family shrine.

Hatred burning in his eyes, he ordered the servants to force me to my knees in front of Mary's memorial, a vivid portrait of Mary.

"Rebecca, Mary died because of you. From now on, every single day, you'll kneel here for three hours and repent before her," Tobias snarled.

He shouted, "I want you to spend the rest of your life groveling before Mary!"