Chapter 1

I, Isabelle Sterling, was one of Jeloria's most admired girls from a prominent family.

Olivia Quinn had always believed that Collin Schmidt stayed single because he was waiting for her to say yes.

No matter how handsome or prestigious the suitors who came for her, she turned them all away.

She waited a long time, only to find out Collin was engaged to me.

She completely lost it, doing whatever it took to sleep with him, even making sure all the guests "happened" to catch them together.

Cornered by scandal, Collin married her, while I was driven out of Jeloria by those in power.

On the day I left, plenty of people came to see me off.

I looked at Olivia, who was clinging tightly to Collin from behind, and suddenly smiled.

Did they think I was leaving against my will? Too bad, I wasn't.

*****

The day I was cast out of Jeloria, I knew deep down that one day, I would return in full glory.

Three years slipped by in a flash. My maid brought me the Lady of Willowbrook's invitation.

After a quick look, I wrote back, [Your Highness, thank you for your kind thoughts. I'll be back in Jeloria soon and will definitely come to the event.]

The flower soirée was held in the garden in Willowbrook Manor.

The moment I stepped into the garden, everyone stopped talking, and all eyes immediately locked on me.

The next second, the ladies swarmed over like a wave, surrounding me in an instant.

"Isabelle, it's been forever."

"Isabelle, you are back."

"It's been three years, and you look even more stunning than before."

The air buzzed with chatter and laughter, full of energy.

I was admired by many, not just those noble young men.

Most of the well-born girls in Jeloria had once been my close friends whom I could talk to for hours.

"It's been so long, girls," I greeted them with a warm smile, nodding to each.

Over the past three years, letters from them had stacked up in my estate in Noberton, each one filled with their care and affection. There were so many that I could barely keep up with replying.

Cora, Duchess of Willowbrook, pushed through the crowd and grabbed my hand.

Her bright eyes turned teary, and with a catch in her voice, she complained, "Isabelle, we haven't seen each other for three years. If I hadn't pushed this invitation to you, I bet you'd have forgotten all of us."

She held my hand, looking me up and down, her tone both teasing and happy. "You've slimmed down a bit, but wow, you're even more captivating than before."

The crowd joined in, their praise warm and sincere.

I patted her hand, my voice gentle. "Your Highness, thanks for caring. The journey is long, and letters take time, so I barely wrote to you, but upon receiving your invitation, I set off at once."

I looked around at the familiar faces and smiled. "How could I ever forget any of you in Jeloria? You're my dearest friends."

Just then, a subtle stir rippled through the entrance. The bustling crowd around me went suddenly tense.

Smiles faltered on everyone's faces, and they looked toward the same spot, their expressions a mix of curiosity and unease.

Cora's grip on my hand tightened. She leaned in, whispering in my ear, "Isabelle, guess who came to this party tonight?"

Her intent was obvious as her eyes fixed on the far end of the aisle where people had naturally cleared a path.

Of course, I knew.

My smile widened slightly as I glanced toward Collin by the entrance.

There he was, the one responsible for making me leave Jeloria.

Three years ago, I had just turned sixteen, and my father was still an official at the Chamber of Revenues.

His job wasn't bad, but in Jeloria, where the city was packed with big shots, it was nothing special.

My father was known for being honest, and although our family wasn't part of the elite, we lived comfortably and with respect.

Collin was the heir to the Schmidt family, born into privilege, with an elegance and charisma that set him apart from everyone else. He was so popular that many girls in Jeloria admired him.

Among all the sons of prominent families, he truly stood out above the rest.

I didn't remember exactly which family's party it was, but that day, he saw me.

Word was that he fell for me at first sight.

It was said that he spent a restless night after that, and by the next morning, he'd already sent someone to find out everything about me.

When he heard about my reputation in Jeloria, he was even more delighted.

His feelings for me were obvious, and he didn't even bother to hide them.

A simple smile from me, and his flawless face lit with a delicate flush.

He treated me with true devotion, even promising firmly, "Isabelle, you're the only one I love."

With families of equal standing and hearts aligned, the marriage naturally fell into place.

We were engaged soon. We only needed to set a date for the wedding.

However, our blissful union offended someone, sparking jealousy and rage.

Olivia was the daughter of Daniel Quinn, the chancellor.

When the new king came to the throne, Daniel's power grew immensely, and Olivia was spoiled.

She'd been head over heels for Collin for years, stubbornly convinced that the only reason he hadn't married was that he was waiting for her to say yes.

When she learned about our engagement, years of obsession and resentment instantly drove her to madness.

She went completely crazy.

During a party, she got her chance. She somehow got her hands on a secret medicine and bribed one of the host's maids.

She used my name to trick Collin into heading to a guest room.

He was already drunk. Hearing that I had invited him, he entered the room without a second thought.

Olivia got what she wanted and had sex with him.

And she didn't stop there. She made it public.

Timing it perfectly, someone deliberately guided the guests straight to that room. The crowd was talking and laughing when they heard someone moaning.

The ladies, well aware of what had happened, immediately felt embarrassed.

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, and the host went completely pale.

He could hardly believe that something so disgraceful had happened at his house.

Several young lords, never ones to shy away from a scandal, burst out laughing as they flung the door wide open.

Collin was sprawled out on the bed, barely conscious, while Olivia's hair was in wild disarray, her eyes burning with lust.

They were entwined in a passionate embrace, lost in their own world.