Chapter 1

Seven years after my brother died, I became the most pampered kept lover of Jason Morrow, one of the most important figures of the capital's elite circle.

People whispered behind my back that I was a shameless gold-digging leech.

They weren't totally wrong. All I wanted was his money, his power, his influence.

But there was something they didn't know.

I wasn't after Jason's heart. I was after his life.

Seven years ago, my brother—dressed as a female lead—brought the house down in a musical performance that made Jason smile.

One smile. That was all it took to spark jealousy in Jason's childhood sweetheart.

To please her, Jason had people force-feed my brother concentrated sulfuric acid.

It burned through my brother's mouth, throat, and stomach until it killed him.

When he died, Jason's sweetheart looked at my brother's disfigured body and sneered, "Oh. He was a guy? Gross."

Then they came to me, pointing at the mangled corpse, and said, "Your brother accidentally drank acid. He's dead."

But my brother made his living performing.

He protected his voice like it was his life. He wouldn't even drink soda, let alone "accidentally" swallow acid.

Did Jason and his sweetheart think I'd ever believe their lie? Unbelievable.

***

Jason Morrow's childhood sweetheart, Ruth Dudley, was back.

For almost a whole month, I hadn't heard a single word from him.

Online, beneath every video and news piece of Jason showing up at events with Ruth, I'd see the same kinds of comments.

[A stand-in is just a stand-in. No matter how well Aria mimics the real girlfriend, she'll never be the original.]

[The heiress from Jemcrity is back and about to get engaged to the capital's richest heir. Aria Sinclair's good days are probably numbered.]

[Haven't seen Aria popping up on camera lately—bet she already got dumped by Jason.]

I looked at those comments, unfazed, and casually posted a photo on my socials.

It was my brand-new scuba diving instructor certification.

Not long after, fans began commenting under the post.

[Wow, Aria you're amazing! I wanna be just like you.]

[Don't be fooled—this is just another cheap move to please Jason. Everyone knows Jason's into diving. She's just trying to get his attention again.]

[Oh please. Like every woman in the world is as desperate for male attention as you are. If you've got what it takes, get certified and see if Jason even looks at you.]

[Aria's got the looks, the brains, and enough certificates to fill a bookshelf. How does she not outshine Ruth?]

[Some people forget the last time Ruth came back, it was because she failed all her courses and had her graduation delayed.]

[Jason must be blind, treating Ruth like treasure when it's Aria who's the real gem.]

Still, the ones defending me were the minority.

The vast majority just called me a "homewrecker."

But… they weren't wrong.

I was a homewrecker. I did everything I could to come between Jason and Ruth. I wanted to steal him away.

To please Jason, I stacked up certificates like trophies: mountaineering, skiing, skydiving, cooking, baking, nutrition.

Every single certificate only bought me small windows of time with him.

But if quantity mattered, then five years meant something.

Five full years I'd spent by Jason's side—climbing mountains with him, skiing down slopes, jumping out of planes, cooking together, laughing together, sleeping together.

Anyone would have picked me over the spoiled Ruth from Jemcrity who only knew how to whine and cry.

Women love strength. So do men.

Jason still showed up at midnight.

He was tired and disheveled, reeking of alcohol.

The second I saw him, I smiled and threw my arms around him.

My warm cheek pressed to his chest. A few seconds later, tears soaked through to his skin.

"Why'd you show up all of a sudden? You didn't even call first," I asked, knowing the answer.

Of course I knew why he came.

Right after I posted that scuba certificate, some of my fans went to Ruth's page and stirred things up.

They told her to keep her man in check.