Chapter 1

Three years ago, Caspian Hayes threw me onto a deserted, uninhabited island, all to stand up for his young housekeeper.

He looked at me coldly and said, "Come back when you've learned your lesson."

Then, he left without a second glance.

I struggled to survive on that deserted island for more than a month, barely escaping being torn apart by wild animals. I almost ended up as their next meal.

Later, Zane Vaughan just happened to pass by and saved me. He took me home and made me his wife.

Three years later, at a grand party, I met Caspian again.

Caspian held onto my hand, his grip firm. "Elowen, where have you been all these years? I've been searching for you for so long," he asked.

He continued, "I just lost my head about what happened back then. Are you still angry with me?"

I smiled and replied, "Of course not. It's over."

After all, I married the wealthiest guy in Harbor City and had two kids.

My life was much better than before.

*****

"I'm so glad you're not angry," Caspian said.

He pulled me into his arms excitedly.

I pushed him away and said, "Caspian, I'm married now. So, please, keep your distance."

Caspian's expression froze for a second as he said, "Married? Are you kidding, Elowen?

"You said you're not mad, but you're obviously still giving me the cold shoulder. It's been three years already."

He held my shoulders, still convinced I was just holding a grudge.

His tone suddenly turned resigned as he continued, "Alright, I know I messed up back then, but you weren't blameless either, right?

"Because of you, Maren has to spend her whole life in a wheelchair. At least you can walk, so what are you still unhappy about?"

I laughed. Caspian and I grew up together as childhood sweethearts.

Three years ago, we got engaged and got married.

But on the night of the wedding, Maren Quinn, the housekeeper he'd always kept around, suddenly called.

She just said she wasn't feeling well, and Caspian dumped me immediately, running off without a second thought.

Everyone in Harbor City was laughing at me.

The next morning, I confronted Maren to ask for an explanation.

She pretended to apologize, then suddenly took a dramatic tumble down the stairs. After that, they said she had permanent nerve damage in her leg.

She could no longer walk.

Caspian didn't even bother checking the cameras. He just believed her words.

To stand up for Maren, he ruined my family and bankrupted us.

My parents were framed and sent to prison, and they ended their lives in prison.

I refused to admit I was wrong, so to break me, he flew me out in a helicopter and coldly left me stranded on a deserted island.

I hugged his thigh and begged, "Caspian, please, don't go. Believe me. I swear I didn't push her."

But Maren looked utterly pitiful, though her words were laced with anger.

She said, "Caspian, I know I'm just a housekeeper, nothing special. I can't compete with Elowen's family or her privileged life, but does that mean people like me don't matter?

"I wanted to save enough money to learn dance, but now I can't stand up anymore."

Maren pointed at me, crying as she accused, "It was you. You ruined my dreams. If I can't let go of this anger, then what's the point of living? Then maybe I shouldn't even be alive."

I screamed, "No, I didn't!"

But Caspian didn't even care to hear me out and just threw me on the deserted island.

And he took Maren with him and left without a second thought.

I managed to survive on the island for over a month. I never got a single decent night's sleep.

That painful experience was still deeply etched in my mind.

Happy? Seriously? He dumped all that misery on me for no reason. And he still thinks I should just be happy?

Maybe realizing he'd been too harsh, Caspian eased up and said, "Alright, since you have come back, let's start over and live a good life together."

I shot back, "Live a good life? Are you talking about me, you, and Maren?"

If I remembered right, they just announced their engagement not long ago.

To hold a grand wedding for Maren, Caspian had even booked an entire building.

He even had fireworks lighting up the sky for three days and nights, nonstop.

Caspian shifted uneasily and replied, "Elowen, you know Maren is stuck in a wheelchair. She needs someone to take care of her.

"And I'm just helping you atone for what you did.

"Besides, you just got back, and I bet you don't even have a place to live yet, right? If you don't mind, I could..."

I interrupted him, "What do you mean? You want me to be a mistress?"

Caspian shot back, "Seriously, we were already married back then. How could you ever be a mistress?"

I said, "Thanks, but we never made it official."