Chapter 1
My name was Jane Mayer, and everyone around here called me the perfect lover.
For five years, I'd been Hayden Gray's fiancée in name only, never pushing for a wedding, asking for a marriage certificate, or fighting over his money.
All I ever wanted was for Hayden to donate bone marrow to my mom.
When he cheated on me with an award-winning actress, I covered for him. When he was caught making out with a pop idol, I bought the video rights to keep it out of the public eye.
When he got a social media influencer pregnant, I even helped her schedule prenatal appointments.
The rich ladies in our circle would look down on me and pity me at the same time, joking, "Jane, you're living like a dog."
I just ignored them. Until the night my mom passed away, the Gray Group suddenly hit a financial crisis. I sold my dad's only heirloom to help Hayden get through it.
Finally, Hayden decided to make it official. He just tossed the ring at my feet without a second thought.
"Pick a day. Let's get married. Consider it my way of saying thanks," he said.
I looked at the ring but left it where it was.
"No need. I was just paying you back. Hayden, let's call it quits," I said.
*****
When Hayden heard what I said, he actually looked up from his paperwork for once.
He looked me in the eye. "The doctor said your mom's finally showing signs of recovery. She'll be ready for the bone marrow transplant soon.
"You really want to break up with me now? Are you seriously willing to risk your mom's life over this?"
I didn't bother to answer him.
I only gripped the document in my hand tighter.
Stamped with a seal, it was my mom's death certificate.
"Did you tell Mandy about my mom's hospital room?" My voice was cold and steady.
Hayden let out a soft chuckle, giving me an I-get-it kind of smile.
He said, "I thought you were actually making a fuss about breaking up, but turns out it's just about this.
"Yeah. Mandy heard your mom was sick and made a special trip to see her.
"From the way you're acting, I guess she probably said something she shouldn't have. You know how spoiled she is.
"Whatever, I'll go explain things to your mom myself in a couple of days. You..."
But before he could finish, I tossed a newspaper onto his desk.
The headline screamed, [Gray Group CEO's New Flame and Her Kid Take Over, Disgraced Ex Reduced to Nanny Mistress!]
The photo showed me walking Mandy out of the prenatal clinic.
The gossip media's words were vicious.
Mandy was rumored to be pregnant, and as Hayden's so-called girlfriend, I willingly degraded myself for money, waiting on her hand and foot like a dog.
Mandy took that newspaper straight to my mom.
My mom had been a teacher all her life. She always held her head high and had a backbone.
But I was the one who shattered that pride.
She didn't want treatment anymore. She didn't even want to live.
The red light in the ER stayed on all night. When they finally wheeled her out, her body was covered with a white sheet.
I slid the death certificate closer to him, my hand trembling slightly.
"Hayden, I want answers," I said, my voice icy and unwavering.
Hayden was done with me. He didn't even bother to look my way.
He just gave me a slight frown, like I was being annoyingly clueless.
Hayden said, his tone cold and dismissive. "You want answers from me? Jane, do you even realize your own position?
"We're not married, and even if we were, you wouldn't get to tell me what to do. But since you helped me out, just do as you're told and pick up the ring.
"When things settle down at the company, I'll go with you to explain things to your mom.
"As for Mandy, I'll take care of it. I'm busy. Now go home."
With that, Hayden buried himself in his paperwork again, acting like I didn't even exist.
His indifference was so icy that it made my blood run cold.
My hand, clutching the death certificate, just hung there in the air, not knowing what to do next.
A wry smile tugged at my lips as I remembered my mom's final words.
She was beyond furious.
Her hand shot up, and the slap landed on my face with a sting that burned.
Her tears mixed with fury as she snarled at me, voice shaking. "I'd rather be dead than have a daughter as much of a disgrace as you!
"I'd rather die than have you go out there and whore yourself out for everyone to laugh at!
"Jane, you're a whore who actually fell for her own john. Do you have any shame at all?"
Yeah. I had no shame left.
I slipped the death certificate back into my bag, squared my shoulders, and walked out without looking back.
"The ring," Hayden said, still not bothering to look up.
He reminded me, his eyes never leaving the paperwork.
I turned back to look at him.
He kept his head down, totally absorbed in his paperwork, looking all serious and focused.
I remembered how he used to look at me back when we first started dating, his eyes just as earnest and intense.
He told me, "She's your mom. 2.5 million dollars a year for her treatment? That's pocket change for me. I've got it covered.
"I'll donate. If it means saving your mom, I'll give her anything. I'll give her my bone marrow, whatever she needs!
"Jane, I promise, I'll make you my wife someday!"
Back then, we'd said those cheesy promises so many times that they lost all meaning.
But after everything, love always ended the same.
I lowered my gaze and saw the velvet box at my feet, open. The massive diamond inside caught the light, its brilliance so intense that it nearly blinded me.