Chapter 1

I was William Grant's most obedient doormat of a fiancée. The Crown Prince of Capitol City's elite. His little puppet who'd never said no.

He said jump. I asked how high.

He told me to apologize for his first love, Rose Sutton. I did it without a second thought.

Everyone laughed at me behind my back. William thought I was so far gone for him that I couldn't live without him.

Then came the engagement banquet. Rose's heart gave out. She needed Rh-negative blood.

William grabbed my throat, his eyes bloodshot. "Nina, give Rose your heart. You owe her this."

I nodded. Tears streaming down my face. "Okay."

But inside? Inside I was screaming. 'This dumbass. The second I fake my death and ghost this shitty plot, I'm coming back for his ashes.'

In the corner, the man who made the whole goddamn city sweat, Victor Lane, the shadow everyone was terrified of, slowly crushed his wine glass and turned his head. He was looking right at me. Like he'd just found something interesting.

*****

In the most notorious den of luxury in Capitol City, the VIP suite at Midnight Lounge.

The air was heavy with the aroma of pricey liquor, cigarettes, and opulent perfume.

I sank down onto the glass-littered carpet, my knees screaming in agony.

On the leather sofa before me sat the man I'd been hopelessly in love with for ten years, William Grant.

He was holding that delicate little thing, Rose Sutton, in his arms, as if she might break at any moment.

"Nina Jameson, are you seriously this dense?"

William Grant towered over me, his eyes burning with disgust and barely contained fury.

"I told you, Rose is sensitive. She can't handle any kind of shock. So why the hell did you show up in a red dress?

"You know seeing red reminds her of the accident. Are you trying to send her over the edge or what?"

I kept my head down, my body trembling just enough to look scared, putting on my best act of fear.

In this melodramatic, abusive novel world, I was the wicked supporting actress. If I wanted to make it back home, I had to follow the plot to the bitter end.

Right now, the script called for William to publicly humiliate me, all to vent his anger for Rose.

I sniffled, my voice choked with tears, making myself sound utterly pathetic.

"I'm sorry... William. It's all my fault.

"I just thought... today's our third engagement anniversary, and I wanted to wear red to celebrate..." I mumbled, barely audible.

"Shut up!" William cut me off.

Without a second thought, he grabbed the ashtray from the table and threw it at my feet.

It landed with a heavy thud.

Glass shards were scattered everywhere, leaving a gash on my leg.

Rose curled up in his arms, her delicate, tearful voice barely above a whisper.

"William, don't be mad at Nina, okay? It's all my fault... I'm just too frail, it's not her fault for wearing red and hurting my feelings..."

Would you listen to that.

Now that was some world-class manipulative sweetness.

William gently patted her back, his eyes full of pity for her, but when he turned to me, it was like he was staring at garbage.

"See that? Rose is still pleading for you, even now! A vicious woman like you isn't even worthy to shine Rose's shoes!" William spat.

I buried my head even lower, big fat tears rolling down my cheeks.

"I really don't deserve it... William, please don't be angry. If you make yourself sick from all this, it would break my heart," I whispered, my voice trembling.

William let out a cold, mocking laugh, his face full of scorn.

"Heartbroken? You? As if," he sneered.

"Since you know you messed up, then don't get up until Rose forgives you!" he snapped.

The whole pack of spoiled heirs lounged around the suite, watching the spectacle like it was prime entertainment.

Someone whistled.

"Ms. Jameson sure is loyal, huh? After all that, she still won't leave," one of them snickered.

"Man, William's got his dog trained real well—look how obedient she is," another jeered.

I kept kneeling upright, my face twisted in misery and regret.

Meanwhile, in my head...

'William, you basic dumbass! If I didn't have to stick to this stupid plot, I would've crammed that ashtray right down your throat already!

'And Rose? Seriously, fainting at the sight of red? What's she gonna do when her period comes—drop dead on the spot? Stop acting like some tragic heroine!

'My knees are killing me. Damn it, when this plot finally ends, the first thing I'll do is hire ten toy boys to party hard on William's grave!'

Just as I was mentally roasting William with every curse I knew...

In the corner of the suite, the man who'd been resting with his eyes closed suddenly opened them.

It was Victor Lane.

William's uncle, the devil himself in Capitol City.

Word was, he was dark and ruthless. Three years ago, a car crash crippled him for life, and since then, he'd only gotten more volatile.

At that moment, his deep eyes were locked right on me.

There was a hint in his gaze... like he was trying to figure me out.

My heart gave a nervous jolt.

'What are you looking at, you lame jerk? Yeah, you're good-looking, but don't even think about ruining my performance!' I griped to myself.

Victor's lips gave a barely noticeable twitch.