Chapter 1

After three years of a secret relationship, my boyfriend, Eugene Chambers, finally promised to take me to meet his parents.

I arrived at the meeting spot, dressed to the nines, only for him to drag me into a vacant room where he began pulling at my clothes.

We were right in the middle of it when a knock interrupted us.

"Eugene, what are you doing in there? The engagement party's wrapped up, but you've still got guests out here," his mother said.

My heated body turned ice-cold in an instant.

"Engagement party? Who's engaged?" I asked.

He clicked his tongue, stood up, and dressed without a care. "I am," he said, utterly indifferent.

I was rooted to the spot, my mind completely blank.

"Just a minute, Mom," Eugene called out. "Please, go back and keep Evelyn company for me."

As the sound of high heels faded away, I yanked his tie, glaring and demanding, "Tell me what's going on here. What's this engagement all about?"

Just a few hours ago, Eugene called and asked me to drop off some papers at a hotel.

My heart sank the moment I saw the address.

He'd always promised that he'd introduce me to his parents one day. Holding onto that hope, I'd stayed in the shadows as his secret girlfriend.

Eugene and I went to the same university.

Back then, Eugene was like the sun, radiant and untouchable. I always felt like I was in his shadow, constantly chasing his light.

Four years ago, I joined his company. I started arranging what seemed like accidental meetings until I finally managed to get his attention.

We slowly grew closer, and a spark ignited between us. It wasn't long before we naturally found our way into a relationship.

Just moments ago, my head was filled with the lovely idea of him introducing me to his parents, but that fantasy was brutally shattered.

He watched my dazed expression with amusement in his eyes, his hand still moving restlessly on my thigh. "What's wrong? Disappointed?" he asked in a teasing tone.

"Look at you, dressed up so nicely today," he went on. "Did you think I asked you to deliver files as an excuse to introduce you to my parents? Oh, Selena, my dear, you're still so naive.

"You're gorgeous, competent, and have an amazing figure, but you're not exactly my mother's type. Though I think you like the thrill of our little secret as much as I do."

I bit down hard on my lip, refusing to let the tears fall.

Undeterred, Eugene closed the distance between us, his smile turning wicked as his lips brushed my ear. "Your eyes give you away, Selena."

I shoved him away, my vision blurring as I straightened my clothes with clenched teeth. Snatching the files from the floor, I hurled them at his chest. "The delivery is done. I'm leaving," I said coldly.

We left the room one after the other and had just turned the corner when we nearly collided with a woman.

She was wearing a stunning evening dress, her expression darkening as she stared at us.

Before she could say a word, Eugene quickly stepped forward, wrapped his arm around her, and playfully tapped her nose. "Did you get tired of waiting for me out here?"

She pushed him away, pouting. "Of course not. So, who's she?"

Eugene pretended to rub his shoulder where she'd shoved him, looking completely calm as he replied, "She's just here to deliver some documents."

She glanced at the papers in Eugene's hand without pressing further. Then, she suddenly hooked her arm through mine, smiling warmly as she insisted I come to their engagement party.

I instinctively wanted to refuse, but she pulled me along anyway.

I didn't know if she did it intentionally or not, but her nails scratched my arm hard enough to break the skin.

Just then, I happened to notice a burn scar beneath her left sleeve.

During the short walk, I realized who she was—Evelyn Jensen, the childhood friend Eugene always mentioned, the one who had moved abroad years ago.

He could never speak about her without smiling, and he often shared amusing stories from their childhood.

After bringing me into the party, Evelyn offered me a glass of wine with a perfectly polite smile. "So, you're Eugene's secretary? Thank you for going through the trouble of delivering those documents, Ms. Shaw."

I forced a small smile, but before I could respond, Eugene showed up with his parents.

His mother, Melissa Chambers, looked me over with a critical gaze before turning away with obvious contempt.

Then she took out a necklace, beaming as she spoke to Evelyn. "Eugene had this specially made for you as soon as he heard you were back in the country.

"It's been so long since you've seen each other. He was just too shy to give it to you himself, so he asked me to pass it along."

I stared at that necklace, and the realization hit me like a slap in the face.

Just a few nights back, in a moment of passion, Eugene had clasped an identical necklace around my neck in bed.

I remembered how happy I had been, wondering what the "V" on the pendant meant. Now, as I looked back, I found myself utterly pathetic.

He must've ordered two identical necklaces, putting some small mark on one to tell them apart.