Chapter 1

Holt told me not to come to his family dinner.

His reason: "You spend all day in the morgue. You reek. My mom can't stand it."

I'd already taken vacation days and booked my flight. I was planning to travel alone and clear my head.

But then he took Priscilla Quinn instead.

Priscilla was a socialite from a prominent family who spoke eight languages. Standing next to Holt, she looked like she belonged there.

Photos from the family dinner were all over social media that night.

Someone tagged me in the comments: "Fiona Harvey, did you see this?"

I saw it.

I canceled my plane ticket and booked a cruise instead.

The night Holt came home, I was packing.

He stood in the doorway with a rare hint of guilt. "Where are you going?"

"Home."

"Your home is right here—"

"No. It's not."

I zipped up my suitcase and walked past him without stopping.

He didn't know my father was the biggest creditor of his Holt Corporation in Southeast Asia.

"Fiona Harvey, how long are you going to play this hard-to-get game?"

Holt kicked my suitcase aside, his eyes full of impatience.

"Canceling your flight and booking a cruise instead—you think changing your travel plans will make me beg you to stay?"

I stopped and looked at his self-righteous face.

"I told you. I'm going home."

"Your home is here."

"No," I said, looking him in the eye. "Let go."

He hadn't expected me to look at him that way.

No pleading. No hysterical questioning. Just the cold indifference you'd give trash.

For a moment, he seemed uncertain, but his male ego quickly covered it up.

He sneered and yanked my passport from my bag.

"You're an orphan. Where else do you have to go except here?"

I looked at my empty hand. I didn't scream. I didn't try to grab it back.

"Give me my passport."

"When you learn to be reasonable, I'll give it back."

He tossed the passport into the highest drawer of the entryway cabinet and deliberately locked it.

"I brought Priscilla to the family dinner because her father can help Holt Corporation secure overseas channels in Europe."

"You're a coroner who spends all day with corpses. What can you do for me besides cutting up bodies?"

"I was putting on a performance for business. My feelings for you haven't changed. Why do you have to make a scene right now?"

I looked at the man I'd loved for seven years and suddenly found his face repulsive beyond measure.

"A performance? So you brought another woman to meet your family and let her act like the future Mrs. Holt?"

"Holt, do you think I have no self-respect? That you can trample on me however you want?"

Holt frowned, as if I were being completely unreasonable.

"That formaldehyde smell on you gives my mom headaches. I told you not to come to protect you from being hurt."

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Priscilla stood outside in a haute couture dress, smiling.

"Holt, is Fiona mad at me?"

She walked in and naturally hooked her arm through Holt's.

"I just thought the terrace in this apartment has a great view. I wanted to borrow it for a birthday party. Why is Fiona talking about running away from home?"

I watched them coldly.

This penthouse in the city center—I'd bought it with my own money, paid in full. Holt's name wasn't even on the deed.

Every piece of furniture, every plant—I'd arranged them myself.

And now he'd agreed to lend my house to his mistress for a party without even asking me?

The comments scrolled across the screen:

[This guy is unbelievable. Taking his girlfriend's apartment and lending it to his mistress?]

[Complains about the morgue smell, but his own heart smells worse. Fiona, don't hold back. Crush him with your money. The Harvey heiress doesn't have to take this.]

"She's just petty. She's never seen the world."

Holt patted Priscilla's hand, his tone gentle.

"It's just an apartment. You're an honored guest of the Holt family. Use it however you want."

He turned to me, his eyes instantly cold.

"Fiona, Priscilla is from a prestigious family. She's doing you a favor by using your place."

"Be gracious. Don't make me think you're being ridiculous."

I stared at their intertwined arms.

"Fine. She can use the house."

My tone was calm.

Holt paused, seemingly surprised by my compliance.

"Good. At least you know what's good for you."

"But if anything gets damaged, she pays for it at full price." I locked eyes with Priscilla.

Priscilla covered her mouth and laughed.

"Fiona, you're so funny. These little things? I don't even care about them."

"Good."

I turned to grab my backup bag and head out.

"What are you doing now?"

Holt stepped in front of me, blocking my way.

"Since you're using the house for your party, I'm in the way. I'll stay at a hotel."

"Fiona Harvey, I'm warning you. Know when to stop."

He lowered his voice, his tone patronizing.

"I canceled business tonight to come home and spend time with you. Don't be ungrateful."

I walked around him and headed straight for the door.

"If you walk out that door today, don't ever think about coming back to the Holt family."

"Perfect."