Chapter 1

Adam Sterling and I were each other's first loves. After eight years together, we finally decided to tie the knot.

But just one day before the wedding, Adam dropped a bombshell. He said he wanted an open marriage.

I remembered the lipstick in his pocket that wasn't mine.

And then there was that young, attractive guy who kept popping up in my life these days.

My heart was pounding.

I felt completely torn.

I was quite conservative. There was no way I could accept something like an open marriage.

After thinking it through, I called off the wedding and set out to find love elsewhere.

Later, when Adam found out I needed a child to inherit the family business, he started training hard at the gym for two hours every single day.

He said, "I volunteer to be the father of your next child."

*****

Adam said, "After we get married, we can each enjoy our own fun. Just make sure neither of us ends up with a kid on the side. When we've had enough fun and get tired of it, we'll focus on our family.

"Grace, what do you think?" he asked.

I just stared at Adam in silence.

My hands clenched into fists, and my freshly done wedding nails dug so hard into my palms that they almost broke the skin.

Suddenly, the image of that lipstick and that handsome young face flashed through my mind.

I paused and then said calmly, "Okay."

On the day of the wedding, I ditched it and took off to Yorkis, where I holed up for a whole month.

It wasn't until I landed in Yorkis that I realized just how right I was to run away from the wedding.

The owner of that lipstick, Chloe Summers, showed up at the wedding, pregnant and ready to make a scene, using the baby to force Adam to marry her.

Adam was totally blindsided.

He thought he'd covered all his bases, but he still got outplayed. Chloe had him cornered.

Good thing I got out of there fast. Otherwise, I'd be the laughingstock of Captus.

Adam told Chloe to get an abortion right then and there.

Not every woman was good enough to have his kid.

I was the only one he'd ever let have his child.

Now, Adam was sitting right across from me.

His eyes burned with anger as he stared at me, clearly waiting for an apology.

But when he saw me messing with my phone, acting like he didn't exist, not even bothering to pretend I was sorry, his temper flared instantly.

He said, "Grace, did you have fun?

"You embarrassed me in front of everyone by ditching our wedding, and then hid out for a month before finally showing your face. Don't you have anything to say for yourself?"

I didn't even spare him a glance. After a long pause, I finally spoke up, my tone slow and unhurried.

I said, "I did have some fun.

"And I have nothing to say."

I'd actually been in a pretty good mood today, until Adam showed up and ruined everything.

I stood up slowly, towering over him and staring him down.

I said, "Embarrassed? Good. You deserve it.

"And just so we're clear, I wasn't hiding out for a month. I was in Yorkis for work, handling our company's overseas expansion.

"And also, I'm breaking off our engagement."

Adam shot to his feet, his face a mask of disbelief.

"What did you just say?" he blurted out.

I gave him a sarcastic smirk.

I said, "What?

"Been fooling around too much lately? Is your body falling apart? And now your ears don't work either?"

Adam gave me a long, searching look before suddenly breaking into a laugh.

He said, "Are you jealous?

"Chloe and I? That was just a fling, and you know it. No need to get all fired up. You're always my number one.

"Alright, stop it."

He circled the table and, catching me off guard, pulled me into his arms.

He said, "Don't be jealous, and quit with that talk about calling off the wedding.

"Honestly, I thought you'd be the one apologizing first, but it looks like I messed up, too. I'll forgive you for ditching the wedding.

"I'll find us a new date, and we'll have another wedding. I really missed you this past month. Now that I've got you back in my arms, I finally feel whole again."

I shoved him away like he was something unlucky I couldn't bear to touch.

Just knowing his arms had held another woman made me feel sick to my stomach.

I stepped back, brows furrowed, keeping my distance.

"You're dirty now. Don't touch me," I said coldly.

"Me? Dirty?" Adam shot back, his face going ashen in an instant.

"Say that again," he growled.

I didn't hesitate.

"You're dirty. You're dirty. You're dirty. Had enough yet?" I spat.

"What's your problem, Grace?" Adam said coldly.

Our companies were tied together so tightly that he was sure I wouldn't really break off the engagement.

He said, "You already punished me by ditching the wedding, humiliating me, and making me the talk of the town among the upper class. Isn't that enough for you?

"And now you're calling me dirty? I'm a total clean freak!"

I slapped him hard across the face.

I'd been itching to do that forever. Finally, I made it happen.

Adam and I had completely different views on love. There was no way I could ever accept his idea of an open marriage.

I was calling off this engagement for good.

I said, "Adam, don't you dare try to pin this on me. You brought this to yourself. If I hadn't ditched the wedding, I'd be the one getting humiliated. And you still have the nerve to run your mouth at me?"

Piece of shit. He'd been hooking up with Chloe behind my back for three damn years.

He had been cheating on me for three years. Honestly, the fact that I didn't slice him open right then just meant I was way too nice.

I grabbed my bag and stormed out, immediately calling to settle the betrothal gifts from the Sterling family.

Now that I'd decided to call off the engagement, I was going to make it quick and clean.