Chapter 1
During my freshman year of college, I started dating a rich guy.
He was great in every way, except that he never let me be part of his circle.
I asked him, "Why don't we get married after graduation?"
He lit up a cigarette, just smiled, and didn't say a word.
Right after class that day, I was blocked at the school gate by a gentle woman.
She placed a hand on her barely swollen belly, speaking in a soft, gentle voice, "Are you the girl who's planning to marry Edward Frost after graduation?"
My fingers gripped my suitcase tighter, and I just bit my lip, refusing to answer.
Honestly, I already had a bad feeling about this.
"Don't be nervous, Anna," she said.
She gave me a gentle smile.
She continued, "I'm Nancy Brooks, Edward's legal wife.
"I know you two have been together for two years, and I also know you never even heard of me.
"Today is our third wedding anniversary. He told me he had to work late at the office, but the truth is, you two are going to a movie at 8:30.
"After that, he'll have you stay at his place out in the suburbs, so you can spend your winter break there in peace, right?"
Yes, she was right.
I had a movie ticket tucked away in my pocket.
During class, I kept flipping it over and over, daydreaming about tonight.
I kept imagining myself leaning against Edward's arm in the movie theater, watching a romantic movie together.
Nancy's gaze dropped to the ring on my left ring finger.
She asked, "Did he give this to you?
"It's a Cartier ring. It really is beautiful. Back when I was young, I loved this style as well."
Her eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she forced a bitter smile.
"I remember this is a matching couple ring set. He has one, too, doesn't he?" Nancy asked.
An unbearable shame left me nowhere to hide, nearly driving me mad.
I slipped my left hand back into my sleeve, mumbling, "Yeah."
It happened last year, on Valentine's Day.
It was my birthday, and Edward rented out an entire restaurant for us. As we shared a candlelit dinner, he slipped this ring onto my finger.
My family was struggling financially.
When I found out the ring cost 12,000 dollars, I was so overwhelmed with joy that I burst into tears.
In that moment, I felt like I could give him my whole world.
I was so swept up in the moment that I never even questioned why Edward only ever wore his ring that one night.
When I looked back now, he was just scared Nancy would notice.
Anger, shame, and the urge to cry all hit me at once.
I couldn't accept it.
The guy I loved turned out to be nothing but a wolf in sheep's clothing, cheating on his pregnant wife while pretending to be Mr. Perfect.
So that was why he always kept me out of his circle.
Because to him, I was just the secret mistress he kept outside.
"Anna," Nancy said softly.
She held her back and took a labored breath.
"Would you mind coming with me to the café across the street for a bit?" she asked.
I glanced at her baby bump.
It hit me that pregnant women really shouldn't be standing for too long.
She must've been waiting for me at the gate for ages. This was clearly her limit.
We found a booth tucked away in the corner of the café, somewhere no one would notice us, and sat down.
I slipped the ring off my finger and offered it to her.
Nancy glanced at it, refusing to take it.
She said, "When Edward and I got married, he never gave me a ring. He never loved me. I've always known that.
"Take it back. If you ever get tired of wearing it, you can always sell it for some cash."
Just then, a waitress walked over and asked me, "Ms. Grant, your usual? Matcha latte, classic tiramisu, and some fried bites?"
Before I could answer, she glanced at Nancy, who was sitting right across from me, and asked, "And what about you, miss?"
"A lemonade, room temp, no sugar. Thanks," Nancy said.
"Sure. Ms. Grant, that'll be forty bucks. Already charged to Mr. Frost's card," the waitress said.
My heart skipped a beat.
I couldn't bring myself to look up.
Things happened so suddenly that I'd completely forgotten Edward had gotten me a membership at this café.
Nancy's gaze was soft and kind.
She said, "It's alright, it doesn't bother me.
"Honestly, you still can't quite believe he'd do something like this, can you?"
She was right.
I always saw Edward as perfect, like he could do no wrong.
To me, he was the genius, protective Mr. Right we only read about in romance novels.
We met online.
For our first in-person meeting, Edward showed up at the school gate in a Maybach.
He was the perfect gentleman—polite, refined, and always spoke with such elegance.
He was nothing like those guys at school who were always cursing and goofing off without a care.
The moment I laid eyes on him, I fell for him at once.
Honestly, what girl hasn't fantasized about a powerful CEO falling for her?
Turned out, sometimes those wild dreams really would come true.
Not for a second did I think it was all just a trap.