Chapter 1

The day I married Edward, my grandmother was mauled to death by a crocodile at a private zoo.

The owner of that zoo was Edward's childhood sweetheart, Sophia.

The security footage was crystal clear: Sophia herself shoved my grandmother into the enclosure, and all that was left was a heap of bones.

"Sophia went way out of line this time. Whatever you decide, I'm with you," Edward said.

After ten years of being together, this was the first time Edward had ever taken my side.

I didn't hesitate. I took Sophia to court and charged her with murder.

But the day before the trial, Edward threw a bank card loaded with 3 million at me, telling me to drop the case.

He said, "Sophia has depression. She snapped. I've punished her enough.

"She's the Summers heiress. If she goes to prison, she's finished."

To keep me from the trial, Edward forced me to swallow a lethal dose of sleeping pills, not caring I was pregnant.

In that moment, I died inside.

*****

I was out cold for three days, and when I finally woke up, I saw Edward sitting right by my bed.

"Lily, the hearing's already passed. You need to drop the charges," he said.

He didn't ask if I was okay. His first words were all about Sophia, his childhood sweetheart.

I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. I snapped, "Forget it, Edward. She killed my grandma. I'm not backing down, no matter what.

"I swear, I'll make Sophia pay for what she's done."

Edward caught the pillow with ease, his face blank, but his eyes were icy cold.

He said, "You know Sophia has depression. She was just upset that I married you, so she lashed out at your grandma.

"The crocodile's already been taken away by the authorities.

"I'm offering an apology for Sophia. The compensation is a full 3 million. Isn't that enough?

"Considering your grandma was eighty, the most you'd get is 300 thousand.

"That's a hundred times the usual compensation, Lily. You're making out like a bandit."

Hearing that casual tone of his, like he'd actually done me a huge favor, I felt rage surge inside me, and I wanted to tear his face off.

But then, my stomach churned violently, pain twisting through me until cold sweat drenched my forehead.

I cried out, "Edward, that was my grandma. She was the only family I had left. Do you really think you can put a price on that?"

My voice was shaking, but all I felt was a bone-deep hatred.

I shouted, "Sophia shoved my grandma into the enclosure and watched her get ripped to pieces by a crocodile. That's murder. Shouldn't she pay for that?"

Edward frowned, looking clearly annoyed.

He said, "Lily, I'm giving you another chance to change your mind."

Edward's assistant took out his phone and showed me a video.

In the video, my little sister was tied up on the school rooftop.

Her hair was wild, and she was struggling, screaming into the camera, "Lily, help me!"

Edward said, "Drop the charges, or your sister dies. Your choice."

His tone was calm, but it was like he was holding a knife to my throat.

I shot my hand up to hit Edward, but he grabbed my wrist in a vice-like grip.

He asked, "Lily, are you really willing to risk everything you have now for someone who's already gone?"

That was the last straw. All my pent-up rage and grief finally exploded. I was shaking from head to toe.

I remembered back in high school, when some old enemies of the Lanes came after Edward, and he was about to be burned alive.

My parents happened to be passing by, saw what was happening, and without waiting for the fire department, they rushed straight in to save him. They didn't think twice about the danger.

Edward made it out alive, but my parents were lost to the flames forever.