Chapter 1

The day the scholarship girl my family sponsored came to visit me carrying a basket of red dates and peanuts, beaming as she congratulated me on my pregnancy, my gentle, polished fiancé fell for her at first sight and started chasing her behind my back. She resisted at first, then half gave in and gradually began taking everything he offered as if it were only natural.

Behind my back, they went everywhere like a couple. He showed her a glittering world she'd never known and even brought her into the villa I'd personally decorated as our wedding home, while I stood there like an outsider, watching them fall for each other right under my nose before quietly going to the hospital to end the pregnancy.

By the time they finally remembered to feel guilty about me, their dirty little affair had already been going on for months. As if they'd planned it, they both chose to bow out gracefully, and Emily claimed she didn't want to be the other woman anymore.

My fiancé came back to me, held me tight, and swore that from now on he'd live a good life with me. In their minds, as long as they didn't blow it up in my face and ended things neatly in private, I was supposed to forgive everything and move on. Why should I?

Those two ingrates only made it out of those mountains because my family sponsored them. What made them think that I, a young heiress already running my family, would just turn the page? The day William Quinn and Emily Rivers "broke up," I watched them say goodbye beneath the Wisteria Arbor in my villa garden, kissing like they couldn't bear to part.

They both thought I was asleep. After all, in their eyes, I was still pregnant, the kind of woman who'd nod off the moment her head touched the pillow and never notice their secret. But I was standing by the third-floor window, swirling half a glass of red wine and looking down at them.

Emily was crying with her forehead pressed to William's chest, shoulders shaking. One arm circled her waist while the other wiped her tears; he whispered into her ear and kissed her hair after every sentence. How devoted. How moving.

Even through the double-paned soundproof glass, I could pretty much fill in the blanks. It was probably the same old self-pitying garbage: they couldn't keep going like this, they'd already wronged me badly enough, and now they had to end things cleanly and wish each other well.

Emily was sobbing too hard for me to hear her, but from the shape of her lips, I knew exactly what she was saying: "Will, I never meant to ruin your relationship. I just couldn't control myself. Charlotte is so good to me, and she's carrying your baby. Every time I see her, I feel like a thief. Like some rat hiding in the gutter."

William looked at her with obvious heartache, his fingers brushing her cheek. "This isn't your fault. It's mine. I was the one who fell for you first. Don't blame yourself. Live well from now on, and find someone who'll treat you right."

"What about you? Are you going back to Charlotte?"

"Yeah." William nodded. "I'll be with her and make up for what I did. After all, she's pregnant with my child." The moment he mentioned the baby, they both fell silent.

They held each other for a long time. Only when it got late did William finally let go and watch her walk out through the villa gates. He stood there, staring after her, unmoving. If some outsider had seen that lovesick look on his face, they probably would've cried on the spot. I only found it laughable, so I drained my wine in one go.

I set the glass down and walked barefoot across the cashmere carpet toward the bedroom. By the time William came back, I was already in bed. Thinking I was asleep, he quietly took off his coat, lifted the blanket, and slipped in beside me.

"Charlie." He called my name in a low, husky voice, thick with fake tenderness. I didn't move. He called me again, his lips grazing my earlobe.

Only then did I pretend to wake up, turning over and asking groggily, "What time is it?"

"A little after one," he said, then leaned in to sniff my hair. "Have you been drinking?"

"Couldn't sleep, so I had half a glass." I yawned. "Weren't you in the study working on your paper? Why'd you come back so late?"

He went quiet for a second, then suddenly pulled me hard into his arms, his chin resting on top of my head. "Charlie, I'm sorry. These past few months, I haven't been good to you. I neglected you. I won't do that again. We'll live well together. I'll take care of you, and of our family."

I didn't answer. I just let him hold me. His palm slid down to my lower belly, then he froze. Under his hand, my stomach was flat. If anything, after the abortion and all the careful dieting and exercise, it was firmer than before.

William yanked his hand back like he'd been shocked, propped himself up, and stared at my stomach. His voice shook. "Charlie... your belly... what about our baby?" All the color drained from his face.

I met his stare calmly, then tugged at my lips and gave him a tired, sad smile. "Gone."

"What do you mean... gone?"

I didn't answer right away. I slowly closed my eyes, like I couldn't bear to bring it up again. The memory came rushing back, not because it hurt, but because it was laughable.