Chapter 1

I stared at the fleeting figures in the travel live stream, tears involuntarily streaming down my face.

Alexander Shaw was carrying Louisa Summers up the mountain, panting heavily as he climbed.

I called Alexander, and he said he was out of town on business, in a meeting. He promised to talk when he got back.

A private meeting with Louisa deep in the mountains? That was a big irony.

Alexander had kidney failure and needed a transplant. He seemed so weak in front of me, yet he could carry Louisa up a mountain.

I told him to come back immediately to try on wedding dresses with me.

He said the meeting wasn't over and we'd talk when he had time.

I tore up the report showing that I was a match for his kidney transplant.

Since he betrayed me and used me, I would be the one to send him to his grave.

*****

I was still in dreamland when Alexander barged in.

"Claire, get up. We're going to try on wedding dresses," Alexander said.

I sat up, cranky, and saw Alexander and Louisa standing at my bedroom door. Honestly, they looked like they belonged together.

Still annoyed from just waking up, and with those images of them being all cozy on their trip stuck in my head, I snapped at Alexander, "Mr. Shaw, do you always bring your assistant along when you're supposed to be off the clock?"

Louisa looked a bit uncomfortable, then glanced up at Alexander. "Mr. Shaw, I told you Claire doesn't like me following you around. I'll just go. If you need anything, just call me.

"After all, you're only used to having me do everything for you," she said.

With that, Louisa turned to leave, but Alexander grabbed her hand, shooting me a look of clear annoyance.

"I'm not in great health, and Louisa's my assistant. Isn't it normal for her to be with me? Did you take something wrong today?" Alexander snapped.

I grabbed my phone and held it up, showing Alexander the screenshot.

"You're supposed to be sick, but you can still haul your assistant up a mountain? Is that your company's idea of caring for employees?" I shot back.

Alexander's eyes widened for a split second when he saw the photo, but he quickly regained his composure.

I stared at him, unblinking. If he'd just admit his relationship with Louisa, I'd actually respect him for that.

But he wasn't man enough.

He casually deleted the screenshot, his gaze growing even colder. "I told you before we got engaged, we need absolute trust. Louisa's shoe broke, so I carried her on my back. Is that really such a problem?

"Claire, you've really disappointed me," he said, his voice icy.

I smiled, biting my lip, but my eyes grew colder and colder.

"Take your darling Louisa and get out. I need to change," I said.

I slipped into the new Hermès outfit that had just arrived a few days ago. The moment I stepped out, Louisa couldn't take her eyes off me.

Alexander noticed and handed Louisa a card. "Buy whatever you like. Get a few outfits. You work for me, so you need to keep up appearances."

Louisa shot me a cautious glance, her face lighting up with excitement, but she didn't dare reach for the card.

Alexander just shoved the card into her hand. "Take it. You belong to me. Just watch my mood."

Even I had to admit that was almost romantic.

I knew Alexander was trying to put me in my place. He wanted me to be like Louisa, a docile little girlfriend who'd just orbit around him. Too bad I was not that kind of woman.

"Alexander, forget the wedding dresses. I'm calling off the engagement, and I'll send back all the engagement gifts," I said coldly.

Before Alexander could even react, Louisa burst into tears. "Claire, did I do something to upset you? If I did, I'm really sorry.

"Please, don't call off the engagement! If you two break up, the deal between the Shaw family and the Lane family will fall apart," she begged, her voice trembling.

The Shaw family had been struggling financially for years and was desperate for my family's help.

Alexander was all about his pride and absolutely hated anyone bringing up that he was marrying me just to get my family's support.

Our engagement was arranged by our families, but my feelings for him were real.

I'd been quietly watching him for ten years. He wasn't like those other rich guys who were always chasing after girls. He never even had a girlfriend. Whenever we talked, he'd always say he was too busy with his career and that love could wait.

Then one day, he got down on one knee and told me he'd liked me for years, but I was always out of his league, so he could only keep his feelings to himself.

Now that he had taken over the entire family business, he finally felt worthy to be with me. That was when he finally proposed.

Sure, his family wanted the engagement, but honestly, it was mostly his own decision.

That day, I felt like the happiest woman in the world. I realized the love I'd carried for him all those years was actually mutual.

He swore he'd always cherish me, and that I'd be the only one in his life, forever.

But after we got engaged, I started dropping by his office more often, and that's when I found out he had his confidante and assistant, Louisa, always by his side.

He kept saying it was strictly business between them and told me that if I was going to marry him, I should trust him.

I tried to take his word for it, but the flirting between them only got worse.

Sure enough, the moment Louisa spoke, it was like a chill swept over Alexander.

"Claire, you're really calling off the engagement just like that, over something so small? How are we supposed to get through life together? You really need to take a good look at yourself.

"I've got better things to do. Go pick out your own wedding dress. I'll sort out my own suit," he said, sounding completely dismissive.