Chapter 1

I once kept a young boyfriend.

He was the innocent campus heartthrob, the kind everyone adored.

I made him bow to me by promising to pay his sick grandma's hospital bills.

We dated for more than six months, and honestly, I have to admit, it wasn't a bad ride.

He was always attentive and knew exactly how to please me.

But then, my family's fortune collapsed overnight.

We went bankrupt.

And honestly, I couldn't help but suspect it was Quentin's way of getting back at me.

I broke up with him, saying the nastiest things I'd ever said in my life.

Then I had to get a job just to survive.

But at my new company, I ran into my ex-boyfriend, who was now my boss.

I thought he'd want revenge for how I'd humiliated him.

But instead, he grabbed my wrist, his eyes suddenly turning red.

"This time, please don't run away," he said.

*****

Things between Quentin Brooks and me didn't start off well.

Quentin's parents died when he was young, so his grandma raised him. But after he started college, she fell ill.

He was sitting in the hospital hallway, looking helpless.

I was there for a routine check-up and happened to spot him as I walked by.

At twenty-four, I'd never met a guy who was exactly my kind of flavor.

So after I found out who he was, I handed over a wad of cash to save his grandma, and in the process, pretty much bought his future.

He went from being the proud, innocent campus heartthrob to my kept boyfriend.

He knew exactly where he stood, and was always on his best behavior with me.

The first time he came home with me, I stepped out of the bathroom to find him already lying on my bed.

He had a loose white shirt draped over his shoulders, his skin pale and almost glowing.

He was so gorgeous, I could just eat him up.

When I pulled him into my arms, I asked him if he had anything to say, just to make it feel a little more special.

Quentin's Adam's apple moved, and his eyes were tinged with red as he looked at me.

"Be gentle," he said.

That was the only thing he said all night.

He really was a quiet one.

I fell for him fast. I rented him a penthouse near campus and visited him every day.

But one day, when I went to see him, I spotted him from afar, walking next to a girl.

They seemed to get along well.

People nearby were whispering about them.

"I heard Quentin Brooks and Tiana Miller are childhood sweethearts. How cute," one of them said.

"But doesn't Quentin have a girlfriend? I heard she's some rich heiress," another replied.

"That's just Stella Rey messing with him. Quentin only got with her because he needed money for his grandma's hospital bills. He and Tiana are the real deal," someone else chimed in.

Hearing all that, I couldn't help but feel annoyed.

And as the Rey family's heiress, I never put up with anything when I'm upset.

I didn't go back to the apartment that day.

Quentin kept calling, but I just ignored him.

I went out partying with my friends until two in the morning. When I finally got home, the apartment was dark, but he was still there, waiting for me on the couch.

He'd made a whole spread for me.

But everything was ice cold.

He was still awake, and when he saw me, his eyes lit up with obvious happiness.

"I... I'm sorry, I almost fell asleep," Quentin said, getting up. "The food's cold now. Are you hungry? I can heat it up for you."

"I'm not hungry," I said.

I brushed past him and headed straight for the bedroom.

As I walked in, I caught Quentin picking up my coat and quietly taking in its scent.

His eyes grew misty.

Then I remembered, my friends had brought a few guys along today, and they'd sprayed so much cologne that the scent was still clinging to me.

I leaned against the doorframe, suddenly curious.

I wondered if Quentin would get jealous.

But he didn't.

It was too dark to really see his face.

He took a moment to pull himself together, then quietly hung my coat back on the rack.

Lame.

I turned and headed into the bathroom.

If I'd bothered to look back, I would've seen his tears streaming down in the darkness, like pearls slipping off a snapped thread.

I took Quentin to meet my friends.

They were all my usual crowd, rich brats and Silver Spooners, just like me, all play and no ambition.

I strutted into the private room in my stilettos, Quentin following behind with his head down, quietly taking my coat like the perfect obedient boyfriend.

Everyone started teasing Quentin, laughing and cracking jokes at his expense.

"Stella, not bad! How'd you manage to snag a piece like him?" one of them joked.

They were talking about Quentin like he was some product I'd picked up off a shelf.

And as the Rey family's heiress, I really had the power to make that happen.

After a few drinks, the buzz hit me. In the sultry glow, I glanced over at Quentin.

He sat right next to me, his crisp, snow-white shirt immaculate.

He looked like some ethereal being who'd accidentally wandered into the world of mortals.

Feeling a bit rebellious, I chuckled lightly, holding my drink.

"Bought him with cash," I said.

My answer drew a wave of snide, contemptuous snickers from everyone around.