Chapter 1

The night before my wedding to Rowan Blackwell, two thugs dragged me into a dark alley.

When I was found, my legs were broken, I was bloody and battered, and I'd lost the ability to have children.

Photos of my humiliation were plastered all over the city.

Rowan saw those photos and called off our engagement that very day, then got together with Liora Bennett, the fake heiress of the Campbell family.

My parents, embarrassed by me, kicked me out of the house.

My school fired me, saying I was a disgrace.

Everyone turned their backs on me.

With nothing left to live for, I made my way to the rooftop.

Right when I was about to give up, Rhys Fitzgerald, my childhood friend, showed up like a savior from the heavens and pulled me back from the edge.

Then he proposed to me.

He promised, "I'll always trust you, love you, and take care of you for the rest of our lives. I'll also find the best doctors to help you heal."

After countless treatments, I finally conceived our child. Yet on that very day, I overheard Rhys speaking with my brother Nolan Campbell.

Nolan said, "Rhys, you went as far as ruining Willa's life to help Liora and Rowan be together. And in the end, you got yourself caught up in all this, too.

"You've done more than enough for Liora all these years. Now that you and Willa finally have a kid, maybe it's time to settle down and just focus on her for once."

*****

Rhys shook his head with a cold expression. "The Blackwells have always blamed Liora for not being able to have kids. If they find out Willa got pregnant before her, they'll turn on Liora even harder. I'll never let Liora get hurt because of Willa.

"Tonight, at Liora's birthday party, I'm going to stage a scandal that will make Willa lose the baby. When Willa is completely destroyed and no longer a threat to Liora, I'll finally settle down with Willa.

"Tonight, just like last time, help me spike Willa's drink."

I stood outside the door, feeling utterly numb.

The brother I depended on and the husband I trusted more than anyone were the ones who dragged me into hell.

If that was how things were, then none of us should go on living.

Later that night, at Liora's birthday party, I made my move. The glass spiked with that humiliating pig breeding drug, which was meant for me, ended up in Rhys's hands instead.

*****

"Willa, don't worry. I had them swap out whatever was in your glass for cherry juice," Rhys said. "Come on, let's toast."

Under Rhys's expectant gaze, I finished my drink.

Then Rhys raised his glass and downed his drink in one go.

Then, as they planned, I touched my forehead and said, "Rhys, I'm suddenly not feeling well. How about we head home?"

Rhys cast a tender look at Liora, who was surrounded by the people I called family, looking every bit like a princess as she got ready to cut the cake.

He said, "Willa, your sister's birthday party is just getting started. If we leave now, your folks would definitely be annoyed.

"How about I take you upstairs so you can get some rest? When things are winding down, I'll come get you, and we'll head out together, okay?"

Rhys looked at me with eyes so deep and intensely focused. Every word out of his mouth sounded like he was always considering me, always acting for my sake.

If I hadn't overheard his conversation with Nolan earlier today, I probably would have thought he truly loved me.

But now that the haze had cleared, all I could see in his eyes was nothing but calculation and scheming.

I fixed Rhys with a cold, unblinking stare. "Rhys, will you really come pick me up?"

Rhys leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth. "My little fool, who else would I come for if not you? You're the one I love most in the world, my wife."

For the past three years, he'd been feeding me those romantic lines every single day. He had me convinced his fake love was real. He had me wrapped around his finger, playing me like a puppet.

But betraying my true heart meant he would have to pay the price. I wondered if he was prepared for it.

I clenched my fist so tight it hurt, letting a cold, bitter smile slip across my face. "Fine. I'll be waiting for you."