Chapter 1

On their third wedding anniversary, Alex Meyer slid an extravagant pink diamond onto Stella Mills' finger.

The next day, a paternity test landed on his desk—his three-year-old son shared none of his DNA.

He smiled, crushed the report, and made three calls.

The first sank the Dunn Group's stock in half an hour.

The second broadcasted hotel footage of Stella's affair across the entire city.

The third had his bodyguards pick up his "son" from kindergarten.

At an auction, Stella showed up wearing the pink diamond, stunning everyone—until Alex played her pregnancy records on the big screen.

He said, "The kid was born a month after I left for Entarticum."

As her screams echoed through the hall, Alex's bodyguards tore the ring off her bleeding finger. The bloody ring hit her lover, Matt Dunn's face.

Alex crushed the ring underfoot. "Like picking up trash?" he sneered at Matt. "Then take your time—behind bars."

*****

Luxurious crystal chandeliers lit up the Meyer estate's dining room, making it almost as bright as day. The air was filled with the mouthwatering scent of prime steak and smooth Burgundy wine, with just a hint of pricey perfume.

Tonight was Alex Meyer and Stella Mills' third wedding anniversary.

At the far end of the long table, Alex sat in a perfectly tailored black suit, his sharp features somehow even more intimidating under the light. He cut into his food slowly, moving with the kind of elegance that made dinner feel like an elaborate affair.

Across from him, Stella wore a shimmering champagne-colored dress, her expertly styled curls draped over her shoulders and a gentle, graceful smile on her lips. She leaned in, patiently feeding the boy in the high chair next to her.

"Bobby, be good and have another bite of broccoli. It's good for you," Stella coaxed, her voice soft and sweet, eyes filled with gentle affection.

Three-year-old Bobby Meyer looked downright adorable—clearly taking after Stella's refined features. He pouted, reluctant, then opened his mouth and let his mother feed him.

Soft piano music flowed through the room, while the staff stood by quietly, blending into the background. Everything looked picture-perfect, like a scene out of a movie—glamorous, flawless, and exactly how one'd imagine the life of the ultra-rich.

"Alex," Stella said after finishing feeding Bobby. She picked up her napkin, wiped her hands, and looked up at her husband, a hopeful glimmer hidden in her smile. "Do you like tonight's dinner?"

Alex set down his silverware and dabbed the corner of his mouth with his napkin, slow and composed. Then his deep gaze fell on Stella. Though his eyes were calm, they made Stella's heart clench for reasons she couldn't explain.

"It's good," he replied flatly, his tone giving nothing away.

Stella's smile froze for a heartbeat, then she forced it back. "That's good. Oh, and Bobby got another star at kindergarten today. His teacher said he's really smart."

"I see," Alex replied, still keeping it short. His eyes swept past Bobby's innocent face, and for a second, there was a cold glint in his eyes—gone before Stella could be sure it was real, making her wonder if the light was playing tricks on her.

Dinner ended with a subtle, superficial warmth lingering in the air. The staff cleared away the plates and served up exquisite desserts.

Suddenly, Alex rose to his feet. His tall, commanding presence pulled all the attention in the room—one could feel the air froze for a moment. Stella looked up at him, surprised.

Alex walked around the table, stopping right in front of Stella. His expression didn't give anything away as he slowly produced a deep blue velvet jewelry box from his suit's inner chest pocket.

With a soft click, the lid sprang open.

Instantly, the dazzling dining room lights seemed to pale beside what was revealed—a large rare pink diamond ring. The pink gem caught the light, throwing off a dreamy halo. It was so beautiful it almost looked unreal, priceless beyond imagination.

Stella's eyes went wide and her breath caught, her face lighting up with pure, uninhibited joy and amazement. It was a pink diamond. And not just any pink diamond—a huge, flawless gem. Who wouldn't lose their mind over this?

"Alex, is this really for me?" Stella's voice shook with excitement.

Alex didn't reply. Instead, he reached out, his touch gentle as he took Stella's slender left hand. On it was a three-carat diamond ring—the emblem of their marriage, now utterly outshone by the blazing pink gem.

Alex's fingers were cool against her skin, his movement firm and impossible to resist. He slipped off the old ring effortlessly and dropped it onto the snowy tablecloth with a crisp ping. The sound broke the hush of the dining room, oddly loud in the silence.

Stella's heart skipped a beat; a flash of anxiety darted through her mind, but the dazzling pink diamond was simply too mesmerizing to worry about anything else.

Alex took the priceless pink diamond ring and, without the slightest hesitation, slid it right onto Stella's left ring finger.

The cold metal circled her finger, the heavy diamond weighing on her skin. Its pink brilliance wasn't just dazzling now—it glimmered with something foreboding, an uneasy beauty that left her heart pounding in fear.

"Happy anniversary, Stella." Alex's voice was deep and clear, but carried a glacial chill—an eerie, unnerving calm that made the words feel almost menacing.

He leaned close, his words for her ears only, each syllable slow and deliberate. "This diamond suits the act you've so carefully staged."

She shuddered in her chair, all color draining from her cheeks until only the diamond's harsh gleam threw her desperate pallor into sharp relief.

She jerked her gaze up into Alex's abyssal black eyes—no hint of love, no softness, just frozen contempt, like a hunter analyzing his prey, edged with icy scorn that seemed to see through everything.

A flood of terror swept through her, icy and suffocating. 'An act? What does he know?' she thought, panic surging beneath her skin.

But Alex had already straightened. The faint, icy curve to his lips making Stella wonder if those menacing words had really been spoken, or if she'd imagined them.

He didn't spare her another glance, turning instead to Bobby, who was oblivious to the tension—just focused on scooping up pudding with his tiny spoon. Alex's eyes were clouded with something impossible to read.

"Daddy!" Bobby seemed to pick up on his father's gaze, flashing a grin that showed off his baby teeth. His voice was all sweetness, pure and innocent.

Alex's hand tightened into a fist, his knuckles white. The movement so subtle no one else noticed. In the end, he didn't say a word. He just looked away with cold detachment and walked out of the dining room, leaving Stella utterly frozen.

The priceless pink diamond on her finger now felt heavier than iron, cold as death itself, binding her in a prison of icy dread.