Chapter 1

During my junior year summer break, I was working as a bartender when I witnessed Kohen Ford, the heir to the Ford family, having a heated argument with his girlfriend, Melanie Quinn.

As they were arguing, their faces flushed with anger, Kohen suddenly pulled me into his arms and directed harsh words at Melanie. "So what if she's a bartender? Not only do I like her, but I'm also going to marry her."

If Melanie had just turned around, she would have realized that this was just a spiteful remark from Kohen. But she didn't. Instead, she left with her senior, Raul, to study abroad.

Kohen couldn't swallow this humiliation. In a fit of pique, he married me.

From being a bartender, I suddenly became Mrs. Ford, second only to Kohen.

But then, in the third year of our marriage, Melanie returned to the country alone.

*****

I'd always known I was good-looking, and the older I got, the prettier I became. I knew exactly what kind of advantages my looks could give me.

But I also knew that beauty wasn't everything. Skills were what truly counted.

During the summer break of my junior year, I used my looks and quick wits to get hired as a bartender.

I'd weave through the crowd, carrying expensive drinks in a sea of all kinds of people.

After just a week at the bar, my eyes got sharp enough to size people up at a glance, who had money, who didn't, who was generous, who was stingy.

That night, just like always, I was scanning the crowd for tonight's easy mark when I suddenly found myself drawn to a guy sitting right in the middle of the bar.

He had this crisp, almost too-clean vibe that clashed with the smoky chaos all around. No way he was a regular here.

He was sprawled out on the sofa, oozing money and class. His clothes didn't flash any big brands, but the watch peeking out from his sleeve could probably buy a few condos downtown.

I watched him for a while. He looked like he was in a mood, tossing back glass after glass of red wine all by himself.

I seized the moment, grabbed the priciest bottle in the place, and made my way over.

I held the wine bottle, made sure to approach from his right, angled my head just right to show off my best side, and half-squatted beside him. "Looks like you're almost finished. Care for another glass?" I asked.

He gave me an impatient look, but when he actually saw my face, his attitude changed. "How much?"

As he sized me up, I was also observing him closely. His shirt wasn't branded, but it had custom embroidery on the collar, clearly a high-end bespoke piece. On his feet were a pair of limited-edition sneakers.

Rich kid, no doubt. Tonight's lamb to the slaughter.

I said, "It's 3 thousand, but for you, I'll give you a discount."

He let out a low chuckle, giving me a look that said he was sizing me up. "What, you think I can't afford it?"

I gave him a playful, flattering smile. "Of course not. I just thought you looked pretty handsome, so I knocked the price down for you."

Everybody loved a compliment. Rich guys especially eat that stuff up.

Sure enough, after I called him handsome, his mood lifted right away.

"Alright, I'll take a bottle," he said.

He just waved his hand and sent over 3 grand like it was nothing.

Once the money hit my account, I uncorked the bottle and poured him a glass, making sure every move was smooth and attentive, top-tier service, no less. I was just about to scout out my next mark when he suddenly pulled me in, hard.

I lost my footing and landed straight in his lap. It was the first time I'd ever been this close to a guy, and my cheeks instantly flushed.

I knew I was good-looking, and he was definitely a looker too, but this was way too fast. As I was stressing over how to push him away, a furious girl stormed over, snatched a glass off the table, and hurled it at us.

I was panicking, sure my face was about to get wrecked, but the man moved fast. He pulled me down and shielded me with his body.

With a loud crash, the glass smashed hard against his back.

I wasn't hit, but I was just here to make money, not to get mixed up in anyone's drama, and definitely not their relationship mess. So I subtly nudged him away, keeping my cool.

"Kohen, so this is what you meant by too busy?" the girl snapped.

As they were about to go at it, I tried to sneak away.

But Kohen caught on and grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers together. "Yeah, you can blow me off for your Raul, so why can't I do the same for someone else?" he said.

His grip was crushing my hand, and no matter how I struggled, I couldn't get loose.

They were both red-faced and refusing to back down, but I was the only one actually suffering. My knuckles felt like they were about to crack.

Melanie's eyes were blazing with anger, and she looked so pale it almost made you feel sorry for her.

I knew her. She was a senior from the dance department next door, the school's beauty queen, and word was, she was rich too.

I knew her bag. It was a limited-edition designer piece, not something I could just buy, even if I had the cash. My roommate had schooled me on it before.

I was just a broke student, always either in class or hustling at some part-time job. If it weren't for my roommate, I wouldn't even know who she was.

My roommate was obsessed with Melanie and her boyfriend. She never stopped talking about their relationship.

They'd been childhood sweethearts, and after they got together, it was always this on-again, off-again thing. Every single time, he was the one to cave.

The thing I remember most is my roommate telling me how Melanie's boyfriend once rented out an entire cruise ship just to surprise her and try to win her back.

Their lives were like something out of a fairy tale, totally out of reach for someone like me.

I glanced up at the guy next to me, and I finally put two and two together. This was Kohen, Melanie's boyfriend, my roommate never shut up about, the crown prince of the Ford family.