Chapter 1

It was the night my husband sold me that I realized my marriage had always carried a price tag.

And the price for buying me was nothing more than an investment contract.

What made it even more ridiculous was that before walking into that building, I was still thinking about a long-prepared surprise for Darius once the company got through this crisis.

I had finally received the invitation to the final round of the International Jewelry Design Awards.

At 6:00 PM, right as I finished work, my phone rang.

Darius’s name flashed across the screen.

I answered, and his voice sounded unusually relaxed.

"Aria, come with me to a dinner tonight."

My hands stopped as I was packing up my design drafts.

"Didn't you say the investor canceled at the last minute?"

"They changed the location," Darius chuckled. "This opportunity is more important than the last one. If tonight goes well, the company will get a massive round of funding."

I looked at the unopened invitation on my desk and let out a soft breath.

For the past year, his startup had been losing money.

To help him, I sold the old house my mother left me, shut down my own studio, and poured all my savings into his company.

I had even turned down collaborations with several foreign brands just to stay in New York and help him push through the toughest times.

This afternoon, I finally received the email from the International Jewelry Design Awards committee.

As long as I made it through the final round, I would have the chance to collaborate with Europe’s top jewelry brands.

I had originally wanted to tell him tonight.

To tell him that we finally didn't have to live on borrowed money anymore.

"Dress up nice," Darius added. "Investors care a lot about first impressions."

I smiled and replied, "Got it."

Hanging up the phone, I opened my closet and took out the black gown I had designed myself.

It was my favorite piece of work.

Darius had once said that if the company ever went public, he would have me stand in the center of the celebration gala stage wearing this dress.

I had always remembered that.

At 7:40 PM.

The driver pulled up in front of a private club in the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

As I stepped out of the car, my first instinct was to frown.

It was too quiet here.

No media.

No guests.

No welcome cocktail party.

The entire building looked as though it had been cleared out in advance.

Darius was standing at the entrance waiting for me, looking sharp in his custom suit.

He walked up quickly and planted a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"You look beautiful tonight."

I smiled.

"Where are the investors?"

"They're already here."

He took my hand and led me inside.

The lobby was empty.

Several men in black suits stood at different positions, not talking, just observing everyone who entered.

My pace slowed down.

"Darius."

"Yeah?"

"Do your investors... always prefer these kinds of venues?"

He didn't answer, just kept pulling me forward.

When the elevator doors opened, I finally stopped.

"Wait."

Darius turned back to look at me.

"Aria, what’s wrong?"

I stared at the bodyguards standing on both sides of the elevator.

They didn't look like hotel staff.

And they certainly didn't look like employees of an investment firm.

Every single one of them wore a communication earpiece.

Their waistlines bulged, as if hiding something underneath.

"What exactly is this place?"

The smile on Darius’s face faded a bit.

"A private club."

"Why are there no other guests?"

"The venue was booked out for today."

His answers were getting faster and more dismissive.

My heart sank bit by bit.

Knowing Darius for five years, I knew his habits when he lied.

He wouldn't avoid my gaze.

Instead, he would stare right at me, hoping his eyes would make me believe him.

Right now, he was looking at me exactly like that.

I slowly pulled my hand back.

"I want to go back."

Darius’s expression finally changed.

"Aria, don't throw a tantrum."

"I'm not throwing a tantrum."

I stared at him.

"Who exactly are you making me meet?"

Just then, the clicking sound of high heels echoed from behind us.

"Aria, you look beautiful today."

I turned around.

Daisy.

Darius’s secretary.

She was wearing a white pantsuit, a professional smile plastered on her face.

"After tonight, everything will be fine."

She spoke with deep meaning.

I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Daisy smiled and adjusted her cuffs.

"Darius has sacrificed a lot for today."

"I hope you will do the same."

Her words sent a chill down my spine.

I looked back at Darius.

"Explain."

Darius rubbed his temples, as if he had finally lost his patience.

"Aria, the company currently owes the bank twenty million dollars."

"I know."

"If we don't seal the deal tonight, all employees will be unemployed next month."

"So?"

Darius took a deep breath.

"The investors set a condition."

I waited for him to continue.

But he remained silent.

My heart sank lower and lower.

"What condition?"

Darius finally looked at me.

"They want to meet you."

"Meet me?"

"Accompany someone for a dinner."

I stared at him without a word.

He continued to explain.

"It's just for one night."

"After that, the company will be saved."

My mind went entirely blank.

"You're asking me to be an escort?"

Darius immediately shook his head.

"It's not as serious as you think."

"Then what exactly is it?"

"Aria!"

His voice suddenly rose.

"Why do you always assume the worst?"

I stared at him.

If it were the past, I would have believed him.

Today, I couldn't believe a single word.

Daisy let out a soft laugh.

"Aria, you love Darius so much, are you not even willing to make this little sacrifice?"

I turned to look at her.

"You have no right to speak here."

The smile on her face stiffened for a second.

But Darius stepped in front of her.

This movement was more piercing than any explanation.

"Don't take it out on Daisy," he said. "She's just trying to help the company."

My chest felt suffocated.

"She helps the company, so I have to accompany someone else?"

Darius finally ripped away his last layer of disguise.

"It’s just for one night."

"Trading it for the entire company's future is worth it."

I looked at the man in front of me.

Five years ago, he proposed to me with a cheap silver ring.

He said he would work hard to give me the best life.

I believed him.

Later, the company lost money.

He said he needed capital.

I sold my house.

He said he needed design resources.

I gave up my career.

He said starting a business was hard.

I stayed up countless nights with him.

I had always thought we were facing life together.

Not until today did I realize.

It turned out that in his plan, I was just another piece of property to be traded for profit.

I took a step back.

"Darius, we're over."

I turned around, preparing to leave.

Just two steps out, two bodyguards already blocked the exit.

I looked coldly at Darius.

"Move."

Darius didn't budge.

"After tonight is over, I will compensate you."

"Compensate?"

I let out a laugh.

"Do you think marriage, dignity, and trust can carry a price tag?"

His expression grew stiffer.

"Aria, after the company goes public, you will thank me."

"I never will."

I walked forward again.

A bodyguard reached out directly to stop me.

I violently brushed his hand off.

"Don't touch me!"

The next second, more footsteps closed in around me.

I finally realized.

From the moment I stepped into this building, I had already lost the freedom to leave.

Darius didn't look at me again.

He whispered an order to the bodyguards.

"Take her upstairs."

Two bodyguards walked toward me.

I clutched my bag tightly, my mind racing through every possible escape route.

At the very last second before the elevator doors slowly closed.

Through the narrowing gap, I saw Daisy walk up to Darius, stand on her tiptoes, and kiss his lips.

Darius didn't push her away.

He even reached out his hand to wrap around her waist.

Daisy looked toward me, a triumphant smile lifting the corner of her mouth.

She whispered a single sentence.

"Finally, we don't have to pretend anymore."

The elevator doors closed completely.