Chapter 1

After Matt Watkins locked me inside the villa, he left the country with his childhood sweetheart to shoot a magazine spread in the Answell Islands.

He didn't know that the villa caught fire that very night. I got trapped inside and burned to death.

Half a month later, after his anger faded, he came back home, ready to make me apologize.

But all that waited for him was a pile of ruins.

*****

Matt was back in the country, with his childhood sweetheart Deborah Lane by his side.

Thanks to Deborah's celebrity status, the moment they walked out of the airport, they were instantly mobbed by reporters.

Someone quickly shoved a microphone in front of Deborah.

"Miss Lane, are you and Mr. Watkins about to make your relationship official?"

"We heard you two have known each other since you were kids. So, does this trip to the Answell Islands mean something special?"

Deborah glanced at Matt with a bashful, sweet look, like a shy little girl. "Oh, you should really ask Matt about that."

The reporters went dead silent.

Everyone knew Matt had taken over the Watkins Group at just twenty, and he was ruthless, cold as ice, never cutting anyone any slack.

That was why they only dared to grill Deborah.

From the moment he got surrounded, Matt looked seriously annoyed.

He barked coldly, "Get lost."

Everyone looked at each other awkwardly, and stepped aside for him.

Matt's personal driver, Frank Seede, was there to pick him up.

Deborah tried to get in the car with him, but Matt gave her a look that made her freeze.

"I'm heading to Harper Heights. Don't bother coming with me. Find your own ride back," Matt said.

Deborah's eyes went red, her voice trembling with frustration. "You're going to see Corinne again, aren't you?

"She betrayed you. Why can't you just forget her? What's so special about her anyway?"

I, Corinne Weaver, was Matt's girlfriend.

I was here with Frank today, but I was a ghost.

I'd died half a month ago, burned alive in a fire.

Matt's eyes were dark, a storm brewing inside.

He absolutely hated it when anyone brought that up.

It was like a constant reminder that the mighty CEO of the Watkins Group had been made a cuckhold.

Deborah realized she'd said the wrong thing and quickly tried to explain herself.

"Matt, that's not what I meant," she said, her voice soft. "I thought after our trip to the Answell Islands, you'd understand how I feel about you.

"I've liked you for so long. Can you stay with me tonight, just this once?"

Matt shot her a cold look and said, "Don't make me say it again."

Deborah's body swayed, and didn't say another word.

Honestly, I couldn't figure it out.

Thinking back, Matt was always super patient with Deborah. He'd put up with all her little moods and always tried to meet her needs.

Sometimes, he even treated her better than me, his girlfriend.

Honestly, Deborah played a big part in driving a wedge between Matt and me.

I used to be the rich girl everyone envied.

But when I was thirteen, my dad went bankrupt and jumped off a building. My mom remarried, and just like that, I ended up with a stepbrother, Evan Greene.

Evan was always so good to me, and his smile was gentle and warm.

He'd teach me how to play the piano and always took my side, no matter what.

But for some reason, Matt didn't like him.

Well, it wasn't really dislike. Matt was just way too possessive and controlling.

He wouldn't let me hang out with any guy except himself.

At first, I thought it was because he loved me too much. But seeing how close he was with Deborah, it just felt so unfair.

Why was he allowed to be close with Deborah, but I couldn't even talk to other guys?

We argued about it over and over, and half a month ago, we were still in the middle of a cold war.

On my twenty-fourth birthday, Evan booked out an entire bar just to celebrate for me.

Matt, on the other hand, was sulking and didn't bother to show up.

Evan was totally wasted, so I helped him get a hotel room nearby to sleep it off.

I had no clue how Matt got those photos of me helping Evan into the hotel room. Matt kept insisting I'd cheated on him, and no matter how much I tried to explain, he wouldn't listen.

His face was filled with disappointment. "Corinne, we haven't even broken up yet, and you already can't wait to move on?

"Does that promise you made to love me forever still mean anything?"

I was so pissed, I didn't even bother arguing anymore. I just snapped, "It doesn't. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

The moment Matt heard that, he flew into a rage.

He shoved me into the car and drove me straight back to his villa.