Chapter 1

William Carter and I grew up together. We were childhood sweethearts, always roughhousing and getting into trouble side by side.

The day after he left the country, my family discovered I wasn't their real daughter, and I was thrown out of the mansion overnight.

Three years later, at the real heiress' birthday party, William returned from studying abroad and made a heartfelt confession in front of everyone.

The whole room melted. Even the real heiress looked ready to nod and say yes, her eyes wide with surprise.

But in the very next moment, William's expression shifted completely.

He blurted out, "Who are you? Where's Charlotte?"

I was across town, waiting tables at a diner.

*****

I was clearing a table in one of the private dining rooms, still in my restaurant uniform, when I caught a figure stepping inside out of the corner of my eye.

I assumed it was the earlier customer coming back for something, so I turned with a polite smile and said, "Hi there, did you forget some—"

The words died on my lips. I knew that face.

It was William Carter. My childhood sweetheart.

Three years had passed since I last saw him. He looked different and yet exactly the same. He had matured, but his build and his face were still as striking as ever.

I steadied myself, braced for whatever was coming, and smiled. "When did you get back?"

He didn't answer. His lips parted and trembled for a long moment before he finally managed one word. "Lottie."

That was my nickname. Back when I had been the darling of my family, everyone called me that, and so did William.

But no one had called me that in a very long time.

My heart lurched. A wave of bitterness rose from somewhere deep inside me, and I quickly swallowed it down.

I forced a small smile and asked, "Did you need something?"

William didn't say anything, but he nodded.

I told him, "Then you'll have to wait. I've still got two hours left on my shift."

But William didn't wait. He handed my boss two thousand dollars, booked a private room, and paid for two hours of my exclusive service.

In the quiet of the private room, he seemed far more composed than he had a few minutes ago. The shock was gone, and so were the nerves and the tension.

William spoke first. "I just found out today that you were kicked out of the Linley family."

I smiled and said, "Once the truth about my identity came out, it wasn't really my home anyway."

His expression turned serious. "But why didn't you come to me?

"Even if we were in a fight, I would never have cut you off. All you had to do was pick up the phone, and I would have taken care of you. I would have asked my family, called in favors, whatever it took."

It was actually a funny coincidence. The day William left the country, we had gotten into a huge fight.

During a layover, he saw a message in our high school group chat where some guy said he had a crush on me.

He was so furious that he announced in the chat that I was his girlfriend, then called me with a whole list of demands. I wasn't allowed to see that guy, I wasn't allowed to go to any class reunions, and on and on.

I thought he was being completely unreasonable, and I had a temper that could go off at the drop of a hat back then.

So I pushed right back, matching him word for word, until we both drew a line in the sand—whoever caved first was the loser.

Looking back now, it was pretty childish.

I shook my head casually and said, "I never thought about reaching out to you."

Back then, my whole world had fallen apart, and I could barely keep myself together. By the time things settled down, my feelings had changed, and I no longer wanted to contact him.

William's eyes turned red, but he said nothing.

I stayed silent too.

After a long pause, William stood up and walked over to me.

He got down on one knee, took my hand, and said, "Lottie, I'm sorry. I was careless all these years.

"After I left the country, I was angry and busy, so I didn't call you until a month later. But the number wouldn't go through, and I figured you were still mad, so I decided to give it more time."

He paused and continued, "Then my cousin came back, and one time he mentioned running into one of the Linley girls. I assumed it was you, so I asked him all about it.

"After that, I'd check in with him every now and then, keeping tabs on how you were doing.

"But I just found out today that the person I've been following for three years was Vivian Linley."

I now understand William's situation, but it had nothing to do with me.

William's gaze turned serious. He said, "Lottie, the Linley family doesn't want you, but I do. You don't have to do this kind of work just to scrape by. Come with me, and I'll take care of you."

His words didn't move me, not even a little.

I had already accepted the truth a long time ago.

William and I were on completely different paths now, and no matter how sincere he was, there was no future for us.

I pulled my hand free again, and this time, he let go.

I looked at him and shook my head. "I appreciate it, but no. My life is good right now. I earn my own money and spend it how I want. That's enough for me."

Surprise flickered across William's face, and his eyes turned glassy. He whispered, "Lottie, you—"

I cut him off before he could finish. "Don't call me that anymore. Mr. Carter, we grew up together and we were good friends once, but things are different now. We can't be friends anymore."