Chapter 1
Among the rich heirs in Petrico, there was an unspoken bet.
Closing a multi-million dollar deal was no big deal. The real challenge was getting April Wynn to willingly say "yes" to a marriage proposal.
April was wild, unwilling to be tied down, and infamous for her terrible temper.
After sending her 98th blind date to the hospital, she fled overseas to live it up and avoid getting chewed out.
Right then, the Wynn family hit a financial wall and needed a marriage alliance to steady the ship.
None of the rich kids in Petrico wanted to marry April; her fiery personality was more than they could handle.
To everyone's shock, Julian Sheppard, the heir to the Sheppard family, agreed to the marriage alliance.
He held power from a young age, poised and noble, seeming to live in a world completely separate from April.
When April found out she suddenly had a fiancé, she lost it.
She stormed into Sheppard Group, trashed Julian's office, and shot him a defiant grin.
"You want to marry me? Let's see if you've got the guts to handle it," she sneered.
Julian kept his composure, letting April vent all she wanted.
When she was done, he dropped to one knee and carefully wrapped bandages around her ankle cut by flying shards.
"It's my fault," he whispered. "I should've asked for your permission first."
April was caught off guard. He was the first guy who stayed gentle after she pushed his buttons.
"You saw it yourself. I've got a real temper. Are you sure you want to marry me?" April asked.
Julian lifted his striking face and replied unhurriedly, "As long as you're willing to marry me, even if you turn my family upside down, I'll have your back."
April was stunned. The ice in her heart melted, and it felt like fireworks went off inside her.
She was falling for him.
Ever since her mom passed away, no one had stood up for her so firmly.
"Alright, I'll marry you," April said, grabbing Julian's tie with a dazzling smile. "But if I ever catch you two-timing me, I swear I'll make your life hell."
After they got married, Julian kept his word. Even when April trashed Sheppard Manor, he didn't blink.
But April couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Julian was almost unnervingly calm, untouched by any human emotions or desires.
He never lost his temper, and he never let his composure slip.
One day, April tied Julian to a chair and made him chug a bottle of hard liquor. When things were getting wild, Julian's phone suddenly rang.
His face changed in a flash. He pushed past April and rushed out, more urgent than she'd ever seen him.
April tried to block him, but Julian shot her a look so icy it froze her to the core. She couldn't move a muscle.
Once she snapped out of it, she jumped in her car and tailed him. She had to see what could make Julian crack like that.
April trailed Julian all the way to Sheppard Manor. Peeking through the slightly open door, she saw him holding a woman in his arms, standing up to his family.
Matthew, Julian's grandpa, snapped, "Julian, haven't you lost your mind enough? As the heir to our family, you fell for Hannah Stanton, a maid's daughter?
"We forbid you from marrying her, so you went and married April the troublemaker, turning our whole family upside down. Are you doing this to get back at us?"
'The maid's daughter? Revenge?' The shocking truth made April's head spin. Her face drained of all color, overwhelmed by panic and helplessness.
She watched as Julian held Hannah in his arms even tighter, his expression cold and resolute. Every word that left his lips cut straight into April's heart like a blade.
Julian nodded. "Yeah, I did it on purpose.
"Hannah was my childhood sweetheart. But because you were obsessed with status, you threatened her life, forced us apart, and drove her overseas.
"So I married a lady who wanted to turn your world upside down."
He let out a mocking laugh. "Happy now with the chaos Ms. Wynn's brought you?"
April's heart was already broken the moment Julian nodded.
She never could have guessed that Julian, who once gently promised to stand by her, had only married her to get back at his family, to protect the woman he truly loved.
Darkness blurred April's vision. After a sharp, violent spasm, a dull, throbbing ache spread through her heart.
Before she could catch her breath, Hannah suddenly burst out of the door and slammed into her, sending her sprawling.
Hannah's soft, teary voice rang out. "Julian, it's all my fault you're getting scolded. Goodbye... forever."
She leaned against the railing, barely standing, her face twisted with suppressed misery.
"Hannah!" Julian rushed over and grabbed her, his fingers shaking.
Pain and hatred twisted his face, tears rolling down in big drops.
A storm of tangled emotions swirled in his eyes, choking April so badly she could barely draw breath.
April was merely a couple of steps away, but he didn't even see her.
'Turns out he isn't emotionless. He's given all his emotions and desires to someone else,' April thought.
A bitter ache spread through her veins, flooding her whole body.
Just as she was about to get up and leave, someone screamed, "The chandelier's falling!"
April instinctively looked up: the massive chandelier was swaying dangerously above her.
She tried to get out of the way, but Hannah, panicked and frantic, shoved her to the ground.
At the last possible moment, April watched as Julian grabbed Hannah and pulled her out of danger. He didn't even look April's way.
Crash!
A wave of agony shot up April's spine, her vision exploding into a sea of red before everything went black.
Someone's urgent calls buzzed in her ears, yet one single thought dominated her mind.
She wanted a divorce, and she was leaving Petrico.