Chapter 1

I was just a D-list actress, barely making a name for myself.

The man backing me was Jasper Howard, who basically owned Lakinville.

Back then, I was always stirring up drama. As a stand-in, I believed I could shove Jasper's real crush aside and take her place.

I even faked a pregnancy and stormed into the Howard family, demanding to be made official. Jasper was tired of me, and I lost his protection.

In the end, my rivals in the industry hunted me down, and I disappeared beneath the icy waves of the open sea.

When I woke up again, I found myself back to the day I tried to force Jasper into marrying me.

That was the turning point. It was the moment when he first started to lose all patience with me.

"Mr. Howard, when are we going to..." I started, my voice trailing off.

Jasper's brows knitted together as he turned to look at me.

"Going to what?" he asked, his tone cold.

"End it! I'm asking when this is over between us," I blurted out.

*****

Jasper didn't say a word.

But his icy expression seemed to be silently mocking me, as if I wasn't even allowed to make a decision.

Guys like him were born to rule the game, always holding the reins.

Even if he didn't love me, he still got to decide when things ended between us.

Seeing things going south, I scrambled to fix my mistake.

"Ms. Sanford's back in town, right? She probably wouldn't be thrilled to see you with another woman," I said, trying to play it cool.

I was just Reina Sanford's stand-in, and in showbiz, people called me "Reina's double."

Back then, my face was practically a copy of hers. That was what made Jasper notice me right away.

Now that Reina had just come back, it was not too late for me to cut my losses.

I wasn't about to get jealous or try to steal her spotlight anymore.

And I wasn't going to kid myself into thinking I could ever become Mrs. Howard.

If I acted like I was mature and thoughtful and ended things early, Jasper might be in a good mood and even gift me a whole building.

I looked at him hopefully.

But the moment I mentioned Reina, Jasper's expression grew even colder. He said, his voice icy, "Don't bring her up."

It hit me that Reina had just come back, but she hadn't come to see him.

Jasper was simmering with anger.

I guessed I'd just walked right into the line of fire.

I hurried to apologize, trying to make amends. "Sorry, Mr. Howard. I overstepped."

Jasper gave me a long look with those deep, unreadable eyes, sizing me up.

Seeing me play the good girl, he gave a quiet, dismissive laugh. "Stay in line. I won't shortchange you."

Telling me to stay in line was his way of warning me not to mess with Reina.

And when he said he wouldn't shortchange me, he wasn't just saying it. He really meant it.

Jasper would shower me with jewelry and cash, never hesitating for a second.

Any connections or opportunities I wanted, he'd toss my way without blinking.

I'd seen those marketing accounts online say, "Where the money goes, love follows."

So before, I naively thought I meant something to him.

Riding on his favor, I got arrogant, made enemies everywhere, and caused trouble nonstop.

In the end, I marched right up to the Howard family with a fake pregnancy test, making a scene.

Back then, Jasper was locked in a fierce battle for power with the other heirs, and everyone was gossiping about it.

Because of me, he finally ran out of patience.

He ditched me for good, and I was left out in the cold.

Just thinking about the icy, suffocating waters of the open sea sent chills down my spine.

I quickly buried myself in Jasper's burning warmth, desperate for comfort.

"I'll behave, Mr. Howard," I whispered, trying to sound obedient.

Pretending to be obedient was a piece of cake.

If I just shut off my feelings and saw him as my boss, it'd be no different from clocking in at the office.

My monthly allowance was basically my salary. I got seven figures each month.

And for holidays and special occasions, I'd get jewelry and designer bags as perks.

Having a boss that hot, it was like working in a five-star office every day.

The way he'd invest in TV dramas for me was akin to a company paying for my MBA, helping me boost my profile and skills at the same time.

And when Jasper finally got tired of me, he was a classy guy. He'd never wrong a woman who'd been with him.

The breakup payout would be like receiving a severance package, plus a little extra, such as those compensation deals often discussed in large companies.

What a dream job I had! What a generous boss he was!

"What are you smiling at?" Jasper asked, snapping me out of my daydream.

I realized I'd been grinning like a fool and quickly straightened my expression.

"I wasn't smiling," I said quickly, trying to act normal.

He let go of me and straightened his wrinkled collar.

"I'm taking you to a party tonight. Look sharp," he said, his tone cool and commanding.

Last time, this was the night I first went head-to-head with Reina.

I was rocking a couture gown Jasper had gifted me, only to find out Reina was wearing the same dress. That was awkward.

Her friends started mocking me, calling me a copycat and a fake.

I couldn't take it anymore and got into a fight with them.

In the chaos, I even shoved Reina, who was trying to smooth things out.

Jasper was furious and iced me out for an entire month. He didn't even look my way.

I acted as if my whole world depended on him, clinging to him shamelessly and begging for forgiveness until he finally gave in.

No way was I going to pick a fight with Reina this time around.

It wasn't like I was afraid Jasper would give me the cold shoulder.

What really freaked me out was the thought of him freezing my allowance for a whole month again, just as he did before.

Before heading out, I was standing in front of my closet, trying to pick out an outfit.

No way was I going to wear that white dress, the one that stirred up so much trouble and embarrassment last time.

Just as I was about to set it aside, a deep voice sounded behind me. "Wear that one."