Chapter 1

I dated him for five years. Only on the night he proposed did I discover he was the heir to a vast fortune.

The next day, his grandfather shoved a check into my hand. "Take the money and disappear, or I'll cut off your brother's medication!"

I was forced to leave. Four years later, he came into power. The first thing he did was divorce, search the world for me, and beg me tearfully to come back.

I thought this was a story of deep love, until I discovered he used my brother's ventilator to save the son he had with his ex-wife.

My brother died.

I wiped away my tears, turned around, and took his sworn enemy's arm. "Tristan Ashford, let's get married."

Wendy POV

I dated Lucas Sterling for five years. Only when he pulled out an astronomically expensive engagement ring did I learn he was the heir to the renowned Sterling Group.

That same night, Lucas's grandfather came to my door personally and threatened me with a check.

"The Sterling family will never allow someone of your background through our doors. I've already found a suitable marriage match for Lucas. You'd better be smart. Take the money and disappear, or I'll have the hospital cut off your comatose brother's medication!"

When I was forced to leave with the check, Lucas tried desperately to stop me, but his grandfather had him forcibly dragged back and married off.

Four years passed. Lucas's grandfather died of a sudden heart attack, and Lucas became the family's most powerful figure.

The first thing he did was resolutely divorce his arranged wife, mobilize all his connections, and search the entire world for me.

On the day we reunited after so long, this man who never showed his emotions had red-rimmed eyes.

"Wendy..."

He held me tightly, his voice hoarse beyond recognition.

"I didn't have the power to keep you before, but things are different now. Come home with me."

After we reconciled, he seemed determined to make up for all four lost years.

He not only arranged for my comatose brother to stay in the city's best private hospital, but also transferred half of his shares in Sterling Group to me.

He gave me the grandest wedding and wanted to stick to me twenty-four hours a day, frequently taking me to various high society social events.

He said,

"I want everyone to know that you, Wendy Clarke, are my wife, the only woman I'll ever love in this lifetime."

In our second year of marriage, I got pregnant.

I held the test results, wanting to surprise him, but at the private club he frequently visited, through the deafening music from the private room, I heard familiar laughter.

"Lucas, didn't you say you couldn't stand that spoiled and willful Miss Sinclair? Said if it weren't for her, you and Wendy wouldn't have been forced apart all those years ago? You finally outlasted your grandfather, divorced Melody Sinclair as you wished, and got Wendy back. So how come you've been getting all cozy with Melody on the side?"

My footsteps halted, my body freezing in place.

Melody Sinclair... Lucas's ex-wife from the arranged marriage?

Amid the crisp sound of clinking glasses, Lucas's voice came through, tinged with laughter and alcohol.

"Annoying? Sure. But Melody's wild enough, exciting enough, like a rose with thorns. Wendy, on the other hand... her personality is just too gentle and quiet. Gets a bit boring after a while."

"Oh? So Melody's more your type?"

"I heard last week you dropped fifty million dollars at an auction just to get her a necklace?"

"I also heard that when Wendy was hospitalized with a fever, you said you were going to Europe for an acquisition deal, but someone saw you on Melody's yacht for a full seven days. Is that true?"

"Those seven days alone together on the yacht. You and Melody must have had quite the spectacular time, huh?"

Hearing this, I felt like ice water had been poured down my spine.

I remembered that time when I was hospitalized with a high fever and Lucas had to go on a business trip, but he sent me caring messages almost every day at set times.

So his so-called business trip was actually seven spectacular days on a yacht with another woman?

I desperately hoped to hear him deny it.

But instead I heard Lucas say lazily,

"Don't go spreading these things around. I don't want Wendy finding out and making a scene. I finally got her back. I don't want to lose her again."

"Got it. Melody's got a fiery temperament, you just want to change things up occasionally, but the one at home is your true love. We all understand, we definitely won't spread it around."

Someone probed,

"But what if Wendy finds out? Aren't you afraid she'll divorce you?"

After a brief silence, Lucas said with casual certainty,

"Her comatose brother is still lying in the private hospital I arranged. Even if she finds out, she'll make a fuss at most. She won't dare actually divorce me."

"True! Without you, who'd take care of that burden of a brother? With her comatose brother as leverage, no matter what happens, a nobody Cinderella like her is completely at your mercy."

Amid the roar of laughter, I felt a chill race from my feet to my scalp.

The ultrasound printout in my hand suddenly felt scorching hot.

I wanted to burst in and furiously demand why Lucas was still entangled with Melody after their divorce.

But my legs refused to move.

What was there to demand? Wasn't the answer perfectly clear?

Because I was too gentle and quiet, making me boring to him, while Melody was wild enough, exciting enough. Like a rose with thorns, perfectly suited to his taste.

He even had my psychology completely figured out, not the least bit worried I'd divorce him after learning the truth.

After all, my brother was the last family I had left in this world.