Chapter 1

The Aldridge Family had been desperate for a blood heir, so when the Family doctor arranged a private fertility procedure, my fiancé, Adriel Aldridge, signed the papers himself.

He had made one thing very clear.

His blood was to be used for his female "brother."

By the time the news reached me and I went to the Aldridge estate to confirm it, both Families were already gathered around the dining table, raising glasses to celebrate her pregnancy.

Laughter filled the room.

Then the woman at the center of it all seemed to remember me.

She rested a hand over her still-flat stomach and looked at Adriel with a teasing smile.

"Oh, right, Adriel. Have you figured out what you're going to tell Azalea Ashbourne?"

"I don't care what she thinks, but you know how sensitive she is. Once she finds out I'm carrying your child, God knows what kind of scene she'll make."

Her smile deepened.

"If she gets angry enough to call off the marriage, don't blame me."

Before Adriel could answer, his mother, Adelina Aldridge, cut in with a scoff.

"She wouldn't dare."

She lifted her wineglass, looking almost amused by the idea.

"My son is about to be given a seat at the Ashbourne council table. Once that happens, half the Families in this city will have to show him respect."

"For a woman in Azalea's position to marry my son is already more than she deserves. Since when does she get to make demands?"

Adriel leaned back in his chair, slowly turning a silver lighter between his fingers. The smug curve of his mouth made my stomach turn.

"My mother's right."

He gave a careless laugh.

"Besides, Azalea has been chasing me for ten years. She's followed me everywhere since we were teenagers. That woman is crazy about me."

His eyes flicked toward the pregnant woman beside him.

"Getting her to give up this marriage would be harder than getting her to put a bullet through her own heart."

"So relax. Whatever happens, I'll handle it."

The entire table burst into laughter.

I stood outside the half-open door, listening to every word.

For ten years, I had used the Ashbourne name to clear Adriel's path, believing that one day he would stand beside me as my husband.

Apparently, they had mistaken my love for something they could humiliate without consequence.

I lowered my eyes and smiled bitterly.

Then I took out my phone and called my father.

He answered almost immediately.

"Azalea?"

I looked through the doorway at Adriel, still celebrating the child he had chosen to have with another woman.

"Dad, freeze Adriel Aldridge's appointment to the council."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then I added calmly,

"And reopen the marriage negotiations."

"I've decided to marry someone else."

……

When I pushed open the door and walked in, Adriel had Amara Atkinson in his arms.

They were looking at the ultrasound photo together, laughing about whose eyes the baby would inherit.

The moment they saw me, the laughter stopped.

Everyone's expression changed, as if I were the one who had intruded where I didn't belong.

For a split second, panic crossed Adriel's face. He started to pull away from Amara, but she immediately linked her arm through his and brought him toward me.

"Azalea, perfect timing. Let me explain before you start a scene and blame Adriel."

She rested one hand lightly over her stomach.

"You know I've never wanted marriage. But my parents are getting older, and all they've ever wanted is an heir to carry on the Atkinson bloodline. Adriel only agreed to father this child as a favor to my Family."

"If you're angry, take it out on me. Don't make things difficult for him."

Before I could answer, Adelina quickly stepped forward.

"Exactly, Azalea. Both Families agreed to this."

She took Amara's hand affectionately.

"We've watched Amara grow up. She's always been one of the boys. She and Adriel grew up running around together like brothers. She would never do anything to threaten your marriage. You have nothing to worry about."

"And the child already exists. What do you expect us to do now? Get rid of an Aldridge child just because you're jealous?"

Her expression hardened.

"You're a woman too. Surely you're not that cruel."

I looked around the room.

Minutes ago, these people had been laughing about how desperately I wanted to marry Adriel. Now they were pretending this was all some innocent arrangement I was too unreasonable to understand.

It was almost funny.

I slipped the engagement ring from my finger and tossed it at Adriel.

"You're worrying over nothing, Mrs. Aldridge. I didn't come here to demand anything."

The ring struck Adriel's chest before dropping onto the carpet.

"I came to end the engagement."

I looked directly at him.

"Adriel, we're done."

That familiar expression immediately appeared on his face.

Here we go again.

I couldn't exactly blame him.

Ever since Amara returned to the city and rejoined the Aldridge circle, I had threatened to leave Adriel at least ten times.

And every time, I had been the one to swallow my anger, calm myself down, and eventually go back to him.

After ten years at his side, Adriel probably believed I no longer had the courage to walk away.

He rubbed his forehead impatiently.

"Do you really have to make a scene in front of both Families?"

His voice turned cold.

"Azalea, if I hadn't insisted on marrying you, my parents would never have accepted this alliance in the first place. Your branch of the Ashbourne Family barely had a seat at the table when we met."

He glanced at Amara.

"Besides, there's nothing between us. She's my closest friend. I'm giving her Family an heir. That's all."

"What exactly are you so angry about?"

I stared at him.

"Because I don't want the man I'm supposed to marry fathering another woman's child."

His jaw tightened.

I gave a cold smile.

"If it's really that harmless, then maybe I should choose another man from one of the Families and give him a child too."

Adriel's face changed instantly.

"Don't you dare!"

The words came out sharp enough to silence the entire room.

A few seconds later, he seemed to realize how angry he sounded.

Adriel exhaled slowly, forcing his voice back into that familiar tone of exhausted patience, as though I were nothing more than a difficult woman he had indulged for far too long.