Chapter 1

My friend, Evelyn Vance, was a notorious villainess.

When I met her while volunteering, Evelyn had already signed a euthanasia agreement.

Her mental issues were severe.

Only in the week before her death did she have brief moments of clarity.

She clutched a cheap, tarnished ring and talked to me for a long time.

"After I'm gone... please, give this ring to Liam Sterling."

"I'm a fake heiress. I've done nothing but absurd things my whole life—things I deeply regret. But being loved by him, even once... that, I feel lucky about."

I froze for a second.

It hit me then. Liam Sterling, the current A-list movie star, was Evelyn's ex-husband.

"If only I could see him one more time..."

I couldn't bear it. I planned to sneak back to the US behind Evelyn's back to grant her final wish.

But I never imagined, when I found Liam on the eve of his engagement to the true heiress, he would be so full of disgust.

"I'm busy. I don't have time to play along with Evelyn's melodrama."

"If she wants to die, she can do it quietly!"

After saying that, Liam turned to leave.

Seeing his attitude, a rush of blood surged to my head. I shouted at his retreating back, "Liam Sterling, you bastard!"

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe Evelyn had her reasons?"

Liam's footsteps stopped.

He slowly turned around, sizing me up like I was a third-rate extra in a bad play.

"Reasons?"

"Miss Blake, do you think this is some cheesy soap opera? If she really had a reason, she can come tell me herself!"

With that, Liam couldn't be bothered to hear any more of my explanations and disappeared around the corner of Sterling Corp's headquarters.

I tried to bolt after him, but his bodyguards held me firmly in place. I could only shout uselessly, "It's Evelyn who wants to see you!"

But Liam's footsteps never slowed.

Watching his resolute back, I knew. I couldn't bring Liam back with me.

Evelyn's euthanasia was scheduled in just six days.

I took a deep breath and instinctively grabbed my phone to find the fastest flight back to New Zealand. Evelyn was still waiting for me. Even without Liam, I couldn't leave her to suffer alone.

My fingers had just touched the screen when I heard the sound of returning footsteps behind me.

I whipped my head around.

It was Liam!

His brow was furrowed, his face a mess of conflict as he spoke. "What did you mean just now... by 'reasons'?"

Seeing Liam take the initiative to ask, I was so agitated my words came out in a rush, practically tripping over each other. "Evelyn put on an act, for you."

"She didn't marry some wealthy foreign businessman.”

“The husband was a fake, the marriage was a sham. She hasn't been traveling the world, living it up like you think. She's in New Zealand. She's very sick. She's about to..."

The word "die" was still on my lips when Liam cut me off sharply, his face contorted with offended anger.

"Enough. Even lies have their limits. Besides, Evelyn and I are divorced. Even if something is wrong, you shouldn't be coming to me."

"Whatever happens to her is none of my concern."

My hands clenched into fists in frustration. He was still putting up a front, even now. If Liam Sterling was truly as cold as he claimed, he wouldn't have come back. His heart was already wavering.

What he needed was proof. Time was short, and arguing or explaining was a waste of it. I looked up at him, grabbed his arm, and started dragging him out. "I'm not lying to you."

"Come with me. I'll prove it to you!"