Chapter 1

I used to believe Ethan truly loved me.

Until that day, when I found the engagement invitation in his car. His and Vivian Sinclair's, the heiress of the wealthy Sinclair family.

Ethan was getting married, but the bride wasn't me.

And in front of me, he was still the same gentle, considerate, perfect boyfriend.

In the private lounge, he and his friends mocked me in French.

"Keeping Lila on the side isn't much trouble. She's so obedient in bed, I can't bear to break up with her."

They didn't know. My French scores were top of my class.

For three years, I clipped my own wings, willing to be his caged canary.

Now it's time to wake from this dream. I submitted my application to study at the top veterinary medical center in Boston.

Ethan, you're getting married.

And I'm going to fly back to the sky where I belong.

Lila POV

"Miss Hayes, working late again today? Mr. Ford has been waiting outside for you for quite a while."

Sarah, a nurse, smiled and joked. I took off my work clothes, washed my hands, and smiled gently. "There was an emergency surgery today. It took a bit longer than expected. I'm heading out now. Thanks everyone for your hard work."

I pushed open the glass door of the veterinary hospital. The early autumn night breeze carried a hint of chill.

A low-key, luxurious black Maybach was parked by the curb. The window rolled halfway down, revealing Ethan's handsome profile.

Three years together. He was the heir to New York's top financial empire, and I was just an ordinary veterinarian. Everyone said I was lucky, and I once believed Ethan truly loved me.

I opened the car door and got into the passenger seat. Ethan naturally leaned over to fasten my seatbelt, his crisp woody cologne enveloping me.

"Why so late today? I'm taking you to meet some friends." His voice was low and lazy, with its usual indulgence.

"A dog had complications during birth. I just finished doing a cesarean section." I explained softly, reaching for the wet wipes in the glove compartment to clean my hands. But the moment I pulled open the drawer, my movements froze.

Deep in the glove compartment lay a white invitation.

The invitation bore two familiar names. Ethan Ford and Vivian Sinclair.

My breathing stopped for a moment, my fingers trembling slightly. Vivian was the heiress of New York's Sinclair family, also from an extremely wealthy background.

So while I'd been standing at the operating table until my legs went numb for a few hundred dollars in surgery fees, my boyfriend had already set a wedding date with someone else.

"What's wrong?" Ethan noticed my reaction and glanced over.

I calmly pulled out a wet wipe, closed the glove compartment, my voice so steady even I found it unbelievable. "Nothing, just grabbing a tissue."

Half an hour later, the car stopped at New York's most exclusive private club.

The lounge door opened to reveal luxury and opulence, smoke curling in the air. The noisy conversation paused in unison the moment they saw me.

Ethan took my hand and led me to a seat, his expression untroubled.

Before I could adjust to the atmosphere, Marcus, sitting across from us, raised his eyebrows, his tone dripping with undisguised contempt. "Ethan, why'd you bring Lila Hayes? This lounge has poor ventilation. Why do I smell that animal stench?"

The moment he finished speaking, low laughter rippled through the lounge.

My fingers tightened around my glass, knuckles turning white. Every day at the hospital I dealt with sick animals. Even though I showered and changed clothes before leaving work, to these rich kids' noses, I seemed to permanently carry an unwashable animal smell.

I turned to look at Ethan, but saw him only carelessly swirl the wine in his glass. He didn't speak up for me. Instead, he said in that tone one uses to soothe a pet, "Honey, ignore them. They're just joking."

Marcus saw Ethan wasn't angry and grew bolder, deliberately speaking in French to the person beside him. "Ethan is getting engaged to Vivian next month. What are you planning to do about Lila? You're not seriously going to keep her for life, are you?"

Everyone present knew I came from an ordinary background, had even paid for college with scholarships. They were certain I couldn't understand French, and their laughter grew more unrestrained.

Ethan took a sip of wine and replied in equally fluent French. "The marriage alliance is my family's idea. The wedding is just going through the motions. Lila is very obedient, doesn't make a fuss. Keeping her on the side isn't much trouble."

The lounge erupted in laughter again. Someone mocked, "True, these broke women are so easy. Give them a little money and they'll behave."

The mocking laughter assaulted my ears. No one noticed that sitting quietly in the corner, the light in my eyes was extinguishing bit by bit, turning into deathly silence.

They didn't know I'd taken a second language in college. My French scores were top of the entire program.

Three years together, Ethan spoiled me lavishly. Bought me designer bags, let me live in his mansion. But never once introduced me to his family. I thought he was protecting me, afraid I'd be hurt.

Only today did I understand. In his eyes, I was never a partner who could stand beside him, but a "very obedient, quiet" pet.

In that moment, I suddenly felt even confronting him was unnecessary.

From now on, he could marry his Vivian, and I would be a veterinarian. We would have nothing to do with each other anymore.