Chapter 1

My name is Aurora Finnigan. Seven years ago, I fell in love with Oscar Ramsay. He was my first love.

However, since I was the heiress of a highly secretive and mysterious family, the Finnigans, that meant I had already been betrothed to someone else.

I decided to reject my heiress role and run away from home so that I could be with him. However, I never thought that our relationship would end during our seventh year together.

Oscar had to go back to his home country to inherit the Ramsay family from his brother, Oliver Ramsay, who had passed away. He also "inherited" Oliver's widow, Evie Griffin, although she was technically his sister-in-law.

However, every time after he slept with Evie, he would come back to me and beg me for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry, Aurora. You're the only person I love, but I have no choice in this matter. But I promise that I will make our relationship public to the world after I've gotten Evie pregnant and she gives birth to the next Ramsay heir.

"I'll also be taking over the family business then, which means I'll finally be able to give you the better life you deserve."

He told me resentfully that this arrangement was his father's dying wish. His father, Uriah Ramsay, had wanted Evie to give birth to a baby boy.

However, Oscar never knew that this arrangement was also making me exhausted, both mentally and physically. We had to go our separate ways eventually.

Yet, as soon as I thought about returning to my family, I recalled the worried and disappointed looks on my parents' faces when I ditched the pre-arranged wedding. I didn't know if they would still be able to forgive me after I went back.

While I was still contemplating in worry, a pair of arms suddenly enveloped me from behind. What followed was a pungent perfume scent attacking my senses. I sneezed violently a few times and shoved Oscar away.

He looked at me unhappily. His voice was low as he said, "Are you rejecting me?"

I frowned and told him the truth. "Change those clothes. You smell like her."

Oscar took off his jacket with guilt written in his eyes. Then, he tried to change the topic.

"It's late. Why aren't you asleep yet?"

I stayed silent as a bitter smile crept onto my face.

Over the past year, he had slept with Evie 200 times. It started off as something that happened a few times a month, but it soon grew to occur a couple of times a week. Eventually, he started spending entire nights in her room every single day.

She finally got pregnant on the night I lost sleep for the 200th time. Nobody knew that I always stared off into space at night with the lights off because I didn't want them to discover my weakness.

Oscar came close to me again, wanting to touch me, but he was still covered in the scent of her perfume, and I sneezed again a few more times.

He froze, rooted to the ground, unsure of what to do next. I waved him off in disgust and said sternly, "Go and shower. You stink."

He lowered his head to sniff at his clothes and looked at me a little embarrassedly. "Sorry. I'll go and shower now."

He started toward the bathroom. However, he suddenly seemed to think of something and turned to look back at me.

"Rora, I've already gotten Evie's permission to bring you and Ingrid out on a trip after her pregnancy is stable. We can finally spend some quality time together."

I nodded stiffly, and Oscar went into the bathroom with a joyful expression. I watched his disappearing back with dull eyes.

What a joke. Why would he need to get Evie's permission to spend time with me and Ingrid, our daughter? Anyone who didn't know better would think that I was the mistress instead.

I chuckled drily.

A short while later, Oscar emerged from the bathroom in a loose bathrobe that revealed his muscular chest. Beads of water were still trickling down his hair and dripping onto his body, and he looked the epitome of a nonchalantly handsome and sexy man without trying too hard.

It reminded me of how we met for the first time.

I had been out in the forest for a walk one day when I accidentally fell into a river. Just as I thought I was about to be swept away by the current, Oscar dove into the water at once and saved me, causing him to be drenched all over.

When he took off his clothes to dry them, I caught sight of his muscular body and immediately felt my heart thumping wildly against my chest.

I couldn't help but praise him. "You're really handsome."

He was stunned briefly. Then, he smiled sincerely and said in return, "You're very pretty, too."

I blushed and averted my gaze shyly. Meanwhile, he just kept staring at me.

I felt a little uneasy with his eyes on me the whole time, so I turned toward him and glared at him in retaliation. I reached out to clap him on the shoulder, but he immediately grabbed my hand and held it tightly.

His palm was warm to the touch. I knew then that I'd fallen for him completely.

I didn't know how or why, but it just happened. I was in love with him at first sight.