Chapter 1

Scalding broth dripped down my wrist.

My entire right hand was swollen and blistered, the skin badly burned. The acrid smell of scorched flesh filled the air.

The coldness in Blair Carter's eyes finally shattered. She grabbed my wrist. "Greyson, are you seriously willing to risk your life over a pocket watch just to fight him for it?"

Pain shot through my palm. My whole body trembled, but I refused to let go.

Seven years ago, after my father, Samuel Reid, was sentenced, I ran everywhere looking for help, hiring lawyers and submitting appeals.

But my father was just a freight truck driver with no connections, the perfect scapegoat in their eyes.

The Carters didn't even need to show up in person.

A single word from them was enough to make lawyers refuse my case, get the relevant authorities to stop accepting my appeals, and silence everyone who might speak up.

That was when I learned that in the face of power, an ordinary person's life was worth less than a scrap of paper.

Later, to uncover the truth, I took my mother's surname and concealed my real identity, becoming the man Blair knew as Greyson Hayes.

I became her lover first, then gradually worked my way up to become her husband.

I'd taken a knife for her and stood by her through the hardest days of her power struggle. I was just one step away from bringing my father home.

"Get a doctor!" Blair roared toward the door. She took off her suit jacket and tried to wrap it around my hand.

I moved away from her and hid the pocket watch behind my back.

Her hand froze in midair, and her expression darkened. "Give it to me."

"This was my mother's. When Nolan shoved me and snatched my watch, you did nothing. Now I've managed to get it back myself, and you still want to hand it to him again?"

Blair hesitated for a moment.

However, Nolan Pierce came over with reddened eyes and gently tugged at her sleeve. "Blair, I didn't know it was Greyson's mother's keepsake.

"I just thought it looked nice and made an offhand comment. If Greyson didn't want to give it to me, he could've just said so. Why deliberately injure himself and make everyone think I was bullying him?"

With those two casual sentences, Blair's gaze turned impatient again. "Tonight is Nolan's welcome-home party. You've already made enough of a scene."

With that, she forcibly pried my fingers apart. The wounds split open, and blood instantly stained the pocket watch.

I gritted my teeth. Even when she had nearly pried open my last finger, I still refused to let go.

"I can give him anything else." I stared straight at her. "But not this."

Her hand paused for a moment.

Then Nolan suddenly clutched his chest, his face turning deathly pale as he staggered backward.

Blair immediately released me and caught him securely in her arms. "Nolan!"

Supporting him, she hurried away. As she passed me, she tossed out a cold warning, "If anything happens to him tonight, I won't let you get away with it."

I watched her retreating figure and suddenly laughed.

'Blair, you'd better remember what you said today. Once my father's name is cleared, there will never be an "us" again.'