Chapter 1

The air froze.

Maximo turned slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly behind his gold-rimmed glasses, examining her with cold indifference.

"What did you just say?"His voice carried an oppressive weight.

The crystal chandelier overhead was blinding. I looked at the face that had once captivated me, and my stomach turned.

“I said, the wedding is off.” My voice was flat. Not a single tremor.

“Pfft—”

Gia giggled, a sound like poison poured into honey.

“Oriana, don't be so petty.”

she purred, pressing against Maximo, deliberately twisting the massive diamond ring on her finger.

“Maximo only feels sorry that I had no impressive jewelry to show off at the pre-show dinner.”

“This ring can realize its greatest commercial value when worn on my hand.”

“ You’re usually so sensible, so why are you being so unreasonable at such a critical moment?”

She called him "Maximo." So naturally.

I’d never heard a woman use a word like that. Not once in five years.

"Take off the ring," I told her, my voice cold.

Gia feigned terror, tugged atMaximo's hem. "Maximo, I'm scared..."

Maximo pulled her behind him, his brow furrowed. "That's enough, Oriana!" He waved a dismissive hand. "You're being ridiculous."

He walked toward me, every step a threat.

"Gia is walking in a major show in Paris. Those connections are vital to the family's future."

“I gave her the ring for the sake of our future home.”

He stopped right in front of me, looking down at me. "And you? An art gallery owner. Who are you trying to impress with a piece like this? Your broke artist friends?"

Every word was a knife in my heart.

Five years.

Five years of hiding my true identity, paving his way from the shadows. And it meant nothing to him.

"Maximo, This is the wedding ring I’ve been waiting for six months."

“You just give it away like that? Did you even ask for my opinion?”

I hold my breath and clench my fists tightly.

Maximo let out a cold laugh.

"Your opinion?"

He closed in on me, his breath enveloping me. "This five-million-dollar ring? I paid for it."

“That lakeside apartment you live in, the Maserati you drive，even the rent for your pathetic little gallery?Everything you have is from me,."

“You’re talking to me about your opinion now?”

He stretched out his finger and poked my shoulder hard.

"Oriana,so you better learn some goddamn gratitude and stop telling me what to do."

I stared at the conceited man in front of me, and suddenly he felt so unfamiliar.

This was the man I had loved for five years?

He didn't see anything wrong with giving my wedding ring to his mistress.

In his eyes, I was just another pretty object he owned.

I was done talking. I turned to walk out.

"Oriana, don't push your luck!"

Maximo grabbed my wrist. So tight I almost cried out.

"Now, you're going to go to the vault, pick another piece of jewelry, and the wedding ceremony will proceed as planned." His voice was a low, dangerous whisper in my ear.

"As long as you behave yourself, I'll buy you out every jewelry store on Rodeo Drive to make it up to you. But if you dare walk out that door..." He paused, his voice turning colder.

"I promise you, no one in this city will sell you a goddamn thing. You'll find out that without me, you don't even have a roof over your head."

Gritting my teeth against the sharp pain in my wrist, I lifted my head and stared straight into his eyes.

Five years of devotion, for this?

"Maximo,you make me sick."

I ripped my arm from his grasp.

I walked to the door without looking back.

"Oriana, I'm warning you! Don't push me!"

I didn't stop. I squared my shoulders, pushed open the workshop door, and walked out. Behind me, I heard Maximo's arrogant, cold laughter.