Chapter 1

The second I hung up, I fired off my resignation letter and walked straight out of the corporate building.

A second later, my phone buzzed. It was Julian.

Curious to hear what kind of bullshit he’d spin next, I picked up.

His low, disapproving voice came through the speaker immediately.

"I saw your resignation. You're acting entirely too impulsive, Alessia."

"Do you have any idea what you just did? Your little interrogation terrified Caroline. She’s in tears, threatening to pack up and leave with Noah. You scared the kid half to death, too."

Right on cue, I heard Caroline’s fragile, muffled sobs in the background, followed by Noah’s loud wailing.

"Bad lady! Why are you kicking me and Mommy out? This is my house! I don't want that bad lady here!"

"Alessia, please, just blame me," Caroline wept. "Don't fight with Julian over this..."

Then came Julian’s voice, dropping into a sickeningly gentle tone meant only for them. "I'm right here. Nobody is making you leave."

His tone shifted back to me, cold and demanding. " Alessia, apologize to them."

I didn't say a single word. I just hung up the phone and stepped out onto the sidewalk.

Memories from the past five years flashed through my mind like a bad joke.

Five years ago, Julian’s company was on the verge of bankruptcy. I couldn't bear to see his talent go to waste. So, I secretly wired him fifty million dollars of my own money through an anonymous shell company. That money pulled him out of the gutter and turned him into Wall Street’s new golden boy.

For five years, I willingly played the shadow behind his throne. His most loyal assistant. A foolish girl waiting for a promise that he’d marry me after the IPO.

But the truth was, he already had a wife. His own sister-in-law.

I remembered how I used to see Caroline wearing different pieces of high-end, custom jewelry. I had wondered how she could afford it.

Back then, Caroline had just looked at me with a sweet, twisted little smile. "My darling husband bought them for me."

I’d assumed she meant Julian's late brother, and even felt guilty for being suspicious. Looking back now, the husband she was flaunting was Julian all along.

I hadn't walked far when Julian's car pulled up in front of me.

He rolled down the window, frowning. "I knew you were mad. Fine, you don't have to apologize. But really, why are you getting jealous over a widow and a fatherless kid?"

"Look, I brought Caroline along so we can explain things in person. We only got married so I could legally take care of them. It's not what you think. Get in the car."

I didn't have the energy to argue. I walked straight to the passenger door.

When I pulled it open, Caroline was sitting there.

She raised an eyebrow. She had Julian's suit jacket draped over her shoulders and gave me a fake, apologetic look.

"Sorry, Alessia. I get a little carsick, so I took the front seat. Do you mind sitting in the back?"

It was laughable. Was this really her way of "clearing the air"?

Before I could speak, Julian looked at me nervously, opening his mouth to defend Caroline.

In the past, I would have definitely frowned and marked my territory, fighting for the passenger seat that belonged to the woman of the house.

But today, I didn't say a word. I just got into the back seat.

If he wanted to chauffeur me around, I’d just treat him like a free Uber.

Julian looked surprised. His lips parted, and he turned his head to say something to me.

But Caroline cut him off.

"Julian, the car behind us is honking. Let's go."

I closed my eyes. I didn't know how much time had passed when the car finally stopped.

I opened my eyes and saw we were parked outside an elite private club.

Seeing my frown, Julian rubbed his cufflinks and chuckled softly.

"Caroline knew you were upset about the trust fund, so she specially wanted to treat you to dinner to apologize."