Chapter 1

When Joseph Hunt brought his first love to the birthday banquet, Aurora Walton knew she had lost.

In the corner of the room, she glanced at the messages from her mother, Grace Williamson.

"Aurora, you lost.”

"Three years, and Joseph still doesn’t love you. As agreed, it’s time for you to come back and take responsibility."

Out of the corner of her eye, Aurora looked at the girl in Joseph’s arms.

This was the first time she had seen Joseph’s first love.

She was pure, with a soft and gentle demeanor, quiet and serene. Even in cheap clothing, she stood out effortlessly.

So, this was the type Joseph liked.

A faint bitterness spread across Aurora’s lips.

She suddenly remembered four years ago when a bold socialite flirted with Joseph and confessed her feelings.

He lazily flicked his cigarette, his eyes holding a trace of detached amusement as he smirked, "Sorry, lady, I like girls who are quiet and ordinary."

At the time, Aurora was secretly in love with Joseph for two years.

However, Grace strongly disapproved her of having a relationship with him.

Their families were business rivals, and Grace always dismissed romance as meaningless.

On top of that, Joseph was known for being a playboy—not someone she considered a suitable choice.

But when Aurora heard his preference, she made a bet with Grace.

If Joseph fell in love with her, she would be allowed to be with him.

Grace had agreed.

To make Joseph fall for her, Aurora transformed overnight—from the rarely seen heiress of the Walton family to a modest, obedient girl with nothing to her name.

From that moment on, she stayed by Joseph’s side.

One night, after he had too much to drink, his half-lidded eyes held a lazy amusement as he looked at her.

"You like me?”

“Want to give us a try?"

The three years she spent with Joseph had drained nearly all of her passion and courage.

She learned to cook for him, cared for him day and night when he was sick, and it was obvious to outsiders that she was hopelessly in love with Joseph.

And it had seemed, for a while, that he was ready to change for her.

He felt sorry for her and often smiled, telling her to be his wife and that he would take care of her.

Aurora turned him down.

She struggled with the decision for a long time, but she was finally ready to reveal everything on his birthday—the truth about the bet.

That was when Judy Moore appeared.

Noticing Aurora’s silence, someone teased with a knowing tone, "Judy, now that you're back, someone’s heart must be in pieces.

"Someone here had worked so hard to climb her way up, only for you to return and ruin her plans."

"Enough," Judy interrupted softly.

Her voice was light and delicate as she turned to Aurora, her gaze carrying a hint of guilt.

"I’m sorry, Miss Walton. Joseph and I were separated for a few years due to certain circumstances. I never thought he would act out and use you as a substitute.

“What happened between us shouldn’t have involved you. That was immature of him. But in the end, you didn’t really lose, did you?"

Her voice was gentle, her doe-like eyes filled with sincerity, as if to say that Aurora, a nobody, should feel lucky to have been involved with someone like Joseph in the first place.

After all, a struggling college girl managing to stay by Joseph’s side—even as a mere stand-in—was already a stroke of luck.

How could she possibly call that a loss?

Joseph’s gaze landed on Aurora.

Tonight, she looked different in a simple red dress.

The usual quiet elegance she wore like armor had faded, replaced by something untamed like a rose in full bloom, bold and dazzling.

She sat there, lazy and indifferent, yet effortlessly captivating.

She was nothing like the quiet, obedient girl she used to be.

Joseph never liked this kind of woman.

He believed women should be delicate, obedient, and in need of protection.

His brows furrowed.

Aurora would forever be a substitute.

She would never be Judy.

His tone was indifferent. "Judy's back. Let's end this. Here’s two hundred thousand dollars. Consider it compensation."

With a casual swipe of money, he erased the three years they had spent together.

Thinking about those years, Aurora found it laughable.

"Keep your money. You were a disappointment in bed, and honestly, I got bored."

With that, she picked up a glass of red wine and, without hesitation, threw it straight into Joseph’s face.

For three years, he had never touched her—choosing to stay faithful to his precious first love.

And she had been foolish enough to wait, thinking he was just taking the whole "pure love" thing seriously.

The room fell into stunned silence.

However, Aurora remained unfazed.

She casually picked up a napkin, wiped her hands, and tilted her red lips into a smirk.

Then, with a soft scoff, she raised her glass.

"This one’s to three years of being blind."

She didn’t spare Joseph another glance before turning and walking out of the private lounge.

Behind her, the crowd collectively sucked in a breath, exchanging wide-eyed looks as they took in the sight of Joseph.

Aurora had always spoken softly, her voice gentle and subdued.

She was never anything but obedient around Joseph. But today…

"Has she lost her mind? Two hundred thousand dollars is more than she could ever make in her lifetime! What is she trying to prove?"

"Let her go."

Joseph gritted his teeth, his tone laced with mockery.

"As long as she doesn’t come crying back or try to get between me and Judy, I couldn’t care less. A woman like her? There’s no chance we’ll ever cross paths again."

He thought he knew Aurora all too well.

She had no family support, no connections—just a struggling college student barely getting by.

Where could she possibly go without him?

Besides, after three years of being kept by him, this so-called pride of hers was nothing but an act.

Sooner or later, she’d come crawling back.

His words carried through the air, reaching Aurora’s ears.

She didn’t even flinch.

Without a glance back, she walked away.

In the past, they had argued before.

And every time, she was the one who backed down.

But this time, she would disappoint him because she was truly leaving.

She was going home to inherit her family's billion-dollar empire.