Chapter 1

Five years ago, Moon Xavier took control of the Xavier family from her father with ruthless determination. She forced her father to give up his power because she wanted to marry Yale Xander, a man from an ordinary family.

But on the way to their wedding, they got into a car accident.

Moon protected Yale from the impact and suffered severe injuries. The doctors could not save her.

Yale was devastated. In just three days, he made dozens of attempts to end his life.

One time, he cut his wrist with a sharpened stone, and bright red blood pooled on the floor.

Cody Xavier could not stand to see him suffer anymore. He went to the hospital room and told him the truth. “Moon isn’t dead! She survived, but she lost her memory.

“Justin took advantage of the situation and pushed himself on her. He convinced her that he was the man she loved and the one who understood her best.”

Yale had been numb with despair, but his eyes suddenly lit up. He grabbed Cody tightly by the sleeve. “Then, take me to her! I’ll tell her the truth!

“Or you can tell her for me!”

Cody looked away.

Yale sensed that something was wrong. His voice grew softer. “Is there a problem?”

Cody looked troubled. “Justin’s my best friend!

“He’s loved Moon for years. He finally has a chance to be with her. How can I help you break them up?

“Besides, Justin is the heir of the Mercer family, while your dad is just a farmer. Anyone can see that he and my sister are a better match. I’m doing this for your own good. What good can come from a man trying to move up in the world through a woman?”

Yale stared at the man who had once promised to protect him for the rest of his life.

After a long silence, Yale finally said, “He’s your friend, and I’m not?”

“Don’t try to guilt-trip me!” Cody snapped. He paused for a moment and said, “I’ll find a way to get you a job as a servant in the Xavier household. You can figure out the rest yourself. Is that good enough?”

Yale said without hesitation, “Yes.”

He turned down an offer from one of the best hospitals overseas and stayed in the Xavier household as a servant. He did every dirty, exhausting job they gave him and watched Moon get close to one lover after another.

The first time he tried to stop Moon, he told her everything. He had been full of hope that she would remember him. Instead, the butler, Liam Carter, dragged him outside and slapped him ninety-nine times. His face was almost unrecognizable afterward.

The second time, they had him committed to a psychiatric hospital because they thought he was insane. When he finally got out, he was painfully thin.

The third time, Moon had been drinking, and she dragged him into bed with her.

Yale tried to push her away, but Moon only gave him a cold smile. “You went to all this trouble to get my attention. Isn’t this what you wanted?

“Fine. You can have it.”

After that terrible night, Yale became one of Moon’s many lovers.

Moon was kind and generous to her other lovers, but she looked down on Yale. She also let Justin make his life miserable.

The day Justin kicked Yale down the stairs, Yale broke both legs. He was in terrible pain, but Moon did not even look at him. Instead, she turned to Justin and proposed to him.

“The others are just for fun. You’re the only one I’ll marry.

“I agreed to get treatment for my memory loss. But even if I remember everything, I won’t marry a man like him.”

Cody frowned. “That’s it?

“Hmph! Looks like you don’t care about my sister that much after all. I knew it. Justin is the only man good enough for her.”

Yale closed his eyes to hide the sadness.

It was not just because of that.

Once his legs had healed enough for him to walk again, Yale cried. Even then, he still refused to give up.

When he passed Moon’s study, he heard her talking to Justin.

“Moon, you never lost your memory. Why did you lie to Yale? Why keep him around just to punish him?”

Moon sat behind the desk. Her fingers tapped lightly against the surface with cold fingertips. “The day of the accident, Yale got out of the car and left me inside. The car could have exploded at any moment.

“My dad was right. A man like him doesn’t deserve to be my husband. But I don’t want to let him go just for him to chase after other women.

“These five years were his punishment.”

Yale stood outside the study. His mind went completely blank.

Moon had not lost her memories! She had only been angry because she thought he had abandoned her!

But he had not!

After the accident, Yale used his bare hands to clear the debris off Moon. His fingers were cut badly.

He dragged Moon away from the danger and shouted for someone to call an ambulance.

Yale only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Cody arrive. Then, he passed out.

Why had Moon misunderstood him?

He almost rushed into the study to explain everything.

Just then, Justin said, “How do you know he abandoned you?”

“Cody told me.”

Moon’s eyes shone with conflicting emotions. She was in pain, but she also seemed to take satisfaction in getting her revenge. “Cody is Yale’s closest friend. He would never make something like that up.”

It seemed Cody was behind everything.

Yale went completely still. Suddenly, he had no strength left.

Moon did not believe him. She had spent five years punishing and humiliating him.

Even his best friend had betrayed him.

How could he keep going?

When Cody was right in front of him, Yale wanted to ask him why he had done it.

He thought, ‘I know Justin grew up with you. Still, I went to school with you for ten years.

‘You and Justin have always been close. But I once saved you from a group of troublemakers. I even rushed into a bar for you and hit the man who was hurting you with a beer bottle.

‘Moon and I only met because of you.

‘Why did you do this to me?!’

Yale wanted to ask that, but in the end, he only said, “Yes. I guess I don’t care about her that much.

“I’m tired. I just want to leave.”

Cody froze. He was about to say something else when they heard a noise behind them.

Moon walked through the door. She had just taken off her cream-colored coat and held it over one arm. Her cold gaze fell on Yale. “You’re leaving?”