Chapter 1

Twelve years ago, Leon pulled me out of a burning building and raised me. I decided that after the 99th time he cast me aside, I would walk away for good.

…

I finally stepped into St. Sire Private Clinic in New Lyon. Alone, I scheduled the abortion procedure and signed my name, Isabella Rossi, on the consent form. This was my final chance—to him, and to myself.

At the end of the hallway, a few elegantly dressed socialites were whispering to the nurse, stealing glances at me.

"That's her," one of them murmured. "Leon Vincent's ward in a gilded cage."

"I heard she's extremely ambitious. Did she really think she could compete with the daughter of the Harringtons?"

"She really doesn't know her place, does she? A lowborn orphan girl thinking she can climb the ladder by getting pregnant with Mr. Vincent's child? What a joke."

I didn't even look their way. I kept my head down, held in everything I was feeling, and walked straight out of the hospital.

Back at the penthouse, the butler, Frank, greeted me at the door with his usual formality. In his hands, he held a royal blue velvet box.

"Ms. Rossi, Mr. Vincent just had this delivered for you," he said.

I opened the box, and inside was a 17-carat cushion-cut pink diamond that sparkled so bright it almost hurt to look at.

Frank's eyes lit up with barely hidden envy. "Mr. Vincent always saves the very best for you. You're fortunate, Ms. Rossi."

I gave him a faint smile, walked into the dressing room, and opened the safe. I placed the pink diamond in an empty slot, then stuck a small label beneath it: 97/99.

As always, this was Leon's way of "making up" for either his affection or his betrayal.

Just as I shut the safe, my phone buzzed with a new email. The sender was Elena, Leon's fiancee.

Attached was a photo of a sunset over the Halston River in the background. Leon was shirtless, his muscles sharply defined. His head was lowered as he kissed Elena, who was curled up in his arms.

She was wearing only one of his white dress shirts. Her legs were wrapped around his waist and her eyes were hazy as she looked straight into the camera.

The email read, "Dear Isabella, here's a photo from our yacht party. Leon's body looks amazing, doesn't it? By the way, I attached an invitation to the Vincent family's private celebration. You must come."

…

The next day, Vincent Estate was buzzing. Nearly every high-society name in New Lyon had shown up for this engagement party between Leon and Elena. She raised her glass and flashed me a sweet, victorious smile.

"Everyone, according to the Vincent family tradition, Isabella, as Leon's former ward, should be the one to pour our celebratory champagne and cut the cake for us. Isn't that right, Leon?"

All eyes instantly turned to me. Leon looked at me for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Elena and nodded.

I said nothing and stepped forward.

As I poured the second glass of champagne, Elena suddenly "slipped". The champagne and the massive cream cake came crashing down on me, the icy liquid and sticky frosting soaking and dirtying my expensive gown in seconds.

To make things even more dramatic, Elena let out a sudden shriek. Everyone turned and saw a thin trail of blood running down the back of her left hand, supposedly from a shard of glass.

She clutched her hand, her eyes filled with tears. "Isabella! How could you do something like this at our party? Are you trying to jinx us?"

Leon immediately stepped forward, pulling her into his arms and gently cradling her "injured" hand.

Then, he shot me a glare and spoke in a cold voice. "Elena's been pampered her whole life. She's too delicate for your petty schemes, Isabella!"

His fiancee was trampling on my dignity, humiliating me in front of everyone. And yet, he was the one accusing me of being petty and malicious.

He raised his voice again. "Isabella, apologize to Elena now!"

I glanced at Elena's smug expression from within his arms, then looked straight at her. "I'm sorry, Ms. Harrington."

Around us, guests had begun whispering behind their champagne glasses. "How vicious. She even hurt Ms. Harrington."

"That bitch must be out of her mind, trying to climb her way up by sleeping with her guardian."

"She's just a lowborn orphan Mr. Vincent took in. How could she ever compare to someone as noble as Elena Harrington?"

"She really thought living with the Vincent family made her royalty. No matter how she dresses up, she'll always be a lowborn at heart."

Leon carefully held Elena's hand, gently helping her as they walked off to get her wound cleaned. When he overheard the guests' whispers, his expression darkened.

"Mind your business, and get out of the way!" he barked.

The crowd scattered in an instant. Elena glanced back at me, her eyes full of smug satisfaction.

After the party, Leon caught up with me in the hallway and wrapped an arm around my waist from behind. His warm lips brushed my ear as he whispered, "Don't be mad, my dear Isabella. Just hold on a little longer. Once I've secured control of Harrington Group's assets, I'll divorce her.

"You know I don't love her. I've only ever loved you. Just bear with it a little longer."

Unbeknownst to him, I was thoroughly done. Once I repaid what I owed him, I would leave for good.