Chapter 1

Before my husband, Vincenzo Rossi, boarded his flight for an overseas arms deal, he told me he had just prepared a huge surprise and would give it to me when he returned. Exchanging surprises was a playful tradition between us, a sweet intimacy we shared.

I smiled, sent Vincenzo an invitation for a date, then headed to the club. I planned to dress up as a sexy dancer to surprise him too.

I had just changed into a seductive dance dress and was warming up on the pole, preparing to rehearse, when I suddenly heard a commotion at the entrance. A group of young people walked into the club, laughing and chatting.

"This really is the hottest, most elite club in the city. The decor is so luxurious!"

"If it weren't for the business connection between Cristian's family company and the Rossi family, we wouldn't have been able to get a reservation at all! Tatiana, you're so lucky! Cristian spent so much money and put in so much effort to celebrate your birthday!"

Hearing those names, I instinctively turned around. Sure enough, I spotted my ex-boyfriend, Cristian Paleno, in the crowd. The woman he had cheated on me with was Tatiana Lazzari, who was surrounded by our former classmates.

The moment I saw them, memories of being bullied at school came flooding back. I frowned and was about to turn away when my eyes met Cristian's.

When he saw me, surprise flashed in his eyes, but then his gaze froze on my sexy dance dress.

Tatiana quickly stepped forward, blocking his line of sight. She sneered at me.

"Well, if it isn't Aria Amato, the girl with the best grades! How did you end up as a dancer?"

She stared contemptuously at my seductive outfit. "Guess you really are a cheap slut."

Cristian furrowed his brow like he was judging me from some moral high ground, yet his eyes kept wandering over my body.

I had no love for this group. I covered the revealing parts of my outfit and tried to leave.

Tatiana grabbed the hand I had placed over my chest.

"Why are you covering up? If you're out here selling yourself, don't be shy about people looking! With cheap goods like you, are you really worried about losing something? Forget looking, I bet even sleeping with you wouldn't cost more than a few bucks!"

Her sharp, vicious tone drew mocking laughter from everyone else. I couldn't believe these people were still so immature after all this time.

I shook off her hand and said coldly, "Show some respect. I'm a patron here too."

Before I finished, they burst into laughter. Tatiana's best friend, Michela Costa, stepped forward from the group.

She shoved me aside and shrieked sarcastically, "Aria, everyone knows you were broke in school. This is the VIP section! You clearly couldn't make it in life and turned into a stripper. Now that Tatiana and Cristian have caught you, you're pretending to be a patron? You'll say anything to save face, won't you?"

She put on an expression of sudden realization. "Oh, I get it now! You must have found out from the manager that Cristian was coming, so you deliberately dressed like this to run into him and win him back, right?"

Tatiana's expression instantly turned hostile. She clung tightly to Cristian's arm, as if staking her claim.

Unlike her reaction, a trace of smugness flashed across Cristian's face. He raised an eyebrow and stared at me with that infuriatingly leisurely look, as if he were waiting for my answer.

I found it somewhat amusing. However, to him, my smile seemed like a silent confirmation.

He frowned slightly, something like regret and nostalgia crossing his face. His languid tone dripped with arrogance and condescension.

"Aria, I told you you'd regret it. If you hadn't been so stubborn about leaving me, you wouldn't have ended up as a stripper. You insisted on breaking up with me, and now you're stalking me, putting on this whole act to win me back. Was it worth it?"