Chapter 1

I stood outside the door, catching every word of the conversation between Sterling Knight and Cale Fabian. The fruit platter in my hands trembled as my body shook slightly.

"Don't you have any regrets?" Cale asked.

Hearing Cale's doubtful tone, a flicker of hope unexpectedly ignited in my heart.

"Everything was for Vivienne. I have no regrets," Sterling replied.

Upon hearing this, Cale rubbed his forehead in frustration and tried his best to persuade him.

"So what if you helped Vivienne secure her position in the Winters family? She still chose Thaddeus Blackwood! Do you really want to hurt someone who loves you for the sake of someone who doesn't?"

Sterling's face remained expressionless as he looked at Cale seriously. "Regardless of who Vivienne chose, that's her freedom. I only wanted to help her.

"As for Arabella, she loves me so much that not marrying her would be the real harm. She won't get hurt as long as she doesn't know the truth. I'm protecting her here."

Cale was left speechless by Sterling's twisted logic. As for me, I could not help but force a smile.

I smiled at my own blindness, my own stupidity, and at the past three years of my life. During those three years, I had seen Sterling as my savior, my redemption.

Only because he had stood by me when the entire Oceanview City mocked me. He not only helped me clear my debts but also arranged my father's funeral.

I found a new shelter in my downfall because of him. And because of him, I harbored no resentment when Thaddeus abandoned me.

Yet now, his conversation with Cale told me that everything was a lie. I had actually planned to marry the man who destroyed my family.

Footsteps sounded inside the room. I could not think of anything else; I could only flee back to my bedroom.

After Cale left, Sterling returned to the room and stood before me, taking my hands in his.

"Your hands are so cold. Are you sick?" he asked, placing his hand on my forehead to check my temperature.

"You're not feverish. Bella, are you feeling unwell?"

Looking at Sterling's worried face, I felt nothing but horror. He clearly did not love me, yet he could always act as if he loved me to the bone.

I gently shook my head and pulled my hands away from his, smiling faintly. "The window was open. Perhaps it’s just because of the wind."

Sterling heard this and walked to the window, closing it while cautioning me, "You're fragile. You shouldn't be keeping the windows open all the time. What if you get sick? It’ll break my heart."

In the past, hearing such words from Sterling would have made me smile brightly and cling to him affectionately. But now, I remained silent.

He noticed my low spirits and crouched down to meet my eyes. "Tomorrow's our wedding day. Are you not happy to marry me, Bella?"

After overhearing his conversation with Cale, I felt lost in confusion, unsure what to do.

It was Sterling's words that reminded me—I did not want to marry him now. I needed to leave.

Worried he might detect something amiss, I quickly reassured him, "Maybe it's pre-wedding jitters? Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Sterling smiled. "Bella, don't be anxious. I'll always be by your side."

He had said the same thing three years ago, and throughout those years, he had indeed kept his word.

I had thought it was because he loved me. Now, I realized it was for atonement and to keep me under control.

"Bella, let's go decorate our room at the new house," Sterling's words interrupted my thoughts, and I could only nod in agreement.

Our new home was located in West End, an extremely luxurious villa. I loved it the first time I laid my eyes on it.

Sterling told me he had chosen the house according to my preferences. Yet unlike the joy I felt the last time I visited, stepping into this villa now made me feel cold all over.

The man before me was my enemy, the person responsible for destroying my family. How could I possibly find this house welcoming?

As I struggled to compose myself, Sterling's phone rang. It was Vivienne's special ringtone.

I had once argued with Sterling about this ringtone, but he told me it was because Vivienne was his business partner.

His gaze had been so sincere when he said it that I had no choice but to believe him.

Despite my discomfort, I never mentioned my dissatisfaction to Sterling again, fearing he would think I was being difficult. But now, hearing this ringtone again felt like a lifeline.

Sterling glanced at me awkwardly before answering the phone and walking away.

When he returned shortly after, he appeared anxious.

"Bella, there's an issue at the company. I need to go immediately. You start with the decorating, and we'll finish the rest together when I return."

Without waiting for my response, he headed for the door. I felt relief mingling with a hint of heartache as I watched his departing figure. He never once looked back.

I had been foolish before, deliberately blind to what was happening.

Sterling always responded promptly to Vivienne's calls, no matter what he was doing.

Once, he answered Vivienne's call even while we were being intimate. The moment he heard crying on the other end, he immediately got dressed and left.

From beginning to end, he never spared me a glance or offered a single word of explanation.