Chapter 2

Liam was a notorious playboy in Harbor City's business circles. His private jet was always filled with beautiful companions.

That all changed at a cocktail party one day, where he fell for Winter at first sight.

The very next day, he cut off every woman around him and grounded his private jet.

In the height of summer, he showed up outside her office building every single day with a sapphire necklace worth over a billion.

People around him tried to persuade her to be with him. They said they had never seen Liam so fixated on any woman before.

"A reformed playboy is priceless," they said.

Even Winter's friends both openly and subtly nudged her. "Just give him a chance."

Still, Winter never accepted him.

She knew how wide the gap between them was.

She was afraid that it was just a passing obsession and that he'd lose interest in her after a few days.

Instead, he stood there for an entire month, regardless of the weather.

One night after working late, the rain was pouring outside.

Winter saw Liam standing in the downpour through the office window. His expensive suit was soaked through.

She ran downstairs. "What do you want from me?"

He tore off his tie, showing a messiness he had never had before.

"I want you," he said. "If you'd just look at me once, I'd give you my life."

That was the moment Winter's defenses finally collapsed. Ignoring Richard's objections, she married him.

After the wedding, his devotion grew.

Anything she mentioned liking would appear at her bedside the very next day. It didn't matter how far away it was or how outrageous the price was.

People joked that if Winter asked for the stars, Liam would find a way to pluck one straight out of the sky.

Even Richard, who had always opposed the marriage, changed his mind.

"Liam's a man you can trust. I can die without regrets if he's the one taking care of you."

Winter remained wrapped in the illusion of a perfect marriage. That was until the day Liam appeared in front of her while holding Regina's hand.

"Winnie, this is Regina," he said calmly. "You two should get along."

Before Winter could process what she was seeing, Regine burst into tears. "You never told me you were married! I may just be a poor college student, but my parents raised me to have dignity!"

Liam immediately pulled her into his arms and apologized to her repeatedly. "She's my wife. But you're the one I truly love. Don't worry. You won't be any less important than her. Whatever she has, you'll have more."

Every word stabbed straight into Winter's chest.

Afterward, she cried, argued, and eventually drafted divorce papers, placing them in front of him.

"I'll step aside for you and Regina," she said. "I'll give up being Mrs. Jager."

Liam's eyes reddened as he tore the papers into pieces. "Winnie, she's just a distraction. No one can replace you as Mrs. Jager."

When Winter insisted on divorce, his tone shifted to a half-threat, half promise.

"Winnie, your father’s health has never been good. You wouldn't want all this chaos interfering with his recovery, do you?"

Her head snapped up, and she stared at him. "What are you implying?"

"We're family. You've never had to worry about the cost of his treatments, have you?" he answered lightly.

Winter froze. She couldn't say a word.

He pulled her into a loose hug. "That's enough drama. I'll come back once I get bored. We'll have a child then. It'll make your father happy."

The truth was that Liam cared about Regina far more than he ever admitted.

When Regina caught a cold, he canceled billion-dollar deals just to sit with her through IV drips and medication.

When her school organized a summer camp, Liam—who usually despised pointless socializing—took off his suit, put on a ridiculous school uniform, and went hiking hand in hand with her.

At her graduation, he showed up in full formal wear as her fiance, landing himself on the front page of Harbor City's headlines overnight.

Winter became a laughingstock among socialites and wealthy wives.

When she confronted him with the newspaper in hand and red eyes, Liam didn't even look at her.

"The media makes up things all the time. Do you really believe them?"

He even turned it back on her. "You're my legal wife. Is this really all the grace you have?"

…

Bit by bit, Winter's disappointment hardened into resolve. She began planning to leave with her father.

Until she received a call from the hospital: “Your father has a successful match! The heart has arrived, and we are ready for surgery at any time.”

She cried with joy. Seven years of prayers had finally been answered.

Yet Liam had used her father's life to force her to give up the hope she had waited seven years for.