Chapter 1

My girlfriend, Kayleigh Richards, and I had been childhood sweethearts for ten years.

The day I was taken back by my family at 18 years old, she clung to my hand, tears streaming down her face, begging me not to go.

But in just two short years, the innocence in her eyes had faded. She carried herself with the poise of a grown woman now, and she had become much more calculating.

When I stepped down from the truck, the first thing I wanted to do was pull her into a hug. But she slipped away from my touch so subtly that it almost went unnoticed.

At the time, I told myself she was just shy, perhaps because we hadn't seen each other in two years.

But at the dinner, I watched as Kayleigh descended the stairs with her arm looped through a hooligan's, smiling like a blooming flower. Then, she said she wanted to break up. That was when I realized she had fallen for someone else.

As a man, I reflected on myself. It had to be my fault for not being by her side these past two years. Of course, she'd been misled by someone else. It was understandable. After all, I didn't cherish my own woman. It was only natural that someone else swooped in.

I opened my mouth to explain myself to Kayleigh, but before I could say a word, a cold liquid poured down from the top of my head.

Gerald Shaw stood there in front of everyone, casually emptying a full glass of red wine over me. His eyes were full of contempt, his tone filled with unconcealed mockery. "A toad like you thinks he can be with a swan? Take a look at yourself. This is a 1982 Lafite. You couldn't even afford a glass of it with a month of your salary.

"Honestly, you should be thanking me. Without me, a broke loser like you would never get the chance to wash your hair with something this expensive." He then burst into loud laughter.

The people around us joined in, their gazes filled with ridicule.

"So, this is Kayleigh's fiance? He really doesn't belong here."

"Right? I don't know what she ever saw in him."

"She was young and foolish back then. Now that she's met Gerald, she finally knows what a real man looks like."

My eyes burned red as I stared at Kayleigh, waiting for an explanation. "Kayleigh, don't you have anything to say?"

She turned her face away, avoiding my gaze.

A dull ache spread through my chest. I could understand if she had made a mistake. But if her heart had already gone to another man, then there was nothing left to salvage.

Even so, a sliver of hope lingered deep inside me.

Seeing that I wasn't getting angry and was still clinging to Kayleigh, Gerald's expression darkened. "You already got a taste of something so expensive. Why don't you get lost now? Or are you planning to stick around for our wedding banquet?"

Seeing Gerald's arrogance and Kayleigh's silence, something stirred in me. What if Kayleigh was being forced?

With that thought, I grabbed her wrist. "Kayleigh, don't be afraid. Did this bastard threaten you? Don't worry. I…"

Before I could finish, Gerald shoved me away and let out a scornful laugh. "Figures. You're a poor piece of trash. Once you stick, you just won't come off.

"Didn't Kayleigh make herself clear enough? She doesn't like you. She wants to break off the engagement with you. You think she's threatened? You didn't see how she serves me in bed…"

Bang!

I couldn't hold back anymore. I swung and landed a hard punch on Gerald.

How could he say something like that in public? Did he think there'd be no consequences?

But what I didn't expect was that Kayleigh didn't even look at me. Instead, she rushed straight to Gerald's side. "Gerry, are you okay? Your nose is bleeding. Here, let me wipe it."