Chapter 2

Ten years ago, the Harrison family's docks had been bombed, and rivals had cut off their drug trade.

Just when the situation seemed hopeless, Theodore's father, Sterling Harrison, came to me in person and begged for my help.

He promised I could choose the next Harrison heir and transferred a 30% stake directly to me.

Helping the Harrison family back then cost me, too.

An overseas drug deal I'd already set up fell apart, and the shipment ended up in the hands of my biggest rival.

Theodore came to me and, with remarkable courage, helped me recover the shipment. Because of that, I managed to expand my drug trade into the Middle East.

After that, Theodore always seemed to show up whenever I was worn out.

When I was too busy to eat, he'd cook for me himself and bring the food right to me.

When I worked late, he'd drive over and wait downstairs for me.

When rivals ambushed us, he even took a bullet for me.

His devotion moved me, and I fell in love with him.

Later, when Sterling died unexpectedly, five of his older relatives on the Harrison board wanted to take his place.

Theodore, on the other hand, was only running black-market deals overseas at the time. He was nothing more than the illegitimate son Sterling had left behind.

I sat beside Theodore through board meeting after board meeting, negotiating on his behalf and winning over the stubborn elders. In the end, I forced them to accept him as the Harrison family's future heir.

Theodore got busier, too.

In just three years, he doubled the Harrison family's business.

He seemed as attentive to me as ever.

No matter how busy the arms deals kept him, he took me out once a week.

He picked out gifts for me with care and chose the restaurants himself. We made memories together all over New York.

But the truth was, every one of those memories included his childhood friend, Layla.

Theodore gave Layla my place in the passenger seat.

The bouquets he'd picked out so carefully ended up in Layla's arms while she posed excitedly for pictures.

Even the managers at every restaurant we visited assumed Theodore and Layla were a couple.

I did tell Theodore how much it bothered me.

But every time, he'd just laugh, pull me into his arms, and kiss my forehead.

"Hailey, you're the one I'm going to marry. To me, Layla's just a kid.

"She already works herself ragged running the armory for me. I can't say no to something this small. But if it bothers you, I won't bring her next time, okay?

"Once the wedding's over, I'll take you to Norway for our honeymoon."

I nodded, only half believing him. But the next time we went out, there was Layla again.

I told myself everything would be fine once we were married.

But all of Theodore's friends said Layla was a better fit for him than I was.

She was innocent, bubbly, and kind.

I was none of those things. I'd been involved in the Amherst family's cross-border drug business from a young age, and I'd lost the innocence someone my age was supposed to have.

What a joke.

They'd all forgotten that I'd chosen Theodore without hesitation. That was the only reason he became the Harrison heir.

The day he proposed, he got down on one knee and put the key to the wardrobe that held the heirloom gown in my palm.

He swore he'd cherish me, be faithful to me, and take care of me.

Now, though, that same gown, handed down since Queen Victoria's reign, was draped over Layla as if it meant nothing.

And my fiancé was standing there, admiring her.

Suddenly, I wanted to laugh.

This time, I didn't want the dress or the man.