Prologue

Nala

Age: 26

I look down at the man kneeling before me. As whispers ring out around us, I can't help but feel embarrassed by it all.

"Stand up, Mr. Winters. You're making everyone uncomfortable."

As my ex-husband looks up, I see desperate tears in his eyes.

"Nala, please... give me another chance. I know I've wronged you this whole time, so please... let me make this up to you."

I clench my fists as I watch this pitiful man. Once upon a time, I would have taken him back. Even now, I love him with all my heart. It's something I can't help. However, I can't get weak now. I'm not alone anymore.

"Why should I?" I ask him calmly. "Why do I have to bend to your whims every time? I can't do that anymore." I grit my teeth. "Just because you're the great Ivan Winters doesn't mean you can have everything you want."

Ivan flinches and looks down, his body trembling. Oh, how the mighty have fallen! The great and powerful CEO can't buy me with sweet words and promises anymore, nor can he intimidate me with fists and harsh words.

Before he can say anything, my daughter, Akita, cuts in.

"You tried to take us by force, and now you want to act nice?" She stands in front of me and holds her arms out as a protective measure. "I don't buy it for a second!"

I can't help but smile at her fierce loyalty. Meanwhile, my youngest, Noah, clings to my leg and hides from the big, scary man.

"I-I wanna go home, Mama..." he whispers, his blue eyes brimming with tears.

I offer a small smile and nod.

"We'll be home soon," I murmur gently before directing my attention back to Ivan.

"I won't hurt any of you again!" Ivan promises fiercely. "I was blinded by Kass for so long that I never saw through her. All along, it was you that I wanted and loved."

"Ha!"

A small laugh comes from behind me, and my best friend, Ky, stands next to me.

"Is that so? Well, too bad you've ruined it forever then, huh?" she coos to him. "Call me whatever you like, but at least I'm not absolute trash like you."

Ivan's eyes darken in frustration. He must hate all the interference he's getting. It makes me wonder if he thinks he'd be able to get to me if I were alone. With how much of a pushover I was before, he probably does.

"Mr. Winters," I start, giving a polite and distant tone on purpose. "No matter how much you beg, my answer will remain the same. Until you truly understand how much you've hurt me, nothing will change."

As I reach down and pick up Noah, Ivan speaks again.

"You need me, Nala. You can't take care of our son properly without my help. We can make this work! Please just give me a chance! I won't ever disappoint or hurt you again."

Ky laughs again while I shake my head.

"Take a look at this guy! How pathetic!" She walks over to Ivan and steps on one of his hands with the heel of her shoe. "Give it up. She doesn't need you when she has me. I'm way richer than you'll ever be."

Ivan flinches and glares up at Ky while her green eyes sparkle with delight. I sigh and shake my head.

"She's enjoying herself way too much."

"Ky, that's enough."

As she pouts and steps away from Ivan, I take a deep breath.

"Mr. Winters, you wanted it to be this way. You can't suddenly regret it and think I'll just jump at the opportunity to be with you."

My eyes narrow.

"Of course, that's what you always called me, right? An opportunist who was only ever after your money? Well, you've been wrong all along."

Ivan grimaces and looks down, ashamed. However, all I do is walk past him, done with this conversation.

"Now, if you don't mind, Noah's scared and wants to go home."

He doesn't try to stop me this time and just remains where he is on the ground, still crying as if he lost something so important to him. Why, though, when he's never wanted me from the beginning?

As I walk with my little family and best friend, I can't help but wonder where things started going wrong between us. How did I, a simple, low-paid social worker, get entangled with a rich CEO like Ivan?

So many years have passed since then, but our story started long before that. He may not remember those days, but I do quite well. It's the whole reason I'm hopelessly devoted to Ivan Winters.

Of course, I'm getting ahead of myself. This misfortune started over six years ago with a single mistake that changed our lives forever.