Chapter 1

"You went to prison for Lilian. Three years of your life. And now you want to work for me, just like that?"

Sierra Summers's voice was edged with disbelief.

"If I recall correctly," she continued, "she promised you a manager position upon your release. You're really willing to walk away from that?"

I spun the single dollar bill between my fingers. A dry, humorless laugh tore from my throat.

"Yeah," I said. "I'm walking away."

The words had barely left my lips when Lilian materialized in front of me. Her eyes narrowed, suspicion glinting in their depths.

"Walking away from what?"

My thumb moved, ending the call without a second thought. I met her stare, unblinking.

"The manager position."

For a fraction of a second, something shifted in her expression—a flicker of pure, unadulterated relief.

"Perfect," she said, her voice cool and efficient. "I was going to give that to Nathan anyway. You can start as a junior clerk."

My blood ran cold.

Three years. I'd carved them out of my life, traded my freedom for the survival of her company.

She had sworn to me. Sworn that the manager's office would be waiting for me when I got out.

Now, it meant nothing. I had been demoted from the man she once called her future to an inconvenient errand boy she had to manage. And as she shattered her promise, I saw no guilt in her eyes—only a chilling indifference.

The heat of unshed tears blurred my vision, a corrosive ache burning in my chest.

When I remained silent, Lilian calmly pulled a document from her briefcase and tossed it onto the coffee table between us.

"It's a non-disclosure and cohabitation agreement. For the company's image."

The words Concealed Marriage Agreement on the cover stabbed into me, sharp as a shiv.

Three years ago—one single day before I turned myself in—Lilian and I had gotten our marriage license. That flimsy piece of paper had been my beacon, the one promise that kept me going through the endless, gray days.

I survived for the life we would build when I was free.

Now, I was just a secret she was desperate to bury.

I let out a low, hollow chuckle. Without a moment's hesitation, I picked up the pen.

Lilian started, her brow furrowing as she watched me prepare to sign. The man who once wanted to shout his love from the rooftops was now silently erasing it.

Her hand shot out, her fingers closing around my wrist.

"Aren't you even going to read it?" she asked, her voice strangely tight.

I didn't look up. I just signed my name.

She fell silent, her gaze heavy on me. The quiet stretched, thick and uncomfortable. Finally, she cleared her throat.

"Sonny… don't worry. Once the company is more stable, I'll make this right. I promise."

I grunted in vague acknowledgment.

At that moment, my phone buzzed. The company group chat was blowing up.

[Congratulations to Nathan on his promotion to Department Manager!]

A waterfall of ass-kissing replies poured in.

[He's been the boss's rock these past three years! So deserved!]

[Manager today, Lilian's husband tomorrow, right? We see you, Nathan!]

A string of laughing and winking emojis followed, capped by a single wink emoji from Nathan himself.

Then, he typed: [But let's not forget Sonny! Got a nice, quiet clerk position after his… three years in prison. The boss must really see something in him.]

He knew the truth. Every word was a calculated twist of the knife.

I tore my eyes from the screen, my throat constricting—and in the dark reflection of the glass, I saw her.

Lilian was looking down at her phone, a soft, radiant smile playing on her lips—a smile I had never seen her give to me.

And in that moment, a devastating certainty crystallized in my gut.

This hidden marriage was never for the company.

It was for Nathan.