Chapter 1

My father watched me write Demi Vale’s name on the marriage contract.

He froze for half a second, then snatched the papers back, folding them gently, like he was terrified I might change my mind.

“From childhood to now, you spent five million on that mistress’s daughter,” I said flatly. “And less than fifty bucks on me. Guess your investment finally paid off.”

He chuckled a little too happily. “Oh, don’t say it like that, Aria. Demi is a proper society lady. She and Cassian are a perfect match.”

His face darkened. “And stop calling her ‘the mistress’s daughter.’ She’s your sister.”

“She’s not.” I lifted my eyes to him, cold and steady.

“She’s one year younger than me. You were married to my mother for ten years, but cheated for nine.”

He choked on his own breath, then abruptly changed the subject.

“Fine. Since you insist on giving up the alliance spot, I’ll go to the Vercetti estate right now and renegotiate.”

“Wait,” I said.

He spun back around, anxious as hell.

“You’re regretting it?!”

“I never said I’d give it up for free.”

Of course he understood.

A businessman first. A father never.

“Fifty million. I’ll wire it to you now.”

I didn’t argue.

The moment he interpreted my silence as acceptance, he bolted out with the contract like a man fleeing a burning building.

I watched him go.

Felt nothing but irony.

I turned and headed upstairs.

Passing the glass door, I caught my reflection—red curls, blue eyes, my heartbeat pounding loud and alive in my chest.

Suddenly my eyes filled with tears.

Not from grief.

But from release.

This time, I get to be myself.

I don’t love Cassian anymore.

I’m young. I’m rich.

Why the hell should I give up my freedom and play housewife for a man who never loved me?

I changed into a tiny mini skirt, walked out the door, obtained an expedited visa, and headed straight to the hottest club downtown.

Bass shaking the walls.

Lights slicing through the dark.

Bodies moving without shame.

Freedom wrapping around me like a second skin.

I lifted my hand and tossed a stack of cash into the air.

“Bring me your hottest male models,” I said. “All of them.”

The club owner almost fainted.

“No, no, miss, absolutely not! The whole city knows you’re marrying into the Vercetti family! Cassian is… he’s cold, strict, old-school. He has rules for his rules! If he finds out you came here...if you ordered men...my little club is done for!”

I tipped back my drink.

The burn made my eyes water; the freedom made me smile.

“Relax. I already gave the engagement to someone else. Starting today, I’m just here as a paying customer.”

“You… gave it away?” he stammered.

Then laughed, thinking I was joking.

“But everyone knows you’re obsessed with Cassian! So many heirs chased you, and you rejected all of them. Until that gala! One look at him and you said only a man like him deserved you!”

I laughed with him.

Inside, I was frozen over.

“Liking someone and being right for someone are not the same thing,” I said quietly.

“He and I? Never again.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“You’re a club owner, not my priest. Take the money and bring me a drink.”

Then I noticed a shy model standing beside us.

I hooked a finger under his jaw, my voice slow and wicked.

“These younger ones… are actually pretty cute.”

But then…

A cold, lethal voice sliced through the music behind me.

“Which one did you just call cute?”

My whole body went rigid.

Slowly… I turned around.