Chapter 1

Diana Pearce, my sister-in-law, stepped in front of the butler and shot me a look of pure contempt.

"Some people just can't stand what they don't have. That's Claire Donovan we're talking about. She's worth billions of dollars. You really think she'd send a fake?

"She's right outside, by the way. Archer said his girlfriend has been wanting to visit for a while now. She's probably here to talk about the wedding, seeing as it's Grandpa's birthday and all."

Outside the villa, a woman stood with her back to me, smoothing down Archer Colton's collar. I'd know her anywhere.

It was my fiancee, Claire Donovan.

We'd been together for six years, and she'd never once gone public with our relationship in front of any of my friends or family. Even our engagement was nothing more than a quiet dinner at home, just the two of us.

When I asked her to come with me to Grandpa's birthday banquet, her face went cold. She snapped at me before I could get another word out, "How many times do I have to tell you? I'm working late. Do you have to guilt-trip me every time, dragging me home to play house with your family?"

I told myself she was just busy, that she wanted to make the best impression possible when she finally met them. I never imagined that her version of "busy" meant showing up here on someone else's arm.

I watched the two of them together, so comfortable, so natural, and swallowed the bitterness rising in my chest.

Then, I called her. She glanced down at the screen, and the moment she saw my name, her brows furrowed.

"Didn't I tell you I'm working? Stop bothering me.

"You're always on me about coming home. I'm trying to make a living here. Would it kill you to be a little more understanding?"

She didn't even give me a chance to respond before she hung up. Whatever hope I had left vanished in that moment.

I turned to the butler, Walter Haines. "Do what I told you. Return it."

My older brother, Grant Stirling, clicked his tongue. "Trying to stir up trouble with that little stunt? Have you no shame?

"And when they ask about it, don't you dare back down in front of Archer."

Before I could answer, Archer walked up with Claire on his arm. He took one look at me standing with Walter and knew exactly what was going on. A smirk crept across his face.

"Blake, you're that eager to meet my girlfriend? Perfect timing, actually. We've been talking about having the wedding at your hotel.

"You should be our officiant. After all, you've had a front-row seat to our whole relationship."

He leaned into those last words deliberately, making sure I understood. The two of them had a history, and I'd known nothing about it.

Grant and Diana crowded in, gushing over the couple and asking about their relationship. I was the only one who stood still, staring at Claire with ice in my eyes.

"So, that's what 'working late' really means. You were with another man."

Claire's gaze darted away. "This is the first time we've met. Don't say things that will give people the wrong idea.

"My boyfriend is Archer."

All the resolve I'd built up for this confrontation crumbled in an instant.

Grant bumped my shoulder and scoffed. "What are you doing? It was embarrassing enough that you tricked her into coming, and now you're making a scene?"