Chapter 1

My adoptive dad, Patrick Lynch, was getting crushed by his rivals, and his influence was being blocked at every turn. With no other options, he sent my sister and me off to be pawns in a marriage alliance, at the mercy of whoever would take us.

The word on the street was that the illegitimate son we were being offered to had been messed up by a rough childhood. He was a real piece of work, a cruel sadist who got his kicks from hurting others.

I could not stomach the thought of marrying that monster, so in a desperate move, I called my boyfriend Eric Jordan across the ocean, hoping he would come back and save me by tying the knot.

However, that call, that one call, was like stepping off a cliff into a never-ending fall.

Eric came flying back that very night. I thought he was racing to stop me from being snatched up by someone else, all worn out from his journey.

However, he did not even flinch before he stood in front of my adoptive dad and asked to marry my sister instead.

"Mr. Lynch, please give your blessing to me and Willa."

His words hit me like a ton of bricks.

I confronted him, my voice shaking, "Eric, why!"

Eric's frown was a stranger to me, his voice icy, "Sylvia, you're the Lynch's adopted kid. They've treated you like their own flesh and blood. If it hadn't been for Willa, you'd be a goner, frozen on some street corner! You owe them big time, and now's your chance to pay it back!

"Plus, it's all just a show with Willa, just a sham marriage. Cut the drama, will you? Willa's been sickly since she was little. If she ends up with that brute, can you even imagine what she'd go through? We've been like siblings, and I can't stand to see her suffer like that."

"And you're okay with me walking into a nightmare?" I shot back.

I screamed at him, my tears betraying me and flooding down my face.

Eric's lips tightened, his eyes dodging mine, while Willa, witnessing the whole scene, stepped in front of me, her head bowed.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she pleaded, "Sister, stop fighting with Eric. It's all my fault. My being here has come between you two. Dad and Mom may have taken you in as their own, but the Lynch company is still family business, and it was meant for me to join through marriage!"

"That's enough, Willa! I won't stand for it!" Eric's eyes were filled with pain as he quickly lifted her into his arms.

Eric's expression turned to one of anger as he faced me, his voice icy, "Sylvia, you really don't trust me, do you? My dad's been rubbing elbows with some heavy hitters in the capital lately. Give us a few days to work our magic, and with just a word, that illegitimate son won't even think about marrying you."

I could not help but laugh bitterly at his words, "If you're so sure of your plan, why not send Willa instead?!"

Eric looked at me with revulsion, his voice frosty, "Sylvia, I can't believe you'd turn on us like this. The Lynch family has been good to you all these years. You had everything Willa did. And now, when Mr. Lynch needs help, you turn your back. How could you be so cruel!"

I clutched my mouth, watching Eric shield Willa, feeling as if my heart was being crushed in a vice.