Prologue

“You have exactly ten minutes to leave this house.”

Ariana Cole stared at her father in disbelief.

“Dad… what are you talking about?”

Richard Cole refused to look her in the eyes. His expression was cold, almost as if she wasn’t his daughter.

“The wedding is canceled.”

Her heart skipped a beat.

“What?”

“The groom has made his choice.”

Ariana laughed nervously. “What choice? Ryan and I are getting married in less than an hour.”

Her father’s silence was louder than any answer.

The front door opened.

Ryan walked in.

But he wasn’t alone.

His arm was wrapped around Ariana’s younger sister, Victoria.

Victoria’s left hand rested protectively over her stomach, and the massive diamond ring on her finger sparkled beneath the chandelier.

Ariana felt the blood drain from her face.

“Ryan…”

“I’m sorry,” he said, without sounding sorry at all.

Victoria smiled sweetly.

“I’m pregnant.”

The room spun.

“No…”

Ryan sighed impatiently.

“It wasn’t planned.”

“So you cheated on me?”

Neither of them answered.

Instead, Victoria lifted her hand to show off the engagement ring.

“We’re getting married today.”

Ariana looked from Ryan to her sister, hoping someone would tell her this was a sick joke.

No one did.

Her mother finally spoke.

“You’ve always been the stronger one, Ariana. You’ll survive this.”

Survive?

They had stolen her fiancé… and expected her to survive?

She laughed.

Then laughed harder until tears streamed down her cheeks.

“I spent three years loving him.”

Victoria shrugged.

“And he chose me.”

Richard Cole pointed toward the door.

“I won’t allow you to ruin today’s wedding.”

“My wedding!”

“Not anymore.”

Those three words shattered what remained of her heart.

Without another word, Ariana removed her engagement ring and placed it on the table.

It made a soft metallic sound.

“So this is what my life is worth to all of you.”

No one stopped her as she walked away.

Not her parents.

Not the man she loved.

Not the sister who had betrayed her.

Rain poured relentlessly as Ariana wandered through the city streets, soaked to the skin.

Every memory replayed in her mind like torture.

Ryan promising forever.

Victoria calling herself the best sister in the world.

Her parents insisting family always came first.

Family.

She almost laughed again.

Her phone buzzed repeatedly.

Unknown Number.

She ignored it.

Another message arrived.

Your reservation has been upgraded to the Presidential Suite at the Black Orchid Hotel. Enjoy your stay.

She frowned.

She hadn’t made any reservation.

Too exhausted to care, she hailed a taxi.

Maybe someone had made a mistake.

Maybe she just needed somewhere to cry until morning.

The Presidential Suite was breathtaking.

Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the glittering city skyline.

On the dining table sat an expensive bottle of champagne and two crystal glasses.

Before she could question it, the suite door opened.

A tall man stepped inside.

He froze.

She froze.

He was devastatingly handsome—broad shoulders, sharp jawline, piercing gray eyes, and an aura of quiet authority that filled the room.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I think we’ve both been given the same suite.”

His voice was calm and deep.

Ariana wiped away her tears.

“I can leave.”

He noticed her trembling hands.

“You’ve been crying.”

She forced a smile.

“I’ve had a terrible day.”

He studied her for a long moment before walking toward the champagne.

“I suppose we’re both victims of someone else’s mistake.”

He poured two glasses.

“To terrible days.”

She hesitated.

Then accepted the glass.

“To terrible days.”

One drink became two.

Two became four.

For the first time that day, Ariana laughed.

The stranger never asked who had hurt her.

He simply listened.

And somehow, that made all the difference.

Outside, thunder echoed across the city.

Inside, two broken hearts found comfort in each other.

By sunrise…

They had shared far more than their pain.

The next morning, Ariana woke alone.

The bed beside her was cold.

The stranger was gone.

Only a single black cufflink engraved with a silver wolf remained on the bedside table.

She slipped it into her handbag.

A silent reminder of one unforgettable night.

Six weeks later…

The pregnancy test showed two pink lines.

The doctor smiled warmly after the ultrasound.

“Congratulations, Miss Cole.”

She blinked.

“You’re not having one baby.”

The doctor’s smile widened.

“You’re having twins.”

Ariana’s hand instinctively moved to her stomach as tears filled her eyes.

She had no idea who the father really was.

She didn’t even know his name.

But somewhere in the city…

The billionaire who had unknowingly changed her life forever had no idea he was about to become the father of twins.