Chapter 1

I took off Aiden Bassett's jacket and draped it over Sharon Moore's shoulders.

"You guys have fun. I'm going home."

Aiden pressed his lips together, clearly caught off guard by my reaction. "Renee, that's it? You don't have anything else to say?"

Sharon caught the hem of my dress. "Renee, I'm sorry. I'm not asking Aiden to make anything official with me. Please don't do this."

I pulled her hand away. By the time I looked back at Aiden, I had slipped right back into my usual sweet, obedient act.

"Aiden, let's break up."

Everyone in Aiden's circle knew me as the girlfriend who never made a fuss. No matter what he did, I was always understanding.

Once, I had a 104-degree fever, but he stayed at the bar with Sharon after she got drunk. I calmly told him I understood.

Another time, he forgot to get me an anniversary gift, then turned around and spent 50 million dollars on a necklace for Sharon at an auction. I just smiled and said it was fine.

Back then, he loved pinching my cheek and teasing me. "Babe, you're always so understanding. Would you even get mad if I got another woman pregnant?"

Now I realized he hadn't been joking. He really thought I was supposed to go along with everything, even raising someone else's child.

One of Aiden's friends suddenly laughed. "Renee, where'd you learn that trick? Playing hard to get isn't going to work."

Aiden frowned, studying me as if he were trying to decide whether I was serious, a hint of anger creeping into his expression. "I already explained everything to you. Don't push your luck."

I didn't want to argue, so I turned and walked away.

I had barely made it a few steps when Aiden followed me out and grabbed my wrist.

"Can't you be a little more understanding, like you used to be? Sharon's always wanted a child, but she has no interest in marriage. Just think of it as me returning a favor."

The whole thing was ridiculous.

"Aiden, I don't care who you owe favors to, but I don't have time to raise a child for the two of you. With all the fertility options out there these days, why didn't she just find herself some genetically gifted donor from overseas?"

Aiden frowned. "Renee, I don't want to fight with you. Sharon's been in a bad place emotionally lately. You can be mad at me all you want, but don't make a scene in front of her."

He leaned closer, his voice softening. "Renee, Sharon has already sacrificed a lot for this baby. I can help keep your family's businesses afloat, but she's having this baby."

Right. My family was already hanging by a thread.

I'd been with Aiden for two years, and I'd learned a lot from him. What he taught me had helped me pull my family back from the brink.

Early on, he'd made one thing clear. The woman by his side couldn't just be a pretty face. So I worked hard, never stepped out of line, and never once complained.

But as I looked at him now, he suddenly felt like a stranger. He hadn't changed at all, yet I barely recognized him.

I lowered my gaze and collected myself before looking back at him. "Aiden, since you're so big on repaying favors, why don't you give Sharon my place as the bride too? I don't want it anymore."

Aiden pressed his lips together, his expression turning cold. "If you're going to play the good girl, then keep it up. You've put up with everything else, so why are you suddenly being so petty? My patience is wearing thin!"

He ran his thumb lightly over the diamond ring on my finger. He'd slipped it onto my finger three months ago when he proposed to me in Norlune.

"Besides, I'm the only one who can save Wilde Group."

So he had known all along how much I'd put up with for him. He had simply chosen to ignore it.

It didn't matter anymore. We had both gotten what we needed out of this relationship, and Aiden was no longer the only one who could save Wilde Group.

I could do it myself.

I met his dismissive look, yanked my hand free, and turned to leave.