Chapter 1 The Promise

My excitement turned to shock. I tightened my grip on my phone and quickly hid the photo of Silas and me behind the darkened screen.

Compared to the wedding portrait, the photo on my lock screen was just like our relationship. It had to stay hidden.

After the plane landed, I tried calling Silas the entire way from the airport to his company headquarters, but he never picked up.

The receptionist glanced meaningfully at my suitcase. Her polite tone carried a hint of contempt. "Miss, Mr. Sterling's office isn't a hotel. Not just anyone can walk in."

The robotic voice on my phone repeated that the call could not be completed. Her words stung, and I froze for a moment. Just as I was about to explain, I heard Silas' indulgent voice behind me. "Slow down."

Seraphina Shaw skipped through the front entrance and threw herself into his arms with a pout. "Silas, come with me to get my hair done."

Silas skillfully declined the phone call that kept vibrating in his hand. He had already opened his arms and caught her effortlessly.

The way they stood with their arms linked felt like a hand twisting around my heart, squeezing so tightly I could not speak.

The receptionist shoved me aside and muttered under her breath, "Can't you see the real girlfriend is here? Why are you still standing around?"

I stumbled from the shove, lost my footing, and fell to the floor.

People passing through the lobby slowed down, whispering to one another as their eyes fixed on me. Burning with humiliation, I covered my face.

Silas looked over, surprise flashing across his eyes when he saw me.

Seraphina noticed me too. "Huh? We meet again."

I forced a smile and watched them walk toward me, looking utterly disheveled.

Seraphina helped me to my feet. Silas gave me a small nod, as though I were nothing more than an old college classmate. "Claire, it's been a long time."

His distant tone pierced my heart like a needle. I looked at him and found it hard to breathe.

Seraphina glanced between us curiously. I looked at Silas almost pleadingly. He met my eyes for a brief moment before taking Seraphina's hand. "Go wait in my office. I'll walk her out."

I was left standing there alone.

…

Inside Silas' office, there were little decorations everywhere that looked like they belonged to a young woman.

The secretary brought me a glass of water. Before leaving, she quietly picked up the framed wedding photo from his desk and carried it away.

Their intimacy kept replaying in my mind as I stared blankly out the window.

Silas and I came from completely different worlds. He was the heir to the Sterling family, while my father had abandoned me, my mother had died, and I had paid for college with student loans.

After graduation, Silas' mother, Phoebe, fought desperately to keep us apart.

To avoid losing me, Silas cut ties with his family. They cut off all his financial support. He was dragged home, forced to kneel and was punished by his family, yet he never gave up.

It was only after the Sterling family made sure I could not even get a single interview that he finally gave in.

The night before I left Sutherland, he stood in this very office, wrapped me in his arms, and promised that one day he would let me stand proudly by his side.

Lost in the memory, I suddenly felt those same arms wrap around my waist. He pressed a kiss to my cheek.

My eyes burned.

After a long silence, Silas finally spoke. "Don't come to the office again. There are too many people around, and your identity makes things complicated. She's just a business partner. I just took over this office, and I need her family's support."

Hearing the lie with my own ears, I closed my eyes as tears slipped down my face.

Pain filled Silas' eyes as he coaxed me softly. "Just give me a little more time, okay? Everything I'm doing is for our future. You understand, don't you?"

"But she told me you're getting married."

Silas fell silent for a moment and looked away. "It's just a way to buy some time. I'm going to marry you."

Standing in the same place where he had once made me that promise, I felt my heart waver.

But this time, all I felt was fear. I did not dare believe him anymore.