Heidi

When my father's business collapsed, he racked up an astronomical debt to the Andor family. And when they finally came knocking, he did what no loving parent should ever do—he collateralized me, his only daughter, handing me over to Cassian before vanishing off the face of the earth. For ten long years, I stayed by Cassian Andor's side. He treated me with a tenderness so indulgent it bordered on worship. There was nothing I asked for that he would not give; there was no whim of mine he would not entertain. Everyone in our world knew me as his princess. I grew up believing with certainty that once I came of age, he would sweep me into his arms, march me down the aisle, and make me his wife. But reality—cold, brutal, and as dazzlingly cruel as the world we lived in—had other plans. Instead of the ring I had dreamed of, Cassian gifted a breathtaking pink diamond—the very symbol of eternal devotion—to his assistant, Heidi Torres. As if that wasn't betrayal enough, he threw a lavish celebration in her honor, a veritable explosion of flowers. He knew I was deathly allergic to pollen. Yet he still left me stranded there, drowning in a sea of blossoms. Eventually, I collapsed in a violent asthma attack, gasping and clawing for air, teetering on the edge of consciousness. And Cassian? He merely tightened his hold around Heidi in his arms and cast me a cold glance. "Your allergies have been fine for ages," he said with a sneer. "Why the sudden drama today? Don't tell me you're faking it." At that moment, as I lay there humiliated and struggling to breathe, I realized there were exactly seven days left until my twentieth birthday since when I could register a marriage.

Achazio adalah pria yang sempurna. Wajah tampan, tubuh proporsional, otak cerdas, harta berlimpah semuanya ia miliki. Namun, hingga usianya menginjak tiga puluh enam tahun, ia belum bertemu dengan satu pun wanita yang mampu menggerakkan hatinya. Hingga suatu hari, ia bertemu dengan seorang gadis menarik. Terdengar klise, tetapi Achazio mengakui jika dirinya jatuh cinta pada pandangan pertama pada gadis itu. Aio jatuh cinta pada Tessa, mahasiswi berusia dua puluh satu tahun yang sudah terbiasa mengalah dan berkubang dalam luka. Gadis itu berbeda, sekaligus terasa familier bagi Aio karena memiliki cukup banyak kemiripan dengan sang adik bungsu. Sayangnya, Tessa tidak memberikan respon terlalu baik untuk Aio. Namun, itu bukan masalah bagi Aio. Karena apa pun yang ia inginkan, pada akhirnya pasti akan ia dapatkan. “Kakak bukan kakak kandungku atau pacarku, jadi berhenti untuk mengatur hidupku!”—Tessa Aretina Heidi “Aku memang bukan keduanya. Tapi aku bisa lebih menjadi keduanya. Aku bisa menjadi suamimu. Kau setuju?”—Achazio Riutha Dawson

On Christmas Day, I put on a reindeer-themed lingerie set, ready to spend an unforgettable night with my CEO boyfriend. Noah Levine eagerly unbuttons my top, kissing my body with feverish intensity. Just then, his phone rings. He answers impatiently. "What is it?" A sweet voice comes through from the other end, speaking in Farylian. "Noah, what time are you coming tonight? I have a Christmas present for you." Hearing those words, my eyes fly wide open. That woman is my younger sister, Heidi Miller. Noah's expression turns serious, like he's handling a work call. He responds in Farylian. "What present?" The voice on the other end laughs softly. "The present is me, wrapped head to toe in red ribbon. Come over and help me unwrap it. I can't wait anymore." That night, Noah doesn't touch me. He helps me dress, kissing my cheek with reluctance. "Work call. Something urgent at the company I need to handle. We'll pick this up another time. "Remember to wear this outfit next time, though. It's very enticing." His lie sounds calm and natural. He clearly assumes I don't understand, but I know Farylian. I hear everything crystal clear. I pretend to nod calmly. After he leaves, I accept the company's overseas assignment. In three days, I'll vanish completely from his world.