Chapter 1

To avenge his first love, Mathias Rocco vowed to teach me a lesson.

So, I was drugged and thrown into the bed of a pot-bellied, balding businessman like discarded trash.

Days later, Mathias finally remembered my existence.

"Irene, if you know what’s good for you, come back this instant," he ordered over the phone, his voice cold with entitlement.

"Otherwise, our engagement…."

A deep, lazy voice cut in with mockery. "Irene’s been quite exhausted these past few nights," the man drawled, his words carrying an unmistakable meaning. "Also…."

"Don’t wait for a wedding invitation. Irene feels sick just looking at you."

…

As the auction hall lit up, my eyes landed on Mathias, his fingers clenched around a wine glass, crushing it in his grip.

Shards of glass tore into his palm, crimson dripping onto the pristine tablecloth.

I gasped, instinctively stepping forward to check his injury, but he shoved me away, widening the distance between us.

It was then that I followed his gaze toward a woman in a plain white dress. The fabric was cheap and unremarkable, yet it did nothing to conceal her beauty. She stood there, frozen, staring at him like the world had just stopped.

A name surfaced in my mind.

Nathalia Cavendish.

Mathias’ first love. The woman who, when he had nothing, stripped him of what little he had left and vanished overseas without a trace.

I had once stumbled upon an old, yellowed photo album, flipping through snapshots of them together, his youthful adoration, her effortless charm.

And now, standing there, I finally understood.

The custom-tailored suit flown in from France, the platinum cufflinks, luxurious yet understated, and even his hair, styled to perfection by a professional.

This wasn't just any night.

He had been waiting for her.

Mathias looked devastatingly handsome, every inch of him exuding elegance and refinement.

Yet, I knew the truth; he had always despised dressing like this.

But tonight was different. Before leaving, he had stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his suit, smoothing his cufflinks, and scrutinizing every detail with uncharacteristic care.

I had seen the flicker of unease in his eyes. I had mistaken it for excitement.

Turns out, he had known all along.

He had known that Nathalia would be here tonight.

As the auctioneer urged the guests to take their seats, a young man appeared by Nathalia’s side.

I recognized him instantly. He was a notorious playboy in our social circles, one who swapped women as easily as changing ties.

Then, as if on cue, Nathalia looped her arm through his and leaned into his chest, flashing a soft, practiced smile.

And in the next breath, Mathias seized my hand and yanked me into his embrace.

The shards of glass still embedded in his palm sliced into my skin. Pain shot through me, a sharp, searing sting, but he didn’t seem to notice.

His grip only tightened.

His dark eyes, once unreadable, now burned with an intensity so deep that they looked almost black.

A passing waiter noticed the situation and rushed over with bandages. His voice was tinged with concern as he asked if we needed medical assistance.

Only then did Mathias seem to return to himself.

His gaze dropped to my wrist, now bleeding as much as his own, and for the briefest moment, guilt flickered in his dark eyes.

Silently, he took the medicine and gently dabbed it onto my wound, his movements uncharacteristically careful.

A low murmur followed, laced with an unfamiliar softness.

"Irene, I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention… I’ll make it up to you."

I didn’t know how to respond.

Then, a hushed murmur swept through the auction hall as a rare treasure was unveiled on stage, a breathtaking emerald necklace, gleaming under the lights.

And under the watchful eyes of the audience, Mathias made a high-profile bid, his actions as extravagant as they were deliberate.

When the auctioneer presented it, Mathias took the necklace himself, stepping behind me to fasten it around my neck. His fingers brushed against my skin, his voice carrying both arrogance and something far crueler.

"I’ve always said I would give the best to the woman I love."

"It was true then… and it will always be true."

Yet, as those words left his lips, his gaze never once landed on me.

After the auction ended, I excused myself and stepped into the restroom, letting out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

But when I emerged, I came to a halt.

Nathalia stood before Mathias; her eyes rimmed with unshed tears.

Her voice trembled.

"Mathias, I never… I never meant to hurt you. I just…."

Chapter 2

"Enough!"

Mathias struggled to rein in his fury, but the slight tremor in his voice betrayed him. "After what you did to me back then, do you really think a few words can erase it?"

"It’s not that easy!"

As the sharpness in his voice faded, his gaze finally landed on me, lingering for only a second before he strode forward and grasped my hand.

"I already have a girlfriend," he said coldly. "Please don’t say things that might cause misunderstandings for Irene, Miss Cavendish."

At his words, Nathalia’s eyes turned even redder, resembling a camellia battered by the wind and rain.

"In that case… I’ll never appear in front of you again!"

Tears welled up as she turned and ran.

But barely a few steps in, she faltered, her heel catching on the stair’s edge. Her body pitched forward, and a sharp gasp left her lips.

Before I could react, Mathias ripped his hand from mine and rushed forward, his movements swift, almost desperate.

He caught her firmly in his arms.

The fury that had burned in his eyes moments ago had vanished, replaced by sheer panic.

"Nathalia, are you okay?" His voice had softened, lined with worry.

"I’ll take you to the hospital right now!"

Without hesitation, he swept her up into his arms and strode toward the car.

He didn’t look back.

I stood frozen at the entrance of the auction house, the sting of his abandonment settling deeper than the cold night air.

The force with which he had thrown me off wasn’t light. Pain pulsed through my wrist, and when I glanced down, fresh blood seeped through the bandages.

Leaning against the wall, I bit down hard, forcing back the pain, forcing back everything.

Only when the sharp sting dulled to a throbbing ache, did I manage to stand upright again, my breaths shallow and uneven.

I called Mathias. Once. Twice. A dozen times.

No answer.

The auction house, built halfway up the mountain for privacy, was as deserted as my calls. Not a single taxi in sight.

With no other choice, I forced myself to walk, step by agonizing step, down the uneven path.

My fifteen-centimeter heels wobbled against the jagged stone, and my floor-length gown dragged like a dead weight over the rough ground.

The night wind howled through the trees, carrying a fine drizzle that seeped into my skin, chilling me to the bone.

A single misstep. That was all it took.

My heel landed on a loose rock.

The world lurched.

Before I could catch myself, gravity pulled me forward. My breath hitched, panic spiking in my chest.

Then, impact.

I crashed against a large tree, the force sending pain ricocheting through my spine. A deep bruise bloomed across my lower back, but worse than that, my ankle twisted at an unnatural angle.

A sharp cry tore from my lips.

The freezing night pressed in from all sides. My trembling hands clutched the bark for support, but the pain only deepened, sinking its claws into my bones.

I had no choice.

With shaking fingers, I removed my heels and took a step forward.

Agony.

Each step on the gravel was like walking on shattered glass, every sharp stone a blade cutting into my skin.

The farther I went, the more unbearable it became. Finally, a sob broke free. And once it did, I couldn’t stop.

By the time I reached the bottom of the mountain, my face was streaked with tears; my makeup was smudged beyond recognition.

Even the taxi driver hesitated before unlocking the door, his wary gaze flickering over me as if he had seen a ghost in the dead of night.

And still, Mathias hadn’t returned a single call. I barely remembered the ride home.

One moment, I was in the taxi. The next, I was sinking into the couch. My body finally gave out, and I collapsed, drained of every last shred of strength.

Then came the darkness. And in that darkness, I dreamed.

Roaring flames devoured everything, searing heat, suffocating smoke, my parents’ agonized screams cutting through the chaos. The fire swallowed them whole, turning everything to ash.

Amidst the destruction, only one thing remained.

Mathias. His hand reached through the blaze, pulling me away from the inferno. From that moment on, he was all I had left in this world.

When I woke, I was no longer on the couch.

Mathias had carried me to the bed, his touch gentle yet laced with guilt. He tucked me in with quiet care, his fingers brushing against my sweat-dampened skin as he fed me medicine, his every movement heavy with unspoken remorse.

"Irene, I’m sorry. My phone died, so I never got your calls."

"Please don’t be mad at me, okay?"

He must have stayed up all night taking care of me.

The same dress shirt from the auction clung to him, slightly wrinkled, and a faint shadow of stubble darkened his jaw.

Fever-induced aches pulsed through my body, leaving my mind briefly clouded.

The Mathias who had walked away so easily last night blurred into the man standing before me now, one who gazed at me as if I were his entire world.

And yet, they felt like two completely different people.

Chapter 3

I couldn't tell, nor did I have the strength to.

Seeing my silence, Mathias pulled me into his arms, his fingers threading gently through my hair.

"Irene, I'm sorry. I was wrong last night. I'll make it up to you."

A fever had drained every ounce of my strength. My head rested weakly against his shoulder until my gaze landed on the collar of his shirt.

A bright red lipstick stain. My breath hitched. That shade, I recognized it instantly. The same bold crimson Nathalia had been wearing last night.

A violent shiver ran through me. Every breath felt like a dagger, piercing deep into my chest, twisting mercilessly.

Yet Mathias, still holding me close, remained oblivious. His gaze was locked on some distant point, shadows swirling in his eyes, a madness barely restrained.

He took a slow breath, exhaled, and said, "So, Irene… let's get engaged."

That very day, the news of our engagement dominated the headlines.

A young, self-made CEO and an orphaned girl, the contrast alone was enough to set the world abuzz.

But Mathias wasn’t satisfied.

He poured money into trending topics, secured exclusive interviews with top magazines, and ensured that news of our engagement echoed in every corner of society.

By afternoon, waves of reporters swarmed outside the house.

Over the next two days, before the cast on my foot had even been removed, I was forced into an extravagant gown, slipping my swollen feet into ice-cold heels that gleamed under the flashing lights.

Around my neck rested the emerald necklace Mathias had won at the auction, a jewel as heavy as the expectations he placed upon me.

Mathias, however, was in his element, his smile unwavering as he faced the cameras with effortless charm.

"I love Irene, and of course, I’ll give her nothing but the best."

"When it comes to the person I love, I spare no expense."

"I always have, and I always will."

The words spilled from his lips like a well-rehearsed script, polished and perfect.

When it was my turn to speak, all I could do was smile and nod, my lips curving into a practiced expression.

Not a single word escaped me.

I had brought up the idea of engagement with Mathias before.

After losing my parents, a constant sense of insecurity clung to me like a shadow. But I also knew that rushing into marriage could affect Mathias’s career, so I had trod carefully, testing the waters with caution.

"If getting married is too complicated right now, could we at least get engaged first?"

Mathias had only sighed, rubbing his temples in exhaustion.

"Irene, I’m really tired right now. I don’t have time to deal with these trivial matters. Can you be understanding?"

"When I have time, I’ll make it up to you."

Back then, I never would have imagined that, despite his company being on the brink of going public, with assets under evaluation, Mathias could suddenly find so much time to ensure our engagement made headlines.

During a break in the photoshoot, I happened to glance at his phone.

The screen was flooded with missed calls and unread messages, all from an unmarked number.

A flicker of curiosity took hold. Without thinking, I quickly searched the number on social media.

An account appeared instantly.

The name left no room for doubt.

Nathalia.

I had meant to exit the screen. But in my panic, my finger slipped.

I clicked "Add."

She accepted the request instantly. And then, a message popped up.

[Do you believe me when I say I’ll make sure your engagement party never happens?]

The words echoed in my mind, lingering like a whisper of impending doom.

The missed calls on Mathias’s phone became more frequent, his screen lighting up relentlessly.

And every so often, when he thought no one was watching, I caught glimpses of something unsettling, a fleeting smirk, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.

Then came the night before the engagement banquet.

Without warning, Nathalia stopped calling. The endless messages ceased.

Silence fell. And somehow, that silence felt far more ominous than her threats ever had.

Chapter 4

As I walked past the study, the unmistakable sound of vases shattering in a fit of rage reached my ears.

When Mathias saw me, his expression shifted, quickly masking the fury that had been boiling just moments before. He casually kicked the broken pieces aside, attempting to cover up his outburst.

"Irene," he said, his tone forced, "tomorrow is our engagement banquet. I’m just… nervous."

He took a breath, trying to regain composure. "Go rest, I'll be in shortly."

That night, Nathalia's message haunted my thoughts.

[Do you believe me when I say I can ruin your engagement banquet?]

Sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned while Mathias never returned to the bedroom.

The next day, at the engagement banquet, Mathias appeared distracted.

His attention drifted, and when his friends congratulated him, he barely reacted, a stark contrast to the eager, confident man he had been in front of the cameras just days ago.

His friends exchanged knowing glances, their eyes betraying a silent understanding. The whole world seemed to know who this engagement was really for.

Suddenly, a shout pierced the air.

"A fire has broken out in the Maplewood Heights apartments!"

I froze. I recognized the name immediately. Nathalia lived in Maplewood Heights.

Mathias snapped, his hand lashing out to grab the speaker by the collar.

"Where did you say the fire was?!"

The guest recoiled, visibly shaken, fumbling for their phone to show the footage.

"Maplewood Heights."

The video was blurry, but there, standing at the balcony’s edge, was a delicate, fragile figure swaying like a ghost in the wind.

"All the other residents have been evacuated, except for one woman… still trapped inside…"

Before the guest could even finish the sentence, Mathias was already charging for the exit.

The engagement banquet descended into chaos, a whirlwind of uncertainty.

I didn’t think; my body moved on its own, following Mathias into the car, driven by something beyond reason.

The silence in the car was suffocating. He dialed the number again and again, his fingers trembling with urgency.

Once. Twice. Three times.

It wasn’t until the seventy-eighth call that the line finally connected.

Mathias’s hand shook so violently that his phone almost slipped from his grip. His voice cracked, raw with desperation.

"Nathalia, where are you? Why won’t you answer? Do you want me to die?!"

I had never seen him so broken, so utterly lost. It squeezed at my chest, a tight, painful knot I couldn’t ignore.

The chaos on the other end was overwhelming, debris crashing, screams echoing through the phone, while Nathalia’s voice remained eerily calm.

"Mathias, I can’t forget you. But you’re about to marry someone else."

"I can’t watch you belong to another."

"So… don’t come looking for me. If I die in this fire, it won’t hurt as much."

The moment she spoke, a deafening crash shook the line, the sound of a beam collapsing.

"No! No!"

Mathias was nearly losing himself, his voice breaking under the weight of his panic.

"Nathalia, please don’t do this! I’m begging you, don’t do this!"

"You know I’ve never forgotten you, not once."

"This engagement… it’s all just a game to get back at you for leaving me without a word."

"You know this. You know that the second you show up, I’d leave it all behind and run away with you."

At that moment, my blood rushed through my veins like a river breaking its banks, and the pain in my chest was so intense it felt like I couldn’t draw another breath.

I had known deep down, for a long time, what the truth was.

But hearing Mathias say it so plainly, without a single pause, without a trace of hesitation. It tore me to shreds.

And yet, he didn’t even seem to notice me.

He kept pleading into the phone, his voice cracking with raw regret.

"Nathalia, please, hold on. Wait for me. I’m coming to save you!"

Chapter 5

"I have everything now, please, don’t leave me. I can’t bear it…"

By the time his words faltered, the tears began to fall, each one heavy and relentless, like stones crashing into the depths of my heart.

I was numb, yet my legs moved on their own. I followed him out of the car, my heart pounding with each step as we neared the fiery chaos, the scene surrounded by a sea of onlookers and rescue teams.

While others scrambled to escape, Mathias was the only one pushing forward, desperate to dive into the flames.

Fear seized me, and instinct took over. I grabbed his hand and held him back with everything I had.

"Mathias, you don’t know how intense the fire is or what’s inside! Charging in like this is madness!"

"The rescue team’s already here. They’ll bring her out!"

I had lost my parents to flames; I couldn’t bear the thought of losing Mathias, too.

But without warning, he jerked my hand away, his force pushing me to the ground with an intensity I hadn’t seen since that day at the auction.

I crashed to the earth, my ankle protesting, the bandages soaked in a sickly mix of red and yellow. Yet, the pain in my body was nothing compared to the torment searing my heart.

Mathias didn’t even spare me a glance.

"I can’t lose Nathalia again."

"No one can stop me!"

And with those words, he turned and rushed straight into the fire.

In that instant, the world around me blurred, and I was back in that inferno, watching helplessly as flames devoured everything I loved.

I couldn’t let Mathias face the same tragedy.

Without a second thought, I ran after him.

But I barely took a few steps before a beam crashed down, striking my leg.

The pain hit me like a tidal wave, and I crumpled to the ground, helpless. All I could do was shout, desperate to be heard, hoping someone would come.

The smoke choked me, the air thick and suffocating as it stung my throat.

Then, out of the haze, a pair of hands reached for me, warm and firm, pulling me into safety.

They seemed to be asking how I was, but I couldn’t answer. My voice had abandoned me, hoarse and weak. Through my blurred vision, I could barely make out the person’s face.

Before I lost consciousness, all I could hear was the frantic shout of someone above me,

"She's seriously injured! Get her to the hospital immediately!"

When I woke in the hospital, the world outside buzzed with news. Mathias had pulled Nathalia from the flames, and their love story was now a legend.

"Ten years of devotion, unwavering until death."

"True love reveals itself in times of crisis."

"Only death can tear them apart."

The comment sections were flooded with praise, while others couldn’t hide their venom, calling me a homewrecker who had schemed my way into his life.

Hiding behind the banner of “true love conquers all,” they called me a shameless woman, determined to tear Mathias and Nathalia apart.

Even the nurses who tended to me couldn't help but throw disdainful glances my way.

Some even whispered just outside my hospital room.

"Did you hear? Mathias ran out of his engagement party straight into the fire for her."

"Everyone's saying his fiancée's position is about to change hands."

"I’d say it’s a done deal."

"Well, it’s what Irene deserves. She shouldn’t have meddled."

"She was just deluding herself. The two women are in the same hospital, only one floor apart. But how many times has Mathias been here? Nathalia barely got a scratch on her, and he’s called in the best doctors, staying by her side day and night, treating her like she’s the world’s most precious gem."

"Sigh, if only I could meet a man as devoted as Mathias…"

Their voices faded, drifting down the corridor like the remnants of a storm.

I simply closed my eyes, letting silence wrap around me like a suffocating shroud.

Chapter 6

My ankle was shattered, the pain sharp and relentless, and a stubborn respiratory infection clung to me like a shadow.

In the week I spent in the sterile embrace of the hospital, I had already undergone five surgeries, each one leaving me more hollow than the last.

Mathias came to see me once, just once.

He left me with nothing more than a cold, distant sentence. “Irene, please take care of yourself.”

And just like that, he disappeared from my life.

Every time I woke from the fog of anesthesia, the doctors mentioned how I cried, my tears spilling uncontrollably as if my heart couldn’t bear the weight of its own agony.

But now, there were no more tears left to shed.

I wondered, was this how it felt when the heart died, a long, torturous ache that made every breath a struggle?

Somehow, though, I survived it.

For a month, I lay in that sterile room, the hours crawling by.

When the day finally came for me to leave, I had hoped to find Mathias, to speak to him, to have the conversation we should have had all along.

But when I reached his room, the nurse told me he had already left, without a trace, seven days ago.

I sent him a message, hoping that somehow, he would make time to meet me one last time.

After ten years, I deserved to say goodbye properly.

Despite the pain gnawing at my leg, I hailed a taxi and forced myself into it.

When I arrived home, the weight of everything hit me. I began packing up my life, every corner of this place that had once been filled with warmth, now devoid of meaning.

I loaded the last of my things into the truck I had arranged, the one that would carry me away from everything that had once been ours.

And everything Mathias had given me, the gifts, the emerald necklace that shimmered with memories, I left behind without a second thought.

Mathias had always been sentimental.

This house, his old home, was the place where everything started. The place where, when we first came together, I moved in without hesitation.

Even now, despite his wealth and status, he never left. This house was his anchor.

I ran my fingers across the wallpaper, the one I had carefully chosen, and for a moment, it almost felt like a forgotten memory. But then, something caught my attention, a strange sensation, a twist in the air.

My fingers trembled as I peeled back the wallpaper, an uneasy feeling creeping up my spine. What I uncovered made my heart race with dread and disbelief.

Underneath the wallpaper, I found the wall covered with a painting, Mathias holding Nathalia in his arms, a picture of perfect devotion. The words written beside it were like daggers.

‘Nathalia, this is our first home. I will never leave.

Every night, I hold Irene in my arms, but the only person I think about is you.

Will you ever come back?

I have everything now, so why haven’t you returned?

Irene wants to marry me, but I can’t imagine spending my life with anyone other than you.

Nathalia, I really… I can’t hold on much longer…’

Each sentence felt like a flame searing through my chest, burning my heart alive as it fought to keep beating.

Now, it all made sense. No wonder Mathias had kept me from touching the renovations. This wall, this damn wall, had been filled with his longing for Nathalia.

How laughable. The wallpaper I’d so carefully chosen had only served to blind me to the truth.

Mathias wasn’t sentimental; he’d been holding onto her all along.

And? I had never been anything but a punchline in his story.

My nails dug deep into my palm, the sharp pain barely registering as I numbly stared at the words on the wall, reading them over and over like a cruel mantra, torturing myself until the last remnants of my heart’s attachment turned to smoke.

With a steadying breath, I placed the keys on the table, no longer hesitating. Without another glance, I turned to leave.

Then, my phone buzzed, and I finally received a reply from Mathias. [If you want to talk, come to the Belmont Haven Hotel.]

I went. I kept my promise.

But Mathias wasn’t there.

Instead, Nathalia stepped out of a hotel room, draped in an expensive designer suit, her every step radiating grace.

The jewelry she wore sparkled like the cruel glint in her eyes as she looked me over, her gaze dripping with provocation.

“Mathias doesn’t even want you anymore, and yet you’re still clinging to him. Don’t you find that pathetic?”

A sudden clarity hit me.

“That message… you sent it from Mathias’s phone, didn’t you?”

Nathalia let out a laugh, a sound of pure derision as if her silence had already answered my question.

Chapter 7

Since that was the case, there was no point in wasting another breath on her. I turned to leave.

But before I could take another step, Nathalia’s voice drifted from behind me, laced with mockery.

“Irene, if you have any self-awareness, you’d tuck your tail and run. If you wait until Mathias throws you out himself, things won’t be so easy for you.”

Her words made me pause.

“And what if I don’t leave?”

I never went looking for trouble, but that didn’t mean I had no temper.

Nathalia let out a laugh, richer and more condescending this time.

“You’re not still dreaming of becoming Mrs. Mathias, are you?” she scoffed.

“How ridiculous. Back when he had nothing, you sold everything to help him get back on his feet.”

Her gaze turned to pity, dripping with false sympathy.

“I even heard you sold the house your dead parents left you… all for him.” She clicked her tongue. “So devoted, so hopelessly in love.”

“But tell me, what did all that loyalty get you? Nothing. Mathias still doesn’t love you. The moment I so much as beckoned, he tossed you aside like garbage. He wouldn’t spare you a second glance even if you sold yourself.”

The mention of my parents’ house sent a sharp pain through my chest, so sudden it nearly stole my breath away.

Out of gratitude for saving his life and the love I once thought was real, I abandoned everything my parents left me and stood by Mathias through his darkest days.

We had endured hardships, suffered injustice, and weathered storms. But never, not even at our lowest, had I felt regret as bone-deep as I did now.

I had foolishly believed that love, tempered by trials, would only grow stronger.

The truth was crueler. My love had been misplaced from the very start.

Yet Nathalia wasn’t finished.

“Oh, you still don’t know, do you?” She tilted her head, feigning pity. “Those online rumors calling you a shameless homewrecker? Mathias orchestrated all of it himself.”

My breath hitched.

“He wanted to protect me,” she continued smoothly. “He didn’t want me to suffer any backlash, so he threw you to the wolves instead. He let the entire internet rip you apart… just so I wouldn’t have to endure a scratch.”

Something inside me snapped.

So that was the truth.

If I had a mirror in front of me, I knew exactly what I would see: bloodshot eyes, betrayal, and a woman who had given everything… for a man who had never deserved it.

The sharp clack of Nathalia’s heels echoed through the room as she strode toward me, her gaze dripping with malice. She reached out, tilting my chin between her fingers, her touch deceptively gentle.

"Honestly, I don’t care whether you leave or not," she murmured, her lips curving into a slow, venomous smile.

"Because what I really want… is to ruin you completely."

Before her words could even settle in my mind, she suddenly tore at her own blouse, sending buttons scattering to the floor. With swift, practiced movements, she mussed up her hair, then seized my wrist and forced my hand to strike her again and again.

Then, as if on cue, she crumpled to the floor, her body trembling, tears spilling down her cheeks in violent torrents.

"Miss Hale," she sobbed, her voice breaking. "I know you hate me, but how could you force me to do something like this?" Her fingers clutched at her chest as she gasped out her next words.

"I’d rather die than agree to it!"

With a sudden, dramatic lunge, she grabbed a fruit knife from the coffee table, angling it toward her throat.

Instinct took over. I surged forward, reaching to stop her.

But before I could even touch the blade, a brutal force slammed into me, sending me crashing backward.

"Nathalia!"

The next moment, Mathias had her wrapped tightly in his arms, his voice thick with desperation.

Nathalia let the knife slip from her fingers, collapsing against him as she sobbed uncontrollably, her entire frame quivering like a fragile bird seeking shelter in his embrace.

"Mathias, you finally came."

"If you hadn’t, Miss Hale would have already sent me to President Liam’s bed!"

I had slammed into the corner of the table, pain searing through my already bruised lower back, leaving my vision swimming. The agony threatened to pull me under, but I bit down on the pain and forced out a hoarse, desperate rebuttal.

"I didn’t!"

"How could I possibly do something like that?"

"Mathias, after everything we’ve been through, do you really believe something this absurd?"

For a fleeting second, something in his expression wavered. His brows furrowed ever so slightly, hesitation creeping in.

But before that moment could solidify, Nathalia whimpered, tightening her grip on his sleeve, her fragile form quivering against him as though she might shatter at any second.

Chapter 8

"Mathias, is it because Miss Hale thinks I stole you from her that she wants to destroy me?"

"But the only person I love is you."

"If another man dares to touch me, I’d rather die!"

Before the weight of her words could settle, she snatched the knife from the floor, its sharp edge glinting under the dim light as she aimed it at her own heart.

A sharp clang echoed through the room as Mathias knocked it from her grasp.

The blade clattered to the ground, forgotten, while Nathalia collapsed into a fit of sobs, her frail frame trembling violently.

My pulse pounded in my ears as Mathias turned to me, hesitation flickering in his eyes. I could see it, his faith in me hanging by a fragile thread, ready to snap at the slightest pull.

I opened my mouth, desperate to defend myself. But before I could utter a single word, the sound of a door swinging open shattered the tension.

A middle-aged man, pot-bellied and balding, stepped out in nothing but a bathrobe, rubbing his damp scalp with a towel. His voice rang out with casual familiarity.

"Nathalia, baby, I’m done with my bath. Why aren’t you coming in yet?" His gaze lifted, and the moment he spotted Mathias, his expression shifted from lazy amusement to frozen panic.

"President Mathias? What are you doing here?"

Something inside me twisted violently as I turned to Mathias, searching his face, praying for reason, for trust. But what I saw made my stomach drop.

The uncertainty in his gaze vanished, replaced by sheer disappointment laced with something far worse. Disgust.

His voice was like a blade slicing through me.

"Irene, I really misjudged you."

"I never thought you’d be this vicious… this shameless."

"I didn’t! I swear, I didn’t!"

Never had I wished more desperately for him to believe me.

"I’ve already decided to leave you. I won’t stand in the way of you and Nathalia anymore. Why would I even do something like this?"

The words seemed to ignite something within Mathias. His expression twisted sharply as though I had wounded him with my simple truth.

"Irene, do you have any idea what you're saying?" His voice was thick with disbelief, the anger barely contained beneath his words.

Before I could speak, Liam, who had been silent up to this point, broke his silence with irritation, sharpening his tone.

"President Rocco, my business might not rival yours, but integrity is everything to me. You promised me a woman for my enjoyment. Now, what is this circus? Do you really think you can play me for a fool?"

Mathias no longer even glanced my way, but his words were a dagger to the heart.

"I always keep my word."

And then, the chilling command left his lips.

"Since Liam wants a woman to entertain him, I’ll give him Irene."

Liam's eyes widened as if even he couldn’t fathom the cruel turn of events.

Even though the engagement banquet had never taken place, I had spent ten years by Mathias’s side, believing in us. And yet, he was willing to cast me aside so easily?

Nestled in Mathias’s embrace, Nathalia flashed me a look of triumph, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

She knew all too well the kind of man Liam was behind closed doors. His reputation for destroying young women had spread like wildfire through their circles, whispered from one ruin to the next.

A sharp pain slashed through my mind, a bolt of understanding hitting me hard. Now, I understood what Nathalia had meant when she vowed to utterly destroy me.

But at that moment, there was no time for self-pity or to dwell on the devastation.

Struggling to push myself off the floor, the searing agony from my lower back burned with such intensity that my body refused to straighten.

I could only crawl toward Mathias, dragging myself on the floor like a dog, utterly broken.

"Mathias, I swear, I’ll never stand in your way again."

"I’ll leave, far away. You’ll never have to see me again."

"Please, don’t do this to me."

But the more I begged, the more the rage in his eyes flared, as though he wanted to tear me apart with his bare hands.

"Good, very good! Irene, you truly are something else!"

With a snarl, he turned back to Liam, his voice dripping with venom.

"I already agreed to give her to you. What’s the problem? Isn’t Liam going to enjoy himself?"

Liam’s grin stretched wide as he stepped forward, eager to claim what he’d been promised. He reached out, hands eager to pull me toward the bed.

I fought with everything I had, but in that moment, the crushing weight of despair set in. The only person who could help me was Mathias, but he simply cradled Nathalia in his arms, turning away from me without a second glance.

"Mathias, I hate you!"

Chapter 9

"I will never forgive you!"

Mathias’ footsteps faltered for a split second before he disappeared from my sight, his silence more damning than any words.

The instant Liam’s hand touched me, I shoved him away with all the strength I could muster.

A memory flashed, when Mathias first made it onto the rich list, I’d been kidnapped, a ransom demanded. Though I’d been rescued, Mathias was shaken to his core.

Out of that fear, he’d hired the best instructors, training me in self-defense and combat.

Now, with a man whose body was a shadow of his former self, drained by alcohol and indulgence, I knew I had a ninety percent chance of winning this fight.

But as soon as I pushed Liam away, the door creaked open again.

A group of hulking men filled the doorway.

Mathias’ bodyguards.

I thought, maybe, just maybe, he had softened.

But the leader of the group spoke, his voice cold and dispassionate.

"Miss Hale knows a bit of self-defense. Mr. Rocco was concerned you wouldn’t enjoy yourself, so he sent us with something to help."

With that, they pulled out a bottle of pills, prying my mouth open and forcing them down my throat.

My combat skills were enough to handle someone like Liam, whose only strength was his size.

But against these skilled bodyguards, I was nothing more than a helpless animal.

Despite my every attempt to fight back, most of the drugs still found their way into my system.

In the midst of my struggle, one of the bodyguards sneered, "Mr. Rocco has already set up cameras in this room. If you don’t behave and properly entertain Liam, those recordings will be all over the internet."

"Then you’ll get to enjoy your newfound fame," he added, his voice dripping with mockery.

The drug kicked in quickly. The room blurred around me, a thick, suffocating heat pooling in my chest, making it feel as though I were melting from the inside out.

Then, chaos erupted outside, and the door was kicked open with such force that it slammed against the wall.

A rush of cold air swept into the room, and for the briefest of moments, my mind cleared.

Through the haze, I thought I saw a chiseled face, like something carved from marble.

Before I could make sense of it, strong arms scooped me up, lifting me effortlessly from the floor.

The crisp scent of fir trees filled my lungs, grounding me, as his voice, familiar yet distant, whispered, "Miss, are you alright?"

I tried to focus, but my thoughts melted into a haze of confusion. Instinct guided me as I nuzzled against him, desperate for relief from the searing heat that consumed me.

It was unbearable. I couldn’t endure it any longer.

His body tensed, clearly caught off guard by my sudden movement.

But I couldn’t stop; my lips found him before I even realized it. "Please… I feel awful…"

"Can you help me…?"