Chapter 1
The year I loved Adrian Graves the most, he vanished into thin air and let the Graves family destroy my family and ruin my life.
I sent him over a thousand messages. Not one reply.
His phone was dead too.
I went abroad with a heavy heart.
Five years later, I became an employee of the Graves Corporation.
With his arm wrapped around his fiancée’s waist, he looked at me coldly. "Iris, how dare you come back to the States?"
At his bidding, his fiancée was parachuted in as my direct supervisor.
Everyone waited for the show to unfold.
Watch as I offend Adrian’s most cherished darling, get thrown out of the company, and end up drowning in a mountain of debt.
Too bad I didn't give them the satisfaction.
Adrian seduced me into bed, his eyes red from crying. "Honey, don't leave me, okay? Do I have to get down on my knees and beg for you to stay?"
The next time I saw Adrian was thirty-seven days after I returned to the country.
I signed a valuation adjustment mechanism with a company that manages online influencers. Then HR put together a lavish welcome party for me.
Beside me, Vanessa Shaw linked her arm through mine. She had also spotted the man at the center of the crowd.
"That's our big boss, Adrian. The woman next to him is our future CEO's wife."
Through the slightly open door, I saw him.
Noticing my interest, Vanessa smiled and said, "I heard his girlfriend's family wasn't doing so well. The boss went above and beyond to help launch the Bennett family business and turn their fortunes around."
'Is that right?'
So the aloof and lofty Adrian could stoop to bribery with money and favors.
He dated me for five years. Not only did he never use the Graves family connections to help my father's company, but when the Graves family matriarch sent people to crush our business, he didn't even offer a single word of comfort.
And right when I loved him the most, he dumped me without a second thought.
Now he stood in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by people, dressed in a sharp suit, his elegant fingers swirling a glass of wine. Even in the dim light, his handsome face made him stand out.
The people around him smiled obsequiously, constantly sneaking glances to gauge his expression.
Adrian looked the same as five years ago. Not much different.
The only change was the person by his side. It wasn't me anymore.
The girl laughing prettily beside him? In our five years together, I had never seen her before.
She had been well protected, it seemed.
She had a sweet, innocent face. Through the c***k in the door, I saw her lean into Adrian whenever someone teased her.
Adrian, who was usually distant and hard to please, showed not the slightest hint of displeasure. Instead, he watched her with a faint smile, his eyes full of affection.
The way he treated someone he truly loved was completely different from how he treated me.
Vanessa pushed the door open.
She walked in as if no one else mattered and dragged me straight to the center of the private room.
"Mr. Graves, this is Iris, the new streamer we just signed. Five million followers across all platforms, incredibly high audience engagement."
She glanced nervously at Adrian. He didn't react much, just took a sip of his wine, his arm casually wrapped around the girl's waist. A slight smile touched his lips. He seemed to be in a good mood.
To him, whoever walked through that door tonight was irrelevant.
Seeing no reaction from the boss, Vanessa stood there awkwardly. Just as she was wondering what to do, some troublemaker in the back muttered, "Hey, isn't that Adrian's wife?"
"What nonsense! Adrian's wife is with him, okay?"
"I heard you’re a foodie blogger. Come on, whip up some drinks for the guys!"
Someone whistled at me, their jeering tone making my skin crawl. A blond guy I'd never seen before glanced at Adrian, who remained completely indifferent, then swaggered over and draped his arm over my shoulder.
"What's the matter? Too good for us? That means you're too good for my Adrian!"
My body went rigid. I lost all sense of reason and blurted out, "Adrian!"
But he didn't rush to my defense like he used to. He didn't even look up.
"How dare you talk to my Adrian like that, you b***h!" The blond raised his hand and slapped me across the face.
Adrian still showed no reaction. He just poured another drink for the girl beside him.
"Dylan Cross, relax," the girl said sweetly, smiling as she walked toward me with a glass of whiskey in her hand.
"Are you really UU? I'm a huge fan!" She extended her hand to me. "Hi there! I'm Chloe Bennett. You have to drink this with me."
"Hello, Ms. Bennett," I said.
I frowned and deliberately avoided the hand holding the liquor.
When I refused, Chloe looked at Adrian with hurt in her eyes.
He gave me a cold stare. "Don't want to work with us anymore? Refusing a drink from the future CEO's wife?"
Hearing his words, Chloe shot me a triumphant look.
I had no choice. I took the glass and downed it in one gulp.
Fire burned in my stomach.
I had never drunk such strong whiskey before.
Chloe smirked, leaned in close, and whispered playfully in my ear, "Iris, Grandma Graves told me all about you five years ago. I'm Adrian's childhood sweetheart."
Grandma Graves?
That old woman who could crush my life in Riverton with just a flick of her finger?
I swallowed hard, ignoring the burning in my stomach and the ache in my heart. So everything five years ago had happened with Adrian's silent approval.
All to make way for his childhood sweetheart.
