Chapter 1
A familiar path led me straight to the top-floor private suite, yet nothing about the scene unfolding ahead felt the slightest bit ordinary. Tension coiled tight in my chest, and my fingers clenched gently at my sides the second my eyes took in the view.
Lucas Vance's dress shirt hung half unbuttoned across his chest, faint lipstick marks streaking across his skin in faint, teasing patterns.
Perched casually on his lap was a woman, her red lips brushing plump grapes between her teeth as she gazed up at him with smoldering, flirtatious eyes.
Not a single glance drifted my way from Lucas.
He simply brushed a finger tenderly over the woman's nose, smiled, and took the grape from her lips with a slow, deliberate movement, his throat bobbing softly.
This was Juliet Nelson—the actress who had snatched two major film roles and three high-end brand endorsements from me in just one short week, and Lucas' newest lover.
"The future Mrs. Vance has arrived."
Several of Lucas' friends glanced over at me with knowing, teasing eyes, their tone laced with undisguised mockery.
I steadied my breathing and stepped forward to stand beside Lucas. "Tomorrow's our engagement ceremony. I came to pick you up, afraid you'd drink too much and ruin tomorrow's big day."
"Get lost." Lucas gripped Juliet's chin tightly, his tone thick with blatant sensuality. "I'm spending the night with Juliet. Didn't you say you'd put on that new lingerie for me?"
"You're so naughty." Juliet giggled softly, nestling deeper into his embrace while shooting me a sharp, provocative look. "If Rebecca doesn't mind, she can join us."
My face drained of color in an instant. Knuckles whitened as I squeezed my fists hard enough to ache.
Without a moment's hesitation, I grabbed the nearest glass of red wine and hurled its contents straight at her taunting face.
A shrill scream cut through the room's low chatter.
Lucas' fingers locked around my wrist in an iron grip, his face darkening with stormy fury.
"Can't the big movie star take a little joke? Do you have any idea how miserable I've been? Sterile for life, slowly cast aside by my own family, all because of you."
Seven years of haunting, torturous memories crashed over me in a single wave.
My eyes turned teary, fingers digging sharply into my own palms until my flesh stung.
Uncontrollable tremors shook my entire body.
"Apologize." Lucas' voice was cold and unyielding, leaving no room for argument.
I ground my teeth together hard. Beneath Juliet's triumphant yet furious stare, I forced the two words out. "I'm sorry."
I squeezed my eyes shut, drowning in overwhelming humiliation. It felt as if a heavy slap had landed square across my face, sharp and suffocating.
Lucas' careless, mocking tone returned instantly. "I'll show up tomorrow. Wouldn't want your precious Mrs. Vance title to slip through your fingers, now would we? Get out of my sight. You're ruining the mood."
I turned and left without a second's delay. The moment the suite door clicked shut behind me, suppressed tears spilled freely, dripping one after another onto the cold floor.
Teasing laughter drifted out from behind the closed door.
"You've got game, Lucas. Rebecca's absolutely stunning, and she bends to your every word. You toss her aside like it's nothing."
"She's nothing but a w***e. Even if I drove her to her grave, she'd still owe me." Lucas' voice was flat, cold, and utterly devoid of warmth.
