Chapter 1
It had been three years since I was thrown out of the Shaw family.
I crossed paths with Landon Lancaster at St. Eleanor Monastery.
He had come there with his wife, Serena Shaw, hoping for a baby, while I was there to light a memorial candle for my late mother.
Landon froze the moment he saw me, his eyes turning red as if he was holding back tears. Serena was my father's daughter from an affair, and standing beside him, she didn't even try to hide the jealousy in her gaze as she glared at me.
I didn't lose control like I used to. I simply turned around and walked away.
My mind drifted back to the charity gala three years ago. Landon had personally handed me a glass of champagne, and I had taken a sip without a second thought. When I woke up, I was in a hotel suite with my clothes messed up and a stranger lying beside me.
Landon's mother had completely lost it. She pointed at me and called me a w***e, threatening to have me sent to prison. The only person who saved me was my mother.
She had broken down in tears and apologized in front of everyone, and only then did the Lancaster family agree to let it go.
That same night, my mother suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage and passed away. But I never got the chance to see her for the last time.
And the drink that had been drugged was given to me by my own fiancé, Landon, the heir of the Lancaster Group...
*****
I had fought my way out of Shaw's Villa, desperate to get an answer from Landon. But when I reached his office door, I heard the conversation between him and his assistant, Jack.
"Mr. Lancaster, the news about Ms. Lily getting a room with another man has spread all over our circle. The trending topic has been taken down, but the Shaw family's company stock is still dropping."
"Hmm." Landon's voice was flat and emotionless. "Has that man's family been dealt with?"
Jack nodded. "They were paid off, and the whole family was sent overseas. They won't be coming back."
"Handle it properly. Her reputation is already in ruins. The Shaw family has no choice but to cut her off now. Let's see how she can keep bullying Sera."
Outside the door, I felt my blood run cold. I pressed my hand against the wall, barely keeping myself from collapsing.
Jack handed him another document. "Mr. Lancaster, the Shaw family has agreed to transfer the engagement to Ms. Serena. She'll marry into the Lancaster family as the daughter of the Shaw family."
Landon nodded, sounding completely at ease. "After I marry Sera, keeping Lily by my side as a mistress isn't a problem. She can't leave me anyway. Sera has always been soft-hearted. Once she becomes Mrs. Lancaster, she'll be able to keep Lily under control and make sure Lily can't bully her anymore."
My vision blurred. So this was what Landon had planned from the beginning. He wanted me out of the way, so Serena could take my place.
Three months ago, Serena had met Landon for the first time at a friend's birthday party. She went home crying and demanding to marry him. My father had also pressured me to step aside.
I refused. I wasn't interested in the Lancaster family's wealth. I stayed because Landon had promised me that I was the only woman he would love for the rest of his life. I never thought he had already betrayed me with Serena.
To give Serena a clean path into the Lancaster family, he drugged me and ruined my reputation.
Thinking about the gentle smile on his face when he handed me that drink, I felt a chill crawl through my entire body.
The voices inside the office sounded again.
"Have someone watch Lily over the next few days. Don't let her come out and cause trouble. I want to give Sera the most unforgettable wedding possible. Nothing can go wrong."
Jack nodded. "Don't worry, Mr. Lancaster. If she dares to show her face, I'll make sure she never gets the chance to come back."
I bit down on my lip until it hurt and turned away. But the moment I reached the first floor, the Shaw family's bodyguards blocked my path.
Something hard crashed into the back of my head. My vision went dark, and I fell straight to the ground.
