Chapter 1

For 20 years, Zoe Holt had been the Holts' treasured daughter until their true daughter arrived with a DNA report. She discovered then that she was just a stand-in who was switched at birth. Humiliated, she packed her bags to leave. But on the night of her departure, she was pulled into a car by her older brother, Alder Holt, who'd always been cold and aloof toward her. He had her pinned against the leather seat and bawling her eyes out three times over. But even when her voice went hoarse from crying, he gripped her waist and whispered in her ear several times over, "I've wanted to do this to you for years." In that moment, she finally understood that his years of indifference had been nothing but restraint. Soon after, he announced their engagement and refused to yield to anyone's objections. When their parents opposed it, he stripped them of their authority and rose to be the sole head of the Holt family. When the Holts' true daughter, Vera Holt, threw a tantrum, Alder froze all her cards and warned that if she kept acting out, he'd send her back where she came from. Meanwhile, Zoe couldn't accept dating Alder, the brother she'd grown up with. She fled countless times, only to have him bring her back again and again. It was almost as if he had her within his grip of control, leaving her nowhere to escape. That lasted until half a month ago, when he drove out late at night to buy her favorite cake and got into a car accident. When he woke up, he'd lost all his memories. The Holts rejoiced. When they introduced Zoe, nothing was mentioned about her being the woman Alder loved to madness. She was claimed to be a simple maid. And now, they were trying to take advantage of his memory loss to send her away. "Here's 100 million dollars." Arthur Holt and Edith Fairchild pushed the check toward Zoe and continued, "Take the money and leave while Alder doesn't remember you. We raised you, so now, we're begging you for this favor. Never appear in front of him again, and never let him find you." After a long silence, Zoe slowly agreed, "Fine. I'll complete my paperwork and leave Cerulea in two weeks. I'm never coming back." As she took the flimsy check, it felt as if the past year had been nothing but an absurd dream. The Holts wanted her gone, and truthfully, she wanted to leave, too. Alder might have adored her deeply this past year, but she could not bear the weight of his forced love. Now that he'd lost his memory, this was her only chance to leave him. "What are you doing?" Just then, the front door opened. Alder stood at the entrance with Vera right behind him. Dressed in a sharp, tailored suit, he was a stunningly handsome man. The oppressiveness he gave off as someone in power seemed to freeze the air in the room. Arthur's and Edith's faces paled. They quickly forced a smile and laughed it off. "Nothing. We were just giving the maid some instructions." Then, Edith nudged Arthur and gestured. "I guess we'll go upstairs for a nap now." Before leaving, she shot Zoe a vicious glare that was heavy with warning. Zoe lowered her head as she clutched the hundred-million-dollar check. Just as she was about to return to the staff quarters, however, Alder's cold voice sounded from afar. "Stop right there." She froze in place and hung her head low. Her heart had almost missed a beat. The sound of leather shoes clicking against the floor drew closer. Immediately after, a hand forcibly lifted her chin, and she was compelled to meet his deep, dark eyes. Her breath hitched, and the images she'd tried to bury flooded her mind. Memories of being pinned against the floor-to-ceiling windows, pressed into the bed, and laid across the kitchen island surged back. His thumb rubbing her chin, his gaze was cold as he asked, "What perfume are you wearing?" Zoe opened her mouth to reply, but Alder interrupted her. "Don't wear it again. A maid should do a maid's job. Don't try to seduce anyone," he warned, and released her with disgust. Zoe clenched her fingers slightly. He used to bury his face in her neck and chuckle. "What are you wearing? It smells so good." She would shake her head. "Nothing at all." Then, he would bite her earlobe and whisper, "Even your natural scent is intoxicating, Zoe. Every inch of you was made for me, and you're never allowed to leave me. Run where you will, and I'll always bring you back. Got it?" She used to believe she'd never be able to escape, but this time, the heavens were giving her a chance. Zoe decided not to argue or explain, simply nodding. "Understood, Mr. Holt." As Alder turned and entered the study, she finally let out a breath of relief. Just as she was about to return to the quarters and pack her stuff, Vera stormed up and slapped her hard. "Zoe, have you no shame? You seduced Alder, and now that he's lost his memory, you're still trying to get him!" she shrieked. "I'm telling you now—Alder has a fiancée!" she smugly continued. "The engagement will be announced any day now, and she's a thousand times better than you!" Zoe trembled slightly. A fiancée? Of course. Now that he'd lost his memory, women from powerful families would rush to line up for a wedding alliance, given the Holt family's status. But none of it had anything to do with her anymore. Still, Vera wasn't going to let it slide. Her voice turned sharp as she ordered, "Grab her, and lock her in the freezer! Let's see what happens to women who seduce Alder!" The guards exchanged glances, and none dared make a move. Everyone knew how much Alder used to spoil Zoe. Once, a business partner touched her hand, and that hand showed up on Alder's desk the next day. Vera trembled with rage. "Alder has amnesia now! She's no longer the Holts' daughter or the woman he loves! What are you all afraid of?" She pointed at the guards and warned, "If you don't take her away, you're all fired!" Still, they hesitated. Just then, the door to the study swung open, and Alder stepped out with a frown. "What's going on?" Vera immediately put on a sweet smile. "Zoe isn't doing her job properly, Alder. I'm sending her to the freezer to be punished, but the guards won't listen to me." Alder gave the guards a cold glare and asked in a cold voice, "What did she give you to ignore your employer's orders?" Then, he turned to Zoe with eyes full of disdain and spat, "Take her away. What an eyesore." With that, he slammed the door shut. With his command, the guards no longer hesitated. Zoe closed her eyes and allowed them to drag her away. She'd always feared the cold, so Alder kept the villa warm like spring all year round. If her hands and feet were cold at night, he'd humble himself and press her feet to his chest to warm them. But now, he'd given the command to lock her in the freezer as her punishment. In the freezing room, Zoe curled into a corner as her consciousness slowly faded. "It's okay. Just hold on a little longer, and I can leave very soon," she murmured to herself. It wouldn't be long before she could stop being Alder's possession and return to simply being Zoe Holt. Just as she was about to pass out, she vaguely heard someone screaming her name almost madly, "Zoe!" A figure rushed into the freezer and lifted her into trembling arms.