Chapter 1

My fingers trembled as I ended the call, realizing Daniel Denning's entire group of friends had heard everything that just happened. "Dude, that was awesome! Thanks for letting us hear it live every time." "I didn't expect sweet little Miranda to be that wild in private. Let me have a go with her when you're done." "It'll be soon, right? Didn't Daniel say he'd dump her once her reputation is ruined? We'll all line up for a taste." My mind went blank as I scrolled up, shaking. Then, I saw a message from Daniel that was sent not long ago. "Miranda's father deliberately invited my mom on that trip, causing her to die in that plane crash. "Afterward, people spread rumors that she had run away with him. Since he destroyed my mother's reputation, I'll destroy his daughter's. I'll make her suffer for life." I numbly scrolled through their chat history. Only then did I realize that every intimate moment between us over the years had been shared. Each of his friends had commented freely on how I looked and sounded when I was beneath him. So many derogatory terms had become associated with my name. Someone even posted a photo of me with a flushed face as I reached the peak. I felt a wave of nausea and had to cover my mouth to stop myself from vomiting. We shared five years of love in the shadows, but in his eyes, I was nothing but a toy to show off. Tears slid down my cheeks as I leaned against the bed, staring blankly at Daniel's sleeping face. When we were children, my father and his mother died in the same plane crash. Everyone said they had eloped, betraying their families. My mother was devastated and furious after the event, and she passed away soon after, leaving me alone as an orphan. When Daniel's father offered to adopt me, I couldn't believe it. After all, why would the family who lost everything because of mine take me in? I had thought they wanted revenge, but they had treated me well. The one who treated me best was my "brother", Daniel. At school, when kids mocked me for being an orphan, he had beaten them up one by one. He held my hand and told everyone that I was the princess of our home. He told me he would protect me forever. When I was still a teenager, I had shyly confessed to him once. He told me I was too young and that he couldn't touch me. I naïvely believed that it was because he cared. Even though he had rejected me, I still loved him and waited to grow up. The day I reached adulthood, I got drunk and kissed him. He didn't push me away. Then, I gathered up my courage and undid his belt, which he didn't stop either. That night, we did everything lovers could do. When I woke up in his arms, I asked him sweetly, "Dan, am I your girlfriend now?" He kissed my forehead and said softly, "Miranda Denning, my sweet baby, you'll always be my dearest little sister. Let's just pretend last night never happened. We'll still be siblings in the future." My heart froze at the comment, but I clung to his hand and replied, "It's okay if I'm not your girlfriend. I don't mind as long as I can stay by your side, even if nobody knows." After some hesitation, Daniel agreed to that secret arrangement. From then on, we were siblings by day, and lovers by night. I loved him so deeply that I was willing to give up everything just to be his hidden lover for life. He had once promised that he would marry me openly once he gained full control of the family business. But today, I finally understood that Daniel had never loved me. He'd protected me, seduced me, and climbed into my bed every night, but it was all a part of his plan for revenge. My phone chimed with a message from a judge of the ZW International Jewelry Competition. A month earlier, I had received an invitation from ZW. I had been preparing for it joyfully when Daniel tore my passport to pieces. At the time, he had held me with a deep, loving gaze. "Miranda, you know that keeping a low profile will mean it'll be easier for us to get married later on. Besides, I couldn't bear you being too far away from me." Back then, I'd thought he was so sweet for planning our future like that. But now, as I looked at the boisterous chat that was going on, I finally understood that he had never loved me. Every ounce of love he had shown me sprang from hatred. Every time he was kind to me, it came with a price. He was convinced that my father had seduced his mother and ruined his family. I was powerless to refute him, so I always carried guilt toward his family. Even though I believed my father wasn't that kind of man, I had no evidence to clear his name. After a long while, I took the invitation from the very bottom of the bookshelf and slowly typed one line on my phone. "I accept ZW's invitation. I will head to Newton to compete next week." Just as I gave him my love, I could take it back. "Daniel, I'll take back all the love I gave you," I thought. In one week, I would leave him forever.