Chapter 1

My husband had always had a first love he longed for but could not have. In the three years we'd been married, I did everything I could to be a demure, capable wife in hopes of winning his heart. When he complained about my cooking, I worked to improve my culinary skills until cuts and scars decorated my hands. When he groused that I was a creature of comfort, I slowly picked up household chores and learned to manage our home. On the day I lost my child, my husband got a call from his unattainable first love and left without so much as a backward glance. I lay in a pool of blood and watched him walk away. My heart grew cold, and I asked for a divorce. On the day we divorced, my ex-husband gave me a guilty look, which was rare for him. "If you ever find yourself in trouble, feel free to reach out to me." I glanced down at my phone and saw the notification that my brother had wired money to my account. "If you ever find yourself in trouble, please don't bother reaching out to me." … A muffled sound of protest escaped Vivienne Moore when she felt a familiar stinging sensation on her mouth. Someone was savagely nibbling at her lips. Her eyes flew open, and in the darkness of the bedroom, she could vaguely make out the towering silhouette of a man looming over her. He was like a vicious beast ravaging his meal. At that moment, a familiar, pungent scent assaulted Vivienne's nose. It smelled like perfume, and she'd already lost count of the times she'd caught the scent on the man hovering above her. Disgust roiled in her stomach, and Vivienne shoved him off her. Sebastian Holt paused, his eyes glinting sharply in the dim lighting. He snorted. "You told me to come home tonight no matter what, presumably to sleep with me, right?" Vivienne's heart tightened. It was just last week when she'd tested positive for pregnancy. She wanted to share the good news with Sebastian, but when she called, Sebastian either did not pick up or hung up on her impatiently. Today was her birthday, and she'd called Sebastian's assistant and told him to pass a message to Sebastian—to come home no matter what. At first, Sebastian's assistant kept coming up with excuses not to pass on the message, but Vivienne threatened to call Melanie Schafer if the assistant didn't help. Only then did the assistant accede to Vivienne's request. Vivienne couldn't help finding the whole thing absurd. Sebastian was her husband, yet she had to resort to passing a message to him through his assistant. There was a click as Vivienne propped herself up and turned on the lamp on the nightstand. Sebastian's handsome face, illuminated by the warm yellow light, came into her view. Her gaze traced his tall, straight nose and other chiseled features. His dark, alluring eyes were fixed on her, as frosty as two frozen lakes and glinting dangerously. This was the face that had gripped her heart and soul, but now it looked as if it belonged to a stranger. Sebastian frowned, grave and impatient. "What are you playing at this time, Vivienne? I'm warning you. I won't spare you if you pick on Melanie." The hour hand of the clock pointed at one, like an early-morning mockery of Vivienne's predicament. She'd wanted her husband to come home, and the only way to get him to do it was by bringing up another woman's name. It was only after Vivienne married Sebastian that she learned of his unattainable first love, Melanie. Sebastian's grandfather, Edwin Holt, did not like Melanie and forbade Sebastian from being with her. To force Sebastian into ending things with Melanie for good, Edwin set Sebastian up with Vivienne. The old man then used his position as Sebastian's grandfather to make Sebastian take responsibility for what he had done to Vivienne. For the last three years Sebastian and Vivienne had been married, he believed she'd colluded with Edwin to set him up. To Sebastian, she was a manipulative and scheming woman. Before discovering Melanie's existence, Vivienne had believed she was not good enough and that Sebastian's indifference toward her was borne of the same reason. For the sake of their marriage, she tried her hardest to be a loving, capable wife worthy of Sebastian. She was a young lady who had never done chores, yet she'd lost count of the times she scalded or burned herself in the kitchen before finally mastering the art of cooking. Alas, no matter what she did for this marriage, Sebastian never warmed up to her. In the end, Vivienne realized that she could work herself to the bone and still lose Sebastian's favor. Melanie had returned from abroad not too long ago. Since then, Sebastian hadn't bothered coming home. Vivienne couldn't help herself. "Did you spend the entire day with Melanie?" Upon hearing Melanie's name, Sebastian leveled a grim look at Vivienne and bit out icily, "Who are you to speak of Melanie?" Vivienne shuddered, and her heart tightened painfully. Her eyes turned red as tears glistened in them. For three years, she'd poured herself into this marriage, only for Sebastian to question her worth. She knew she ought to graciously back off now that Melanie was back. However, deep down, she still had some hope, however naive or absurd it might be, that he might turn around and come back to the family once he learned of her pregnancy. "Sebastian, I need to tell you something. I'm actually—" Vivienne began, only to be cut off when Sebastian's phone rang. Who else would call him at this hour other than Melanie? He picked up his phone. Just as he was about to answer the call, Vivienne clamped her hand over his. She eyed him pleadingly. "Sebastian, can you let me finish first?" Sebastian went still when he saw the plea in her eyes. He didn't remember her ever looking at him with such quiet desperation. And yet, the piercing ringtone shattered what might have been a peaceful night, like a shrill, frantic note that begged for his attention. His hesitation lasted only a few seconds before he pried Vivienne's hand away. "I came home just like you asked, Vivienne. Don't push it." A bitter smile curved Vivienne's lips. "Oh, is coming home an act of charity from you now?" Sebastian growled, "Don't be so dramatic." He was probably worried that Melanie had gotten into trouble, for he was almost out of the room when he answered the call. Melanie's sobbing sounded from the other end of the line. "Sebastian, the power's out at my place. It's so scary… You know I get scared by power outages, Sebastian…" Sebastian's expression hardened. "I'll be right over." When Vivienne heard that Sebastian was leaving, her eyes widened in panic. "Sebastian, you can't go. You didn't even let me finish—" A sharp cry rang out from the other end of Sebastian's phone. Frowning, he urged, "Melanie, what's wrong?" Melanie's voice cracked as she explained, "I stepped on broken glass. I think I'm bleeding… Sebastian, it hurts…" "Don't move. I'll be right there!" Ignoring Vivienne, Sebastian spun on his heels and left. Vivienne chased after him on instinct and blocked his way. "Sebastian, I need to talk to you!" Sebastian shoved her aside, a cold and agitated look flashing in his eyes. "I'll never forgive you if something bad happens to Melanie because of you again, Vivienne!" Vivienne staggered back after Sebastian shoved her. She felt like all the strength had been sapped from her as she watched him leave, her face ashen. It hadn't been ten minutes since he came home, and already, he was on his way to Melanie's, mere seconds after she called him. The front door fell shut with a thud, snapping Vivienne out of her daze. She hurried out of the bedroom, intent on telling Sebastian about her pregnancy, but she was so anxious that she slipped on the stairs and tumbled down. Before losing consciousness, she cried toward the front door, "Sebastian… Help me…"