Chapter 1

Isabella Hart had been raised to be dutiful and well-mannered, the very picture of a good daughter. Yet, she fell for Adrian Sterling, a notorious playboy known to everyone in their circle. She went to great lengths to become his girlfriend. To stay by his side, she learned every position he desired in bed. She indulged every one of his fantasies, submitting to his constant demands. In the heat of their passion, he'd lean close and whisper in her ear, "Babe, you're amazing. You're a fast learner. "Relax… Don't bite so hard. "That's it. I love you so much." Isabella had been with Adrian longer than any of his past flings. Even his friends were starting to think the notorious playboy had finally settled down. But that night proved them all wrong. After sharing a heated moment by the floor-to-ceiling windows, he took her to a private gathering. Inside the private room, flashing lights and deafening music blended into the usual blur of indulgence and temptation. Adrian laced his fingers through Isabella's and led her to the main seat. Just then, a sharply dressed man slid over with a devil-may-care grin. "It looks like you've finally turned over a new leaf, Mr. Sterling." Adrian smiled and raised their clasped hands. "She's the love of my life." The two men clinked glasses and laughed before speaking in Vallesian. "Adrian, have you really fallen for her?" he asked. "And what about your fiancee? She's from the Monroe family, a perfect match for you. Your wedding's in ten days. Are you planning to call it off?" Adrian raised a brow and chuckled. "Yes. I did fall in love… with her body," he replied. "The wedding's still on. Plus, I'll only marry someone of equal standing. As for her… She's just a plaything." Isabella sat frozen beside him. Her hand clasped with his could still feel the warmth of his palm, but her heart felt like it had plunged straight into an icy abyss. The word "fiancee" echoed in her head, and her thoughts scattered. Adrian had a fiancee? And Isabella had been nothing more than a plaything to him? But what truly shocked her wasn't that. It was the phrase "the Monroe family's daughter was his perfect match". As far as she knew, only the Monroe family in Silverpeak had the status to be considered equals to the Sterlings. The Monroes had one son and one daughter, but the daughter had never appeared in public. And Isabella was that daughter, the Monroe heiress by blood and name, though she'd taken her mother's last name since childhood. Her face went pale as she sank into the chair. Adrian noticed something was off and gently patted her head. "Babe, we're discussing a collaboration, and some terms are a bit technical. I'm not trying to speak in a language you can't follow." A wave of hopelessness sank into her chest. Her throat tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm. "It's fine. You two go ahead. I'm going to the restroom." She stood, her steps unsteady as she left the room. Standing at the sink, Isabella stared at her pale reflection. Tears slipped down her face before she could stop them. As the Monroe family's daughter, she was fluent in eight languages. How could she not understand Vallesian? Three years ago, she saw Adrian at an auction and fell for him instantly. But his reputation as a notorious playboy made her father, Robert Monroe, strongly oppose it. To get his approval, she had gone on a hunger strike. In the end, Robert couldn't bear seeing her suffer and relented. He allowed Isabella to pursue Adrian, but only if she kept her identity as the Monroe family's daughter a secret. He needed to be sure that Adrian loved her for who she was, and not for her family name. For the past three years, she hadn't contacted anyone from her family. Now, the weight of unanswered questions and heartache threatened to overwhelm her. After a moment's hesitation, she pulled out her phone with trembling hands and called her brother, Damien Monroe. The call was connected almost instantly, and a man's slightly trembling voice came through. "Bella?" Hearing that familiar voice again made her eyes sting. She opened her mouth but forced the tightness in her throat down. "Damien, it's me. Do you have a new sister? Or… did Dad have another daughter? Have you really decided you don't want me anymore?" "How could you think that?" Damien's anxious voice came from the other end of the phone. "I'll always only have you as my sister." Before she could respond, there was shuffling noise on the other end of the line, followed by Robert's raspy voice. "Bella? Is that really you? I only have you as my daughter. You'll always be a Monroe." The urgency in his voice hit her like a jolt. Warmth and familiarity flooded through the line, and her heart stopped sinking. She tried to hold back the tears, but her breathing came in shaky gasps. "No matter what happens, our door is always open to you," Robert added. "I've been waiting for you to come home." Isabella wiped the tears from her eyes, took a deep breath, and pushed down the bitterness rising in her chest as she made her decision. "Dad… I want to come home." Robert answered immediately, his voice bright with relief, "That's great! I'll send the private jet to pick you up now." She shook her head, then remembered he couldn't see her. "No need, Dad," she said, choking slightly. "I still have things to take care of. Give me ten days. I'll come back on my own." After hanging up, Isabella's eyes were red and swollen. She turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on her face. The door behind her suddenly swung open, and a pair of large arms wrapped around her waist. Those arms carried a familiar warmth that seeped through the thin fabric of her clothes, making her tense body tremble slightly. "Babe, are you unwell? Why have you been in here for so long?" Adrian asked. His voice was as gentle as ever, with concern woven through it. Isabella slowly turned around. Ignoring her red-rimmed eyes, she looked straight into his gaze with stubborn defiance. "Will you marry me?"