Chapter 1

The wedding had just reached the ring exchange ceremony, when suddenly, the giant screen in the banquet hall lit up. Then, a high-definition video began to play, showing me being abducted and assaulted. My fiancé, Julius Reed, called off the wedding on the spot and turned to slip the ring onto my best friend Yana Joyner's finger instead. Amid everyone's curses and humiliation, I stumbled off the red carpet. Then, Yana's godbrother showed up. He was none other than Maverick Quinlan, a notorious mafia boss. At that moment, a single gunshot from his pistol silenced the crowd. Moments later, his men stormed in, hauling ten crates of gold as wedding gifts. Then, right there, in front of everyone, he dropped to one knee and proposed to me. Moved by his gesture, I accepted his proposal. Three years later, our in vitro fertilization (IVF) succeeded. Excited, I was just about to share the news with him. But then, I overheard his conversation with his best friend, Andrew Laine. "Maverick, you're a genius. If that video of Constance hadn't been shown at the wedding, there's no way Ms. Joyner would've married into the Reed family." Maverick flicked his lighter and smirked. "The Reed family's way too prestigious to accept a woman with a bad reputation. Yana could only marry into that family if Constance got dragged through the mud." Andrew asked, confused, "But Ms. Joyner's already married into the Reeds. Why would you want someone who's already been tossed around like that?" "Yana can't handle pain, so I'm using Constance to carry the Reed heir. Once the baby's born, Yana's place in the Reeds will be untouchable." The waves of laughter from the private room washed over me, chilling me to the bone. All those moments that I'd thought were real, all that happiness… was a lie. It was all part of Maverick's elaborate scheme to drain every ounce of worth from me—all so Yana could trample me beneath her heels to climb higher. As I wiped my tears, I dialed the number of Maverick's rival, Atlas Foster. "I've got a deal worth a billion on the table. Are you interested?" Meanwhile, the mocking voices inside the room didn't stop. "Maverick, you really outdid yourself—swapping her vitamins for birth control pills. Since she couldn't get pregnant naturally, she had to turn to IVF. If she ever found out the embryos were actually Ms. Joyner and Julius', she'd probably drop dead from the shock." "Why should I care if she drops dead? Once she gives birth, we'll make up some excuse and say the baby didn't make it. She'll just think it was her own fault for not being able to carry to term. Honestly, she should count herself lucky—she's clearing the way for Yana's happiness." Maverick then tossed his lighter onto the table. Then, he stood up and warned everyone present, "Not a word of this gets out today. She's going to carry this baby to term, whether she likes it or not." Andrew thumped his chest with a laugh. "Relax, Maverick. That woman's as dumb as a rock. Just because we called her your girl, she really started playing the part—acting like she ran the place, serving us food and drinks every day. "And the best part? She still has no idea I hand-picked every single guy in that video." Someone burst into laughter. "Andrew, you're such a bastard. Why didn't you pick me back then? I wouldn't have minded a taste—" In a flash, a fruit knife came flying and embedded itself in the floor, just inches from the man's groin. The man who'd been joking with Andrew suddenly went pale. "Haven't I made it clear? Constance is my wife now. Anyone who brings up that old shit again is dead to me." Maverick's voice was icy. One of the men nervously chuckled. "Maverick, don't tell me you didn't feel anything for her. That woman was crazy in love with you. Weren't you scared she'd find out the truth one day and leave you?" Maverick dismissively scoffed. "I can always just give her another kid through IVF and bankroll her for life. She's been around the block a few times, but flatter her just right and she'll be eating out of my hand." The room burst into laughter again. I stood frozen at the door, like I'd just been struck by lightning. My hand flew to my mouth as I struggled to hold back the sobs threatening to spill out. Upon hearing footsteps coming toward the door, I panicked. I turned and bolted down the stairs, poured myself a stiff drink, and knocked it back in one go.