Chapter 1

I was known as the most delicate rose of the Upper East Side, and no one dared to touch me.

That was because behind me stood the three most powerful dynasties in New York: the Vances, the Sterlings, and the Brookses.

My fiancé, Julian Sterling, was a brilliant law professor who had never lost a case. He was the golden boy of the legal elite. Yet, whenever he looked at me, he would blush like a schoolboy.

My childhood best friend, Christian Brooks, was a rising star in the medical world. When I had a life-threatening fever as a child, he stayed by my bed all night, his eyes bloodshot. He swore he’d become a doctor just to keep me safe and healthy forever.

My older sister, Victoria Vance, was ten years older than me. She carried the entire weight of the Vance empire on her shoulders just so she could shower me, her little sister, with absolute love.

I thought I would be happy forever.

Until the night of my engagement party, when I found my sister’s brutally murdered body.

I grabbed the killer’s sister by the throat, screaming and vowing to make him pay with his life.

But my childhood friend slammed me to the ground.

And my fiancé shielded the killer’s sister behind his back, looking down at me with cold threat in his eyes.

"Chloe, just sign the waiver of prosecution. Be good."

"Your sister is dead, but Julian and I will still protect you for the rest of your life."

"But Mia... she can't lose her brother."

I grabbed the waiver without hesitation and ripped it to shreds right in front of their faces.

"You are monsters! Both of you!"

"My sister’s body is covered in horrific wounds! And you want me to drop the charges? You want me to sign this piece of garbage and forgive him? Are you insane?!"

"Julian! Christian! What is wrong with you? Victoria watched us grow up together! She treated you like family! Now you’re protecting a cold-blooded killer for some stranger?!"

Faced with my sobbing breakdown, Julian let out a frustrated sigh.

He pulled me up from the floor.

"Mia isn't a stranger, Chloe. She’s our savior. She saved Christian and me years ago, and she never asked for anything in return. The only thing she’s ever begged us for is to help her brother."

"Chloe, stop throwing a tantrum. I’ll have my assistant print another waiver. You will sign it."

"We’ll go ahead with the engagement party. Once the celebration is over, we will throw Victoria the grandest funeral. She loved you so much, she would want you to move on."

Julian’s calm, gentle voice made him look like a heartless monster.

My white bridal gown was still stained with my sister’s blood. How could this man stand there and say such things with a smile?

I was shaking with rage.

Slap!

I swung my hand and slapped Julian hard across the face.

I tore off my veil and threw it at his feet.

"In your dreams!"

"Julian, we are over!"

Before he could speak, Mia rushed forward, tears streaming down her face. She reached out to touch Julian's bruised cheek, then turned to me, sobbing.

"Miss Vance, please, don't do this!"

"It’s all my fault! Please don't blame the others. I know you're rich and powerful, and crushing my brother is as easy as killing an ant to you."

"I beg you, even if you want my life, I’ll give it to you. Just please, spare my brother!"

Mia went down to her knees.

But before her knees could touch the floor, Christian caught her and pulled her up. He glared at me, his brow furrowed in anger.

"Chloe, don't cross the line!"

"Julian and I could have covered this up and made it look like an accident. You wouldn't have known a thing. But we respected you enough to tell you the truth."

"The dead are already dead. Why do you have to drive Mia to suicide?"

I bit my lower lip so hard it bled. I stared at Christian, my eyes filled with hatred.

"I crossed the line? My sister was brutally murdered on my engagement day, and my fiancé and my best friend are shielding her killer! Who is the one crossing the line here?!"

"Even if neither of you helps me, I will get justice for Victoria!"

I turned and lifted my gown, rushing toward the door.

Julian yelled at my retreating back:

"Don't be stubborn, Chloe! Otherwise, you won't even be able to keep the Vance Group—the company your sister left behind!"