Chapter 1

At eighteen, the year I won the international piano championship, an earthquake caused a devastating cave-in.

To save Julian, my left hand was pierced by a steel bar, and my legs were crushed under heavy rocks.

My dreams shattered, and I was on the brink of a mental breakdown. Julian spared no expense finding top specialists and sent me abroad for treatment.

Back then, he said with gentle devotion: "Vivian, when you get back, let's get married, okay?"

But in just three years, he fell in love with my lookalike. When she threatened to break up with him, he begged for her forgiveness on his knees, drawing a clear line between him and me.

He looked down at me coldly and said, "Vivian, I don't love you anymore."

I smiled. Right in front of him, I kissed his bodyguard.

"Too bad," I said. "I don't love you either."

When my flight landed in New York,

I received a text from Julian. Exactly as expected.

[Vivian, something came up. I sent my bodyguards to pick you up. They'll keep you safe.]

At the same time, a notification popped up on Instagram. It was a trending post about Julian. I tapped on it.

#NewYorkBillionaireJulianSterlingDeclaresHisLove

Attached was an interview clip.

I knew both faces in the video: my fiancé, and the little songbird he kept—the rising actress, Hailey Caine.

It was Hailey's award acceptance video.

I didn't care about what she said, but Julian's words cut like a knife.

A reporter asked him about his relationship with Hailey.

He smiled warmly at the camera, making no effort to hide it, and said directly, "Perhaps it will soon become a legally protected relationship."

I scoffed.

And turned off my screen.