Chapter 1

Everyone knew Lyra Shaw was only Lucien Vance’s girlfriend because Sylvie Sterling had left the country.

And everyone was waiting for the show to start.

The spectacular drama of Lucien Vance dumping Lyra the moment Sylvie returned.

But what no one knew was that Lyra was waiting too. Waiting for the day Lucien would finally say, "Let's break up."

…

5:30 PM. City Hall.

After the last divorcing couple left, a clerk walked over to Lyra, her eyes filled with pity. "Ma'am, we're about to close. Is the person you're waiting for still not here?"

Lyra’s fingers tightened around the marriage license application. "Just a moment," she whispered. "I'll make one last call."

She pulled out her phone to call Lucien.

The screen showed twelve missed calls already. This final attempt was no different. Rejected.

Lyra silently closed her phone, murmured an apology to the clerk, and walked out.

The moment the heavy doors of City Hall clicked shut behind her, she stopped.

In the next instant, she lifted her hands, tore the application to shreds, and tossed it into the trash.

This was the third time Lucien had stood her up on their wedding day. And it would be the last.

She loved Lucien Vance, but she wasn't a pathetic creature with no self-respect.

Lucien, my love for you ends here.

Once in the cab, Lyra opened her Instagram.

A mutual friend had just posted a new story: *“So good to have old friends back in town. Words can’t express the joy. Welcome home, Sylvie! The future is bright!”*

In the photo, Lucien—the man she hadn't been able to reach all day—was sitting right there. And pressed tightly against him was Sylvie Sterling.

His first love. His childhood sweetheart.

And once, Lyra’s best friend.

The three of them had grown up together. But now Sylvie was back, and Lyra was the only one who hadn't been told.

Lyra took a deep breath. Then, she liked the post.

Before anyone could react, a message from her boss popped up: *[The Sterling Aerospace account is yours.]*

A jolt of energy shot through her.

She typed back a quick ‘Got it’ and looked up at the driver. "Sorry, could you change course? I need to go to the Blackwood & Finch office."

The Sterling Aerospace account was worth hundreds of millions. Better to work late at the office than sit alone in an empty house.

It wasn't until 10 PM, when the city lights were ablaze, that Lyra finally left the firm and hailed a cab home.

The apartment was dark. Cold. Empty.

She was used to this. After a quick shower, she was ready for bed.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

Lyra sighed, got up, and opened the door, only to freeze.

Lucien was completely drunk, leaning heavily on Sylvie Sterling.

The sight was a dagger to Lyra’s heart. It twisted, sharp and vicious.

After a few seconds of silence, she managed to speak to Sylvie. "Long time no see."

"Long time no see." Sylvie smiled, then asked, as if it were an afterthought, "Why didn't you come to my welcome-home party today?"

Sylvie looked the same as ever—cool and aloof in a white dress, her black hair long and straight.

Lyra kept her voice even. "Today was supposed to be my wedding day with Lucien."

The air went still.

A flicker of something crossed Sylvie’s eyes before she put on an apologetic expression. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to get in your way."

"It's fine. It wasn't that important."

Lyra glanced at Lucien, thinking calmly: *It doesn't matter. I'm not marrying him anyway.*

She took a step back, opening the doorway.

"Want to come in for a bit?"

Sylvie was taken aback, then politely refused. "No, I can't. I just got back, there's so much to do. I'll leave Lucien with you."

"Lucien gets headaches when he's drunk. Remember to make him some ginger tea in the morning, with extra honey…"

She stopped halfway, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "Oh, I almost forgot. You're his girlfriend now. You must know all this already."

Sylvie's words were like thorns, pricking at Lyra’s heart.

Of course she knew. She knew every little detail about Lucien. In the ten years she had secretly loved him, she had learned everything.

Lyra didn't lose her composure. Instead, she smiled. "It's a rare thing, isn't it? That someone who dumped Lucien for a research position overseas would still remember his preferences so clearly."

Sylvie’s expression froze.

Lyra shut the door and helped Lucien into the bedroom.

She went to the bathroom, wet a towel, and had just begun to wipe his face when his eyes fluttered open.

The next second, Lucien’s hot, searing kiss was on her.

Lyra tried to push him away, but his strength was overwhelming. She was powerless to resist.

In the bedroom, the dim light cast two tightly entangled shadows on the wall.

Her nails unconsciously raked across the taut muscles of his back.

Lucien hissed in pain, his voice a hazy whisper in her ear. "Sylvie, don't mess around."