Chapter 1

1.

I, Avery Sterling, the only daughter of the world's richest man, fell for a penniless boy named Silas Blackwell. When we met, his family business had collapsed, leaving him with over a hundred million dollars in debt.

I hid my identity and stayed by his side for three years. Today, he finally paid off every cent and took his new tech company public on the New York Stock Exchange.

Seeing his triumphant figure on the big screen, I decided it was time to tell him the truth. I was tired of living in a cramped basement; I wanted us to start our real life together.

I walked toward the private VIP lounge he had booked for the celebration. Just as I reached the door, I heard his friends cheering inside.

"Silas, Avery has been with you through thick and thin for three years. She even lived in that moldy basement with you without a single complaint," one of them said. "Now that the company is a success, are you finally going to pop the question?"

"Yeah," another added. "When we started, we had no money for staff. Avery did the work of three people, sleeping only four hours a day. She handled all the difficult clients herself. Where else could you find a girl like that? You need to put a ring on it."

My hand froze on the doorknob. My heart hammered against my ribs, a mix of nerves and excitement.

I had dropped hints about marriage before. Every time, Silas would push it away, saying he couldn't give me the life I deserved yet.

But now, the company was a titan. Would he finally put marriage on the agenda?

"I remember everything Avery did for me. I really thought she was the one for the rest of my life, but..." Silas's voice was low, trailing off. I could imagine him leaning back on the sofa, a cigarette between his fingers.

Everyone went silent. Outside the door, I held my breath.

"Clarissa is back," he said. His deep voice cut through the quiet room like a blade.

"Clarissa Moore?!" a friend gasped in disbelief. "The woman who dumped you the second your family went bankrupt? You knelt in the rain begging her to stay, and she didn't even look back. Don't tell me you're still hung up on that gold-digger!"

Silas blew out a cloud of smoke. Through the slight gap in the door, his expression was unreadable.

After a long silence, he spoke softly. "Yes."

That single word was a poisoned arrow that pierced my heart. The pain was so sharp I could barely breathe.

I never imagined that three years of devotion meant nothing. I stayed by him from his lowest point to his rebirth, yet he was still dreaming of the woman who threw him away.

Three years ago, when the Blackwell empire crumbled, Clarissa Moore didn't hesitate to break up with him and flee to London.

Despite the double blow of bankruptcy and betrayal, Silas didn't give up. He stood before the media and promised he would bring his family back to the top.

I saw that interview and was instantly drawn to his fire. To make sure he didn't think I was just another socialite, I hid my status as the Sterling heiress.

I pretended to be an orphan who had once been helped by his family, staying by his side to "repay the debt."

I worked with him from dusk till dawn. I handled the drunk, handsy investors who tried to bully him. I comforted him when the pressure nearly broke him.

For over a thousand days and nights, I was his only constant. I witnessed his climb from the gutter back to the peak of Wall Street.

Everyone said that true love shows in times of trouble. They assumed Silas would marry me the moment he struck gold.

I had allowed myself to believe them. But the success came, and Silas only cared about the woman who had abandoned him.

I stood at the door, tears falling like broken pearls.

The conversation inside continued.

"What about Avery? She gave you three years. Does that mean nothing compared to Clarissa? If she finds out your heart is with someone else, she'll leave you."

"She won't," Silas replied with chilling certainty. "Avery is an orphan. To her, I'm the only family she has left in this world. She can't afford to leave me."

"Still, she helped me a lot. I can't give her the marriage she wants, but I'll take care of her. I'll give her enough money to make sure she's comfortable for the rest of her life."

Orphan. No marriage. A payout for her troubles.

Each word was a heavy hammer blow to my soul. My vision blurred, and the world began to spin.

I couldn't listen anymore. I stumbled away, my legs feeling like lead.

Only when I reached a quiet corner did I let my strength fail. I slid down the wall and sobbed, letting the betrayal wash over me.

To Silas, three years of my life could be bought with a check.

But Silas, you fool. I'm not some helpless orphan. I'm the heiress to the Sterling fortune.

I, Avery Sterling, will never stay with a man whose heart belongs to someone else. And as for the money? I have more in my trust fund than you'll see in a lifetime.

I wiped my face and dialed a number I hadn't called in years.

"Mom," I said, my voice steadying. "I'm coming home. I'm ready to take over the family business."