Chapter 1

Valerie Prescott chose the day of my surgery to accept Bradley Cole's proposal.

She said, "Mason doesn't know his place. If he ruins the proposal, Bradley won't be happy."

Everyone assumed I would do whatever it took to rush back and stop Valerie from being with Bradley.

Yet, I didn't.

I quietly accepted every single arrangement Valerie made for me.

Then, I went to meet the blind date she set up for me.

The wedding was scheduled for one month later.

I mailed back everything Valerie had given me over the years.

That included the black onyx signet ring that symbolized the status of the master of the Prescott family.

From that moment on, Valerie and I went our separate ways.

1.

The last time I attended a Prescott family dinner, I used liquid courage to confess my feelings to Valerie.

The dining room fell dead silent in an instant.

After a long pause, someone laughed awkwardly to break the tension.

"Mason, you've had too much to drink."

I stared stubbornly at Valerie, waiting for her answer.

Her gaze was cold as ice as her crimson lips parted to speak.

"Mason, you've crossed the line."

Those few words instantly drained every ounce of strength from my body.

Still, I gritted my teeth and spoke with bitter reluctance.

"You said you'd be with me once I graduated from college."

Valerie's reply was utterly dismissive. "It was just a joke."

"Then what about the ring from my eighteenth birthday?"

It was the black onyx signet ring representing the male head of the Prescott family.

I couldn't believe Valerie would just hand it to me casually.

Her eyes rested on the wine glass in front of her, dark and fathomless. "You belong to the Prescott family. There's nothing wrong with you holding onto that ring."

My body trembled violently, but I refused to give up.

"But you haven't dated anyone in all these years."

"I've just been too busy. Besides, I hadn't met the right person yet."

Her gaze shifted toward Bradley Cole beside her, softening unexpectedly.

She took his hand and announced to everyone in the room.

"Bradley and I are together. We truly love each other, and Bradley is getting ready to propose to me."

"Mason, from the very first day you arrived at the Prescott estate, I told you that I only saw you as a younger brother."

"If I ever made you misunderstand, I apologize. But I am getting married now. Don't make things awkward for Bradley and me, okay?"

Bradley chimed in right on cue, putting on a gracious act.

"It's alright. Mason is still young. I won't hold it against him."

Wishes and congratulations broke out around the table, praising the perfect couple.

Meanwhile, I curled up alone in the corner like a clown.

For some reason, I remembered my eighteenth birthday.

Valerie had placed that very signet ring in my hand just as openly, right in front of the entire Prescott family.

Because of that, for so many years, I always believed she had feelings for me and was just too shy to speak up due to our status.