Chapter 1

When I was three months pregnant, my boyfriend made me stay in our rundown rental, claiming he was worried about paint fumes in our new place.

A few hours later, I saw a post from his female assistant on Instagram.

"My boss brought me to this luxury riverfront penthouse for a getaway… I'm going to work for this generous man forever!"

I clicked on the photo. It was the exact penthouse Garrett and I had picked out as our marital home.

I stroked my slight baby bump and left a like on her post.

A second later, Garrett called.

"Sierra, we only landed this massive deal because Chloe catered to the client's tastes! What's wrong with taking her on a little vacation to celebrate? Stop being so dramatic."

He scolded me harshly and hung up without waiting for a reply.

I didn't fight back like I used to.

Instead, I calmly set my phone down, walked out, and booked an appointment to end my pregnancy.

1.

The doctor performing my procedure was Dr. Harrison Rhodes, the top OB-GYN in the city and a former student of my mother.

"I heard from your mom that the wedding is off?"

There was a hint of subtle amusement in his voice.

I didn't snap back at him as usual. Touching my slightly swollen belly, I gave a bitter smile.

"Yeah. It's over."

His expression softened, and he turned serious.

"Don't worry, Sierra. I won't let you hurt."

I nodded and quietly followed his instructions.

When Garrett and I first started dating, nobody approved of our relationship.

Back then, he was just a broke college graduate trying to launch a startup.

Everyone said he would fail, but I believed in him.

After begging my parents for months, they finally agreed to let me try dating him, on the condition that I conceal my family's immense wealth.

I agreed. I truly believed Garrett was a man of ambition and integrity, someone whose love wouldn't change based on money.

Because his business was unstable, I was extremely careful with birth control throughout our seven years together.

Getting pregnant by accident this time had unexpectedly stripped away his disguise.

Looking back, all those years of defending him to my family felt like a total joke.

When I stepped off the procedure table, an overwhelming emptiness washed over me.

I picked up my phone and instinctively checked my chat with Garrett.

Not a single text.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh. Just as I was about to lock the screen, a notification popped up from his assistant, Chloe Pratt.

It was a selfie taken in front of a massive floor-to-ceiling window.

In the glass reflection, two naked silhouettes were tangled together in a passionate embrace.

Outside the window was the glowing skyline of the bay, with a lighthouse standing tall on the coast.

It was the Oceanview Grand Resort.

At that height, it had to be the presidential suite, costing thousands of dollars a night.

I remembered asking Garrett to stay in a rooftop pool suite during our last trip, but he had dismissed it as a waste of money.

Now I knew the truth. He had money; he just didn't want to spend it on me.

A wave of intense nausea hit me. I rushed to the restroom and threw up violently.

When I came out, Harrison looked at me with deep concern, but I waved my hand to show I was fine.

Swallowing the bile in my throat, I called my family's butler and asked him to send a driver.