Chapter 1

The day the miracle drug research was successfully completed, my childhood fiancé spent a fortune to celebrate for me.

We partied for three nights straight.

The night before Lucian Vance, the king of the New York elite, was set to collect the medicine, I returned to the lab to make final preparations.

I never expected to find the display cases, which usually held precision instruments, filled with scantily clad sex dolls.

My experimental supplies were piled carelessly next to the trash can.

I gasped, frantically digging through the rubbish for the miracle drug, only to be grabbed by the hair and thrown across the room by Bennett White's adopted sister.

"Are you blind? You're getting your dirty footprints all over my new lingerie!"

I climbed to my feet, stifling the pain. "Chloe White, get this straight: this is my lab. You moved your trash in here and lost my medicine. How dare you blame me?"

Chloe laughed as if I'd told the funniest joke in the world.

"Miracle drug? Stop bragging. Everyone knows you're a coward who cries over a lab rat. You're pathetic!"

"Besides, Bennett said women are like clothes, but a sister is forever. I'll use this room however I want. If you don't like it, I'll have my brother find a new wife tomorrow!"

I froze for a second, then pulled out my phone. My voice was cold. "Bennett White, the engagement is off. I'm done with your sister's stupidity!"

1

My mother had always been sentimental about our families' history. Bennett was young, handsome, and successful.

I had always looked at him as my future husband. I worked tirelessly for three years to develop this miracle drug, all to help him get a foot in the door with the Vance family.

But now, forget about networking. If I couldn't produce that medicine tomorrow, there would be hell to pay.

Lucian Vance was not a man anyone wanted to cross.

Bennett's cold voice came through the phone. "Stella Sterling, what kind of tantrum are you throwing now? Chloe is just a kid. Are you really going to hold a grudge against her?"

Thinking of Lucian's reputation as a cold-blooded devil, I suppressed my rage. "Get down here and take your sister and her mountain of trash with you!"

Before I could finish, Chloe snatched the phone out of my hand.

"Who are you calling trash!"

The next second, she started wailing into the phone. "Bennett! I just used a little bit of Stella's space, and now she's tattle-telling on me!"

"If you actually marry her, she's going to eat me alive!"

Bennett's tone shifted instantly from icy to tender. "Don't be scared, princess. I'm coming over to handle this for you."

The call ended. Chloe looked at me with pure malice. "You really think complaining helps? My brother spoils me more than anyone."

"Also, you ruined my new lingerie. You owe me a million dollars."

She pointed a mocking finger at my white lab coat. "Doctors are poor, aren't they? How about this: get on your knees and beg, and maybe I'll give you a discount."

I took a deep breath, my blood turning cold.

"I bought this lab with my own money. Now, put my equipment back where it belongs, or I'm calling the cops for breaking and entering."

Chloe looked at me with utter disdain.

"You bought it? Your family's company is practically bankrupt. Where would you get the money for a place in midtown Manhattan?"

"You're just using my brother's property for your little science project. You're so shameless."

She picked up a glass beaker and smashed it against the wall, smirking. "I'll use my brother's house however I want. Call the cops. Let's see who they haul away."

I was shaking with fury.

When I started this research, Lucian Vance had personally given me a hundred million dollars to set up the company.

My team was dedicated, and my colleagues called me Professor. I had never met anyone so unreasonable.

I shielded the equipment behind me and called Asher, the personal bodyguard Lucian had assigned to me, to kick her out.

Chloe's eyes widened, a mocking smile on her face as she stared at Asher. "I dare you to touch me."

Asher didn't say a word. He efficiently grabbed her wrists.

"You..." Chloe's eyes turned red with anger.

As Asher dragged her toward the door, she struggled violently. She lurched forward, shoved my hand away, and stomped her high heels onto the raw medicinal ingredients.

She looked crazed. "Stella Sterling, I swear, if he touches me again, I'll destroy every single thing in this room!"

The blood rushed to my head.

Looking at the crushed medicinal plants, I felt a mix of heartbreak and white-hot rage.

I took a breath and looked at the guard. "Asher, step outside for a moment."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Gross man. You dared to touch a Vance family associate? When my brother gets here, he's taking your hands!"

The guard acted as if he heard nothing and walked out the door.

I looked at Chloe with pity.

Lucian Vance was extremely protective of his people, and Asher was one of his most trusted men.

I shook my head, regaining my calm. "Chloe, I'm saying this for the last time. Take your things and get out of my lab."

I held out my hand. "And give me my miracle drug."

Chloe put on an innocent face. "What drug? I've never seen it."

But I followed her gaze and saw the gift box containing the medicine sitting at the very bottom of the trash can.

The moment I reached for it, Chloe let out a cackle. "Hahaha! You fell for it again, you idiot!"

She grabbed a microscope with a heavy metal base and swung it hard at my back.

"Ah!" It felt like my flesh was being torn open.

Ignoring the agonizing pain, I lunged for the box. When I opened it, my heart stopped. The six pills that were supposed to be there were gone.

Fury consumed me. I spun around and gripped Chloe's wrist tight. "Where are they!"

Chloe's eyes went red, and she looked past me toward the door. "Bennett, it hurts so much!"

The next second, Bennett's cold, furious voice boomed behind me. "Let her go!"