Chapter 1

At the Jace family gala, I showed up wearing the exact same designer gown as Ethan's first love, Heather.

His face darkened instantly. He shot me a freezing look and ordered his men to burn my dress right then and there.

"Cecilia, don't you have any self-respect? Heather is too sweet to say anything, but I won't let you stand in front of her looking like a cheap imitation."

The searing heat hit me in an instant. The fabric was devoured by flames, and a blistering pain shot up my legs.

The agony was so intense that I blacked out. When I woke up from the pain, I weakly begged him to stop.

He didn't even give me a second glance. He simply turned around to help Heather cut her birthday cake.

It took him several days to even remember I existed.

"As long as you stay in your lane and stop bothering Heather, you can stay as Mrs. Jace."

I looked down at my scarred, burned legs. I didn't cry, and I didn't beg for mercy anymore.

I was done being Mrs. Jace.

1.

Ethan casually tossed a designer shoebox onto the sofa, his face masked with a hint of forced kindness.

"I went a bit too far last time. Consider these heels an apology. They're the latest season."

I looked down at the stilettos. The smooth leather and thin heels gleamed coldly under the living room lights.

My legs were still throbbing with pain. Seeing those shoes felt like a slap in the face.

I glanced at the size on the box. They were a full size too big for me, yet he claimed he "bought them specifically for me."

When I didn't reach for them, Ethan's brows furrowed. Impatience flickered across his face.

"I already apologized. What more do you want? Heather isn't even holding a grudge, so stop acting like a spoiled brat."

My chest felt tight, like I couldn't catch my breath. I took a deep inhale and tried to keep my voice steady.

"I wasn't trying to copy her. The dress was…"

"Still making excuses?"

Ethan cut me off with a cold laugh. His voice was dripping with contempt.

"I know exactly what you were doing. Trying to mimic her with such pathetic tricks? Look at yourself. You're just a cheap knockoff."

His judgmental gaze swept over me like a blade, leaving me frozen in place.

My fingers trembled at my sides. Those shoes felt like heavy stones sitting on my lap, a weight of pure humiliation.

"Since you don't want to wear them, take them to Heather yourself. Consider it a peace offering for what you did."

Ethan pushed the box toward me coldly. He acted as if I were being ungrateful for not accepting his "gift."

His voice was like ice. "Heather is kind and doesn't hold things against people, so she won't mind your little games."

Those elegant heels felt like a serrated knife carving into my heart.

Every burn on my legs stung, reminding me of just how heartless he could be.

And now, he wanted me to hand-deliver these shoes to the woman he had hurt me for.

Ethan glared at me. "Stop acting so victimized. Just do it!"

This was the man I had loved for five long years.

His indifference, his coldness, and his disdain were crushing my soul piece by piece.

I forced myself to stand up, my legs screaming in pain. Tears finally began to fall, one by one.