Chapter 1

I had proposed seven times, yet I still couldn't bring Vivienne Lane home as my wife.

According to the Lane family's ancient tradition, a suitor had to stay in a room with his fiancée after being drugged. To pass, he had to remain a complete gentleman until the effects wore off.

I had tried seven times, and every single time I woke up, I found Vivienne lying beside me with her clothes in disarray.

She would throw herself into my arms, sobbing. "It is okay, Sean. We will try again. I believe in you."

On my eighth attempt, I accidentally overheard her whispering to the butler outside the door.

"Hurry up and swap the passion drug for a heavy sedative. Make sure the dosage is high."

"Once he is out cold, I will handle the rest myself, just like always."

I kept my eyes tightly shut, feeling her slide off her dress and reach for the buttons on my shirt.

A soft sigh echoed in my ear.

"I am sorry, Sean, but Sebastian has cancer. His final wish is for us to be together."

"Do not worry. Once he passes, I will marry you immediately."

In that moment, I finally realized that the so-called family tradition was nothing but a web of lies she spun for her childhood sweetheart.

The next morning, when my parents called to pressure me to return to New York and inherit the family empire, I finally said yes.

Since she wanted to grow old with Sebastian Brooks so badly, I decided to step aside and let them have their wish.

1

When I woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

Vivienne was there, just like the previous seven times, her clothes messy and her eyes red from crying.

Before I could say a word, she pulled me into a tearful embrace.

"Sean, please do not blame yourself. It is not your fault. I could never be mad at you."

Then, she turned and screamed at the butler.

"Are you deaf? I told you a thousand times to lower the dosage!"

"Sean and I were so close to finally getting married, and you ruined everything!"

The butler kept his head down, sounding perfectly respectful. "Miss, I was only following the Lane family's code."

She seemed even more heartbroken then, sobbing until she nearly fainted.

By habit, I reached out to comfort her, but the memory of her words from last night made my hand freeze in mid-air.

This little drama played out every single time. I only had myself to blame for being so blinded by love that I believed her every word.

Three years ago, when I first proposed, Vivienne's reaction had been even more intense than mine.

She begged her parents to accept me and pleaded with her grandfather not to make things difficult. She even caused a scene in the family chapel, pointing at their ancestors' portraits and screaming that the tradition was unfair.

"Every dose of that drug is specially formulated for the individual. It is too strong for anyone to resist! You are just trying to stop us from being together!"

Vivienne was a petite woman, but that day, she took ten strikes from her grandfather's rod just for my sake.

I couldn't stand seeing her suffer. I broke past the security guards and shielded her with my body.

"It is just a tradition! I, Sean Sterling, can handle it!" I shouted.

She was covered in bruises as she clung to me.

"I believe in you, Sean. I will marry no one but you in this lifetime!"

Since then, I had used extreme methods to try and pass that test.

I tried bloodletting, acupuncture, and even herbal stimulants. Once, I even broke my own leg without anesthesia just to use the pain to stay conscious.

But every time, the result was the same: Vivienne looking disheveled and the Lane family mocking my lack of self-control.

I used to think I just wasn't strong enough. Today, I realized the tradition was just a stalling tactic for Sebastian's sake.

Eight tests over three years were nothing more than my own pathetic obsession.

Vivienne looked at me with her swollen eyes.

"Sean, we cannot give up. Let us transfer the money for the next test today."

I blinked, watching her pick up my phone and transfer three million dollars to the Lane family account, supposedly for the drug's preparation.

That was the last of my personal savings.

I had been worried about how I would afford the next test once I ran out of money. Now, it seemed everything was finally coming to an end.

"Viv, I will go make dinner. We should talk tonight."

Vivienne leaned in and rubbed her chin against mine like a kitten.

"Do you want to discuss strategies for the next test? Promise me, Sean, no more hurting yourself."

"It breaks my heart."

I stood there, paralyzed. I couldn't tell if she actually felt for me or if it was just another lie for Sebastian's benefit.

I let out a long sigh, forced a smile, and headed to the kitchen.

Not long after, her phone rang. I could hear her panicked voice from the living room.

"Sebastian, do not do anything stupid! There is always hope. The doctors said there is a new treatment plan!"

"Wait for me, I am coming right now!"

I heard her hurried footsteps. A sharp pain stabbed at my heart as I rushed out of the kitchen.

"Viv, dinner is almost ready. I made your favorite glazed ribs."

She didn't even look back as she yanked the door open.

"Eat without me. Sebastian needs me more right now."

The winter wind roared outside, chilling me to the core.

The girl I had loved for my entire youth had chosen her "just a childhood friend" Sebastian again, just as she always did.

This house belonged to the Lanes. Now that Vivienne was gone, the butler and maids clocked out too.

I mechanically finished the meal and sat at the table until midnight. That was when my father called.

"You are twenty-five now, Sean. It is time you took your place at Sterling Global."

I looked around the empty, cold house. Our graduation photo was still hanging on the wall.

"Dad, I will be there for the inauguration ceremony in three days."

Vivienne had forgotten that the eighth test had fallen exactly on my birthday.

I was the one who actually needed her.

But it didn't matter anymore. If she wanted to be with Sebastian until the end, I would let them.