Chapter 1

I only found out Jared had taken a club dancer as his secret lover after their child was already born.

Inside the quiet sanctuary of the chapel, his close friend asked how he planned to explain things to me.

Jared only gave a cold scoff.

“A man of my standing having another woman by his side is completely normal. She has no right to demand an explanation from me.”

“Josie is notoriously petty, though. Keep this quiet for now, or she might get vicious and try to harm my son.”

We had been childhood sweethearts. Three years ago, I left for a long prayer retreat at the mountain abbey.

Before I departed, he made me a solemn promise. “It will only ever be you and me in this life. The moment you return, I will make you my wife.”

This time, I did not break down in tears or make a scene. I did not even ask why he broke his vow.

I simply turned around and agreed to marry Jeremy.

In the end, I had finally let go of my love for him.

......

“Jared, Josie will be back any day now. You cannot keep this secret hidden forever,” Zach said inside the study.

Jared cradled the infant boy in his arms, teasing him with tender affection.

Hearing those words, his eyes turned indifferent and distant.

“Josie gets jealous over every little thing. Keep it from her for now, so she does not make life difficult for Evie and the baby.”

“She has clung to me since we were kids. Even when I spoke a few extra words to a maid, she would throw a sulking fit.”

My hand froze just as I was about to knock on the door. I stood paralyzed in the corridor.

I had loved Jared since childhood. Having lost both of my parents at a young age, I was deeply insecure and wary of every woman who approached him.

Yet every single time, Jared had gently reassured me that I was the only one.

“You have a point. She was raised spoiled and would definitely cause chaos,” Zach agreed with a nod.

Right then, a woman stepped out from the inner suite, softly calling Jared’s name.

“Jared, let me hold little Leo.”

“Be gentle, Evie. He has gained quite a bit of weight lately.”

Jared handed the baby over, tenderly wrapping his arm around her waist with eyes full of warmth.

“You two should tone it down. Remember there is an outsider in the room,” Zach teased with a chuckle.

“No wonder you fell for him, Evie. I have never seen Jared this gentle. It is just a pity your past keeps you from taking the main spot...”

My heart slammed against my ribs. Evie was a girl I had personally rescued from a shady nightclub years ago.

Though she worked as my assistant, I had treated her like my own sister.

Before I left for the retreat, I had specifically asked her to look after Jared and keep opportunistic women away.

Instead, she had climbed right into his bed.

I never imagined that the double betrayal of my closest confidante and my fiancé would happen to me.

Rage burned inside my chest, and I wanted nothing more than to barge in and confront them. But my feet remained glued to the floor.

What right did I even have to confront him? Our engagement was just a casual childhood promise made between our families, never legally sealed.

My mind spun. I suddenly realized that an entire year had passed since Jared last wrote me a heartfelt letter.

Whenever I sent letters detailing my life at the abbey, his only reply was a cold “Received.”

“After the wedding, how do you plan to convince Josie to let Evie move into the estate?” Zach asked.

I held my breath, waiting for the answer.

Jared’s callous voice drifted through the door.

“An orphan like her should count her lucky stars just to be my legal wife. What right does she have to object to who else I keep?”

“Besides, I never truly loved her. Evie is the one I care about.”

“Over the years, I only treated Josie like a little pet. I tossed her scraps of affection just to watch her wag her tail.”

“I simply found it amusing.”