Chapter 1

I had been Ashton's secret benefactor for seven years.

Despite everything I did for him, I could only reach him through a group chat where he used five different accounts.

He claimed it was to avoid obsessed fans and that it wouldn't affect our communication.

Yet, my messages were consistently ignored, sinking into an endless, silent void.

It wasn't until he was asked to call his girlfriend during a live stream that I realized something.

He had a sixth account I didn't even know about.

He had a woman saved with a sweet nickname and a pink heart emoji.

She didn't need a group chat to get his immediate, eager attention.

I closed Ashton's live stream and opened our group chat.

The last message was from me, sent over a month ago.

"Do you have time to go to the hospital with me soon?"

I deleted the group and his five accounts before calling my lawyer.

"I want to revoke the will that leaves my entire estate to Ashton Thorne."

1

After deciding to end my seven-year relationship with Ashton, I took some meds to finally get some sleep.

The next morning, my head felt like lead as I struggled to open my eyes.

Ashton, who usually refused to fly red-eye flights, had already returned home from Los Angeles.

He was busy in the walk-in closet, picking out clothes.

Thinking I was still asleep, he didn't hold back while sending voice notes on his phone.

"You want that contract from Miller Group? Fine, I'll have my sister give it to you as a birthday gift. See you soon."

At breakfast, his puffy face told me he had been drinking heavily the night before.

No one had prepared his usual hangover soup, so he finally barked an order at the housekeeper.

When she told him there were no ingredients left, his gaze finally drifted toward me.

Seeing my face was unnaturally flushed, he looked surprised.

"Do you have a fever?"

I gave a weak hum of affirmation.

He immediately started talking about my cousin Kayla's birthday party today.

I shook my head slowly.

"My head and throat hurt. I'm staying home."

Seeing my lack of interest, he tapped the table impatiently.

"You might not go, but the gift can't be missing."

I didn't look at him, but he continued to make arrangements for me anyway.

"Just give Kayla a big contract. Wish her a successful career. You're a big CEO, don't be stingy or people will laugh at you."

I opened my phone to see the live stream clips already trending at the top of the charts.

The comments were filled with people envying his supposed deep love.

When I didn't respond, Ashton tried another angle.

"If you're unwilling to give the contract, that jewelry set you bought at the auction would work too."

I wiped my mouth calmly.

"I've already sent my gift. You don't need to worry about it."

I turned to leave, leaving him in the dining room.

But he grabbed the phone I left behind and chased me into the study, showing me the trending news.

"I was wondering why you were acting so cold today. You saw this, didn't you?"

He gave a smug, self-satisfied smile.

"You actually believe this? This is my assistant's account. I staged it with him for the show. Stop believing everything you see online."

I looked at the screenshot. The contact was named "Babe," and the pinned message read: "I'll be back tomorrow. Wait for me."

I shrugged casually.

"I see. I thought you were cheating on me."

A flicker of guilt crossed his face, but he remained persistent.

"Since it's a misunderstanding, what about Kayla's gift?"

I opened my laptop and waved him away.

"I have a meeting."

He let out an unbelievable roar of frustration.

"You're skipping Kayla's party to have a meeting at home! Maren, you're so cold-blooded. No wonder your parents died so young."

My parents' early death was the deepest wound in my heart.

I glared at him with pure ice in my eyes.

He knew he had crossed the line and looked momentarily flustered, but he wouldn't back down.

"I'm not wrong. And if my father hadn't traded his life for yours, you would have joined them long ago."

"Get out!"

He stormed out in a fit of rage, slamming the door so hard the room shook.

If my parents were still here, I wouldn't be facing my own death without knowing who to trust with my company.