Chapter 1

1

My boyfriend's first love accused me of stealing her strategy pitch.

At the company's year-end gala, he publicly demanded that I apologize to her in front of everyone.

"If it doesn't belong to you, why won't you just give it back to her?" he sneered.

Fine. I'll give it back.

I threw the engagement ring into the trash, blocked him on every platform, and walked away for good.

I handed him right back to his precious first love.

I thought our paths would never cross again.

But nine years later, at an international corporate summit, he spotted me in the crowd talking to my date.

In front of the world's elite, the man they called the "Iceberg CEO" broke down in tears.

"Did you leave me just to be with him?" he sobbed.

......

When I walked into the gala, the way my colleagues looked at me had turned from cold to outright disgusted.

They steered clear of me as if I were a pile of toxic waste.

In their eyes, that's exactly what I was―a nepo baby who had faked her way in and stolen a talented woman's hard work.

Before this, they usually just ignored me, treating me like I was invisible.

But everything changed the second Seraphina Moore reported me to the board for plagiarism.

They didn't hesitate to believe her. To them, Seraphina was the office darling―brilliant, kind, and almost too sweet for her own good.

I, on the other hand, was the outsider who had supposedly used my connections to skip the line and snatch the best projects.

They loathed me for it.

But the real reason they hated me was because I was dating Victor Vance, the department's ultimate heartthrob.

In their minds, I was the only thing standing in the way of Victor and Seraphina's fairy-tale reunion.

I was the villain who had torn the golden couple apart.

Under their judging glares, I clenched my fists and swallowed my rage.

These people were just being played, and I didn't have the energy to argue with them.

The only opinion that mattered to me was Victor's.

Just then, Victor and Seraphina walked in together, wearing matching charcoal-gray outfits like a coordinated power couple.

When Victor saw me, a flicker of irritation crossed his handsome face.

Seraphina turned to our colleagues with a saintly smile.

"Alright everyone, the party is starting. Let's just have fun tonight," she said softly. "I'm sure the board will clear everything up soon."

Her words were a death sentence; she was acting like my guilt was already a proven fact.

She shot me a tiny, mocking smirk that screamed, "You never stood a chance."

Suddenly, Victor reached out and pulled Seraphina close by her waist.

She looked startled for a second before leaning her head shyly against his shoulder.

The sight made my blood boil, and before I could think, I stepped forward and slapped him across the face.

"Sylvia White! Are you out of your mind?" Victor yelled, clutching his cheek.

I let out a harsh, cold laugh. "You're basically cheating on me in public, and you're asking if I'm the one with a problem?"

Victor rolled his eyes, his voice dripping with impatience.

"Seraphina and I are just friends. I look at her like a sister. Stop being so pathetic and insecure."

"I haven't even brought up the fact that you stole her pitch yet! What right do you have to be angry?"

His words felt like a bucket of ice water over my head.

I stared at him, unable to believe what I was hearing. We had grown up together; he should have known my character better than anyone.

Was he really so blinded by her that he wouldn't even let me explain?

My hand brushed the small velvet box in my pocket. Inside was a diamond ring.

I had planned to clear my name tonight and then propose to him.

Looking at him now, I realized how delusional I had been.

His heart had never truly been mine.

I turned on my heel, ready to walk out of his life forever.

"Stop right there," Victor barked.

"Since everyone is here, you're going to apologize to Seraphina right now. Do it, or we're over."