Chapter 1

On the day of our engagement, after five years together, my boyfriend abandoned me.

He showed up instead at the welcome-back banquet for his first love.

When I arrived, Trenton Hayes had his arms around Elena Caldwell, kissing her passionately.

"Elena, I won't marry her. You're the only one in my heart."

Everyone turned to look at me, waiting for me to beg him to come back like I always did.

None of them knew that this five-year relationship was just a contractual deal between me and the Hayes family.

Calmly, I pulled off the engagement ring, erased all my personal records, and vanished without a trace.

Yet Trenton went completely out of his mind, tearing the world apart just to find me...

1

Inside the private VIP lounge, the engagement ring hit the marble floor.

A heavy crystal glass followed right after, shattering by my feet.

A sharp shard sliced open my ankle. I muffled a grimace of pain.

Trenton sneered, stepping right onto the fallen ring.

He stepped forward, grabbed my jaw tightly, and spoke in a bone-chilling voice.

"Kira, don't you dare ruin my best night!"

"Look at that pathetic face of yours. You're bad luck. Get the hell out of here!"

The guests around the room smirked, scoffing at how out of line I was.

Seeing them defend Trenton and Elena so aggressively made a deep wave of exhaustion wash over me.

It felt completely pointless. No matter how hard I tried over the past five years, I was never going to belong in their world.

Taking a deep breath, I gripped my handbag and turned to leave.

"Wait," Trenton called out just as my hand touched the door handle.

"Acting tough, are we? Take off that gown before you go!"

Today was supposed to be our formal engagement party.

I was wearing an antique lace couture gown left behind by Trenton's late grandmother.

It was priceless, a sacred symbol of the future Mrs. Hayes.

Trenton only demanded this to humiliate me, utterly confident that I would never do it.

Taking off this gown meant walking away from the Hayes family and abandoning him for good.

To his shock, I unbuttoned the cuffs without hesitation and slipped out of the dress.

A split second later, Trenton threw his suit jacket at me, his face twisted in fury.

"Get the fuck out!" he roared, pointing toward the door.

I didn't argue. Wrapping the jacket around myself, I pushed the door open and walked away.

"Trenton, Kira is still your fiancée," Elena's gentle voice drifted from behind me. "You should go after her."

Trenton's reply was dripping with contempt.

"Leave her alone. In less than two days, she'll come crawling back on her knees!"

"I want her gone anyway. She's only getting in the way of my time with you."

His voice softened on that last sentence, thick with intimate warmth.

Even though I had long known how little I meant to him, hearing those words still pierced my chest.

My eyes stung with a sudden, bitter burn.

I hurried my pace, leaving his cruel words far behind.

Trenton, you don't have to worry anymore. This time, I won't make a scene.

Leaving the lounge, I hailed a cab straight to the biggest luxury mall downtown.

Because Trenton preferred pure, delicate women, I had worn nothing but plain white for five straight years.

Right then and there, I decided to take my identity back.

I kicked off the blister-causing designer stilettos and slipped into comfortable flats.

Browsing the racks, I picked out a fiery red, strapless gown.

Then I walked into a salon and had my straight dark hair styled into voluminous, glamorous waves.

Once I was completely transformed, I dialed Elder Hayes's private line.

"Grandpa Hayes, does your promise to help me leave still stand?"