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Lucas Hayes swirled his drink and told me to end it cleanly. His first love was back. I didn’t cry. I didn’t beg. I told him I wanted twenty-five million by noon tomorrow. Or I’d send six years of our messages to the tabloids. He grabbed my wrist. I pulled free and walked out of the hotel. The bitter wind hit me on the steps. The tears I’d been holding back finally slipped down my face. Six years of loving him. Gone in one dinner. My phone buzzed. My mother. My brother needed money for his wedding. Again. I blocked the number and kept walking. Then another buzz. Unknown: Madeline. The black car to your left. Get in. I looked up. A black limousine. Tinted windows. One rolled down slowly. Dark eyes behind rimless glasses. Iron-gray suit. He didn’t smile. He just looked at me—like he’d been waiting a long time for this moment. Adrian Hayes. Lucas’s adoptive father. “Get in, Madeline.” His voice was low. My pulse jumped. “You’re done with him.” I got in. ___ "So 6 years together was enough to bore you, Mr. Hayes Junior?" Madeline Quinn tightened her grip on her glass, her eyes turning cold. Across from her, her ex-boyfriend, Lucas Hayes, lazily swirled the wine in his glass. His expression was calm, and his tone carried the self-satisfied patience of a man who thought he was being generous. "Maddie, I've given you the best life I could for the past 6 years. Why can't we end this cleanly and leave each other some dignity?" Madeline was stunning, with dark hair, red lips, and eyes that had gone cold. From 19 to 25, she had given her entire youth to Lucas. He had proposed to her in front of everyone at graduation and sworn she was the only woman he would ever marry. Now he was using the difference in their social backgrounds as an excuse to break up. "Our backgrounds? When you were pursuing me, you said none of that mattered. The truth is Rebecca came back, didn't she?" Lucas's expression flickered before he finally admitted the truth. His first love was back, and he couldn't let her down. Pain ate away at Madeline. Their 6 years of love had turned into a joke overnight. She forced down the emotions surging in her chest. She didn't cry or make a scene. Instead, she said calmly, "Sell the apartment and add a breakup settlement. I want 25,000,000 dollars in my account by noon tomorrow. If you're late, I'll send 6 years of our messages to the tabloids. That's a fair price for protecting Mr. Hayes's reputation as a devoted, faithful boyfriend." Lucas grabbed her wrist, his face darkening. Madeline yanked herself free, pulled on her coat, and walked out of the hotel. The cold evening wind off the river hit her the moment she left the private room. The tears she had held back for so long finally slipped down her face. She came from a small town and a poor family. Her parents had always put their son first. When Madeline was accepted into the best university in Northvale, there had been no celebration at home. Her parents simply told her they wouldn't pay for her education. Her younger brother's tutoring and future wedding came first, so she would have to figure out college on her own. Student loans and three part-time jobs had gotten her through school. She met Lucas at a debate competition, and the wealthy heir pursued her relentlessly. Madeline knew exactly why she had agreed to date him. She desperately wanted to build a life in this prosperous city and escape the exploitation of her family. But she had never spent those 6 years living entirely off Lucas. They hadn't even slept together. She fought for scholarships, built a social-media following, and landed a job at a top architectural design firm after graduation. She worked late nights and endless overtime, trying to build something that belonged to her alone. Still, she knew that many doors had opened for her because she was Lucas Hayes's girlfriend. Once that relationship ended, many of them would close just as quickly. Her phone vibrated. A message from her mother appeared on the screen. Madeline's younger brother had gotten his girlfriend pregnant. He had nothing to his name, so a message from home at a time like this could mean only one thing. They wanted Madeline to foot the bill for him again. Without a change in expression, she blocked the number. But the day wasn't done with her yet. When she reached the small apartment she was still paying off, she found the parents she had cut off years ago waiting by the entrance. Her mother lunged forward and clamped both hands around her arm. Her father stood beside them, alternating between threats and pleading. They used the fact that they had raised her as leverage, demanding money for a house for her brother and his future wife. Even after learning that Lucas had broken up with her, they refused to back down. They called her ungrateful and selfish, accusing her of enjoying a comfortable life while abandoning her family. "I don't have any money for you." Madeline ripped her arm free, sending her mother stumbling to the ground. "Harass me again and I'm calling the police." Once she had shut and locked her apartment door, exhaustion swept over her. Now that her parents knew where she lived, she would never be free of their harassment here. Lucas's betrayal on one side and her family's endless demands on the other left her feeling trapped and unable to breathe. Then an unfamiliar local number called. "Miss Quinn, this is Adrian Hayes. I'd like to meet with you." Adrian Hayes was the true head of the Hayes family, Lucas's adoptive father, and one of the most feared men in Northvale's business world. He was known for being ruthless, cold, and impossible to approach. To the public, he was a corporate titan with no patience for sentiment. Madeline's heart sank. She assumed he was calling to clean up Lucas's mess and make sure she didn't cause trouble for the Hayes family. When Madeline arrived at a private club, Adrian was seated beside the window in a secluded room. His charcoal suit was impeccably tailored, and his shirt was buttoned neatly all the way to the collar. He was far more intimidating in person than he looked in magazines. His features were sharp and striking, and the rimless glasses did nothing to soften the dark, unreadable eyes behind them. "Miss Quinn, please sit." Madeline sat down and made her position clear before he could say anything else. "Mr. Hayes, if you're worried I'm going to cling to Lucas, you don't need to be. We're finished. Completely." Adrian's dark gaze settled on her. He didn't respond to what she had said. Instead, he calmly dropped a bombshell. "I'm not here because of Lucas. I'm here to make you an offer. Marry me." Madeline froze. For a second, she thought it had to be some absurd joke. Then he slid a marriage agreement across the table. His expression was serious. There wasn't a hint of amusement in it. "I need a Mrs. Hayes to put the elders in my family at ease. You're intelligent, beautiful, highly educated, and you have an impressive résumé. You're ambitious, and you know how to use the resources available to you. You even managed to get Lucas to hand over 25,000,000 dollars willingly after the breakup. You're an excellent fit." Adrian saw too much. He saw her struggle, her ambition, her hunger for a better life, and every humiliating vulnerability she was trying to hide. "Marry me, and money, status, and every resource in the Hayes empire will be available to you. You can keep working as an architect. You can open your own studio. You can even pursue a doctorate abroad if you want. I'll cover every expense. You'll receive 10,000,000 dollars every month, without fail. You can get revenge on Lucas and finally break free of your family." Madeline's heart slammed against her ribs. A man worth more than 100 billion dollars, one of the most powerful people in Northvale, was offering her terms so generous they barely felt real. "Is there a time limit on the marriage?" "No one in the Hayes family has ever initiated a divorce. This marriage ends only if you insist on leaving." Adrian leaned back slightly, his eyes never leaving her. "You'll be expected to handle the social obligations that come with being Mrs. Hayes and attend family events when necessary. There's one more thing. I won't accept a sexless marriage. After we're married, you'll also be expected to fulfill our marital duties." A faint blush spread over Madeline's cheeks. There was a 10-year age gap between them, and the difference in their status was even greater. Adrian noticed the flush on her cheeks, and something almost imperceptible flickered in his eyes. His connection to Madeline went back much further than she realized. But this wasn't the right time to tell her. Until now, because she had been Lucas's serious girlfriend, Adrian had kept his distance, afraid that making a move would frighten her. Now that they had broken up, he finally had his chance. "I travel often, so you'll have plenty of personal freedom," Adrian said. "Take some time to think about it. I'm leaving for a business trip and will be back in a week. I want your answer then." He rose and walked toward the door. Just before leaving, he turned back. His voice was low and certain. "Whatever Lucas could give you, I'll give you ten times more. And whatever he couldn't give you, I can. Think carefully." The door closed. Madeline was alone in the room. She lowered her eyes to the agreement. The generous terms were right there in black and white. All she had to do was sign her name, and she could finally escape the life that had trapped her. She could cross the class divide, escape her parasitic family, and strike back at the ex-boyfriend who had betrayed her. The price was marrying a stranger who knew every humiliating detail of her life and who was, at least on paper, her ex-boyfriend's adoptive father. She would be walking into a contract marriage full of unknowns. Every grievance she had swallowed over the years flashed through her mind: her parents' endless demands, Lucas's affection doled out like charity, and all the years she had worked herself to exhaustion only to remain trapped behind an invisible social barrier. She was tired of living at other people's mercy. She was tired of being controlled. Madeline picked up the pen. The tip hovered above the signature line without touching the paper. 'Should I really bet my entire future on an agreement that could rewrite the rest of my life?' The pen moved. II Chapter 2 Just one week after Madeline decided to go through with the whirlwind marriage, she and Adrian got legally married. The process was quick. Even then, Madeline still felt slightly dazed whenever she remembered that she was married. She packed a few essentials from her old apartment, and Adrian took her to the estate where he usually lived. The manicured gardens and sprawling lakeside house were everything Madeline had ever imagined a luxury estate could be. Adrian called a housekeeper over to show her to her room, then placed a key to the estate in her palm with surprising solemnity. Her room turned out to be an entire suite with a bedroom, walk-in closet, bathroom, and small sitting room. The windows faced the lake, giving her an incredible view. What surprised Madeline even more was the decor. It matched her taste perfectly. The walk-in closet was already full. There were casual clothes, formal gowns, lingerie, shoes, and accessories, all in her exact sizes. 'How does he know any of this? Lucas wouldn't have told him, would he?' "Mr. Hayes personally arranged all of this for you," Linda Foster, one of the housekeepers, said respectfully. "Mrs. Hayes, if there's anything missing, just tell me and I'll arrange it right away." For a contract husband, Adrian knew far too much about her and was far too attentive. Madeline shook her head. "This is more than enough. Thank you." She walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows and stared out at the lake. None of it felt real. Just 1 week ago, Lucas had dumped her, shattering her dream of marrying into the Hayes family. She had been living in the small apartment she had bought herself, trying to figure out how to stop her parents from harassing her for good. Now she was Adrian's wife, living in a lakeside mansion where a single dress in her closet cost more than an ordinary person earned in years. Life was absurd. Adrian didn't talk much over dinner, but every so often Madeline caught him watching her. Each time, she pretended not to notice and calmly looked away, though her heart always skipped a beat. "I'm flying to Bayhaven tomorrow for 2 days," Adrian said after dinner. "Then I'm going to Viremont for one week." Madeline looked up. "Seriously? I'm going to Viremont next week too. My company has a project there." "I know," Adrian set down his knife and fork. "That's why I pushed my trip back so we can fly together. Where is your company putting you up?" "A hotel in the Riverside District." Adrian stood. "I have a villa in the Westgate District, close to your project site. Stay there. Tyler will arrange a driver for you. I still have some work to finish. You should get some rest." He reached the stairs, then stopped. "Creston Group owns a design studio. Once you're back from Viremont, you can apply directly for the design director position." Madeline stared at him. She had only recently started working full-time. "Why? You'd give me a position like that just because I'm your wife?" She couldn't stop herself from asking. There were too many things she didn't understand. 'Why did he marry me? Why me, specifically? What could he possibly want from me?' From the beginning, this marriage had made her deeply uneasy, yet she still couldn't bring herself to reject terms this generous. Adrian turned to look at her. "First, because you're talented. Second, because I want my wife to have every chance to reach her full potential." For the first time, Madeline understood what it felt like to have someone use their power to lift her up instead of holding her down. Still, she knew exactly what she wanted for her career. She was a junior designer. She wasn't ready to be a director. She needed several years at Lynwood first, enough time to sharpen her skills and build a name of her own. "Thank you, but I'd like to stay at Lynwood for a few more years. I'm not considering leaving yet." Adrian nodded as if he had expected that answer. "I respect your decision." Then he went upstairs. Late that night, Madeline came downstairs after a shower, wrapped in a robe, and heard the soft tapping of a keyboard in the living room. Adrian sat on the sofa in dark silk pajamas, his suit and rimless glasses gone. Without the hard, ruthless edge he carried in the business world, he looked unexpectedly relaxed and dangerously attractive. At the sound of her footsteps, he closed his laptop. "Still awake?" "I think I'm just not used to the bed yet. I can't sleep," Madeline admitted. Adrian patted the cushion beside him. "Come sit." She hesitated, then crossed the room and sat down, leaving as much space between them as the sofa allowed. It wasn't much. The room was dim, the house quiet, and they were alone together in the middle of the night. With them sitting this close, it was hard not to wonder where the night might lead. Madeline caught the faint scent of cedar on him. It was nothing like Lucas's loud, showy cologne. Adrian's scent was clean and understated. It eased some of her unease, only to replace it with a different kind of anticipation. Warmth slowly crept into her cheeks. Adrian glanced at her, rose, and poured her a glass of warm spiced wine. Madeline accepted it. The warm wine went down smoothly, warming her from the inside out. Before she realized it, she had finished the whole glass. "Mr. Hayes." "Mm?" "Why did you marry me?" Madeline turned to him, her eyes hazy from the wine. "If all you needed was someone to keep Margaret happy, you had plenty of choices." Adrian was silent for a moment. His dark gaze stayed fixed on her face, so intense it almost burned. The alcohol had left Madeline's thoughts pleasantly blurred, and she was too tipsy to recognize the tenderness and desire in his eyes. "Because you're right for me. You're intelligent and clearheaded. You know what you want, and you know how to fight for it. There's a stubborn resilience in you. You're like wild grass after a fire. Even when life burns you to the ground, you find a way to grow back." His voice lowered. "Madeline, the woman I marry needs to be someone who can stand beside me as an equal. I think you can." Madeline didn't know how to answer. Adrian was far above her in wealth and influence, yet he never made her feel beneath him. 'Am I imagining it? He seems endlessly patient and gentle with me. Sometimes there's even something else in the way he looks at me: the tenderness of someone who's finally gotten something precious back after losing it once.' "So..." Adrian suddenly leaned closer. He raised a hand and brushed his fingertips over her cheek. "Mrs. Hayes, should we give this a try?" As he leaned closer, his warmth and cedar scent enveloped her. His fingertips felt unbearably hot against her skin. "Try what?" "Let's start with our marital duties." Adrian lowered his head and kissed her. The instant their lips met, a tremor went through Madeline. Half the courage the wine had given her vanished immediately. Still, she didn't push him away. She closed her eyes and tentatively rested her fingertips on his broad shoulders. The kiss deepened. His palm slid from her cheek to her neck, and his fingers brushed aside the edge of her robe. A shiver swept through her entire body. "Afraid of me?" Adrian murmured against her lips. "No. Well... maybe a little." Madeline opened her eyes and looked at him, her words slightly slurred by the wine. "I need to be clear about something. I married you for money and status. I also married you because your face and body are exactly my type. And yes, a small part of me wanted revenge on Lucas. I don't love you." That was the truth. If Adrian hadn't been physically attractive to her, or if he had looked even a little old for his age, Madeline wouldn't have accepted this marriage no matter how tempting the offer had been. "Don't be afraid. I know you don't love me." Adrian kissed her again. One day, he would make her love him. "I know exactly where we stand," he said softly. He pressed a scattering of light kisses to her skin, a fierce, almost obsessive certainty burning in his dark eyes. Then he wrapped an arm around her waist and scooped her up. He pushed open the main bedroom door with his elbow. It clicked shut behind them, cutting off the moonlit view of the lake outside. Held against his chest, Madeline could feel the heat pouring off his body. Her head tipped back slightly, and the ceiling lights blurred above her. "Mr. Hayes," she whispered hoarsely. "Mm?" Adrian lowered his head and kissed her collarbone. "You have to keep your word." There was no time to clarify which promise she meant. Adrian leaned close to her ear. "I never break my word." The next morning, Madeline shifted and immediately hissed. Her entire body ached. 'What happened to "I won't touch you until you're ready"? What happened to being cold, restrained, and uninterested in women? He'd been absolutely insatiable.' Madeline pushed herself upright. The blanket slipped from her shoulder, revealing the marks scattered across her skin. 'Thank God Adrian had already left.' After seeing that side of him, she genuinely had no idea how she was supposed to face him in daylight. Her collarbone, chest, waist... there were marks everywhere. "So much for the rumors..." she muttered, her voice still a little hoarse. The rumors about him being cold, passionless, and uninterested in women were clearly nonsense. The man who had kept her up until well past midnight was nothing like the Adrian Hayes from the rumors. Her phone vibrated. Madeline picked it up and saw that her best friend, Charlotte Wells, was calling. "Maddie! Have you checked Instagram?" Charlotte demanded, furious. "That b@stard Lucas announced his engagement to Rebecca last night." Madeline barely reacted. "Congratulations to the happy couple." Charlotte was genuinely outraged. "It's only been a few days since you broke up, and he couldn't wait to make it public? He's obviously trying to get a reaction out of you." "Maybe." Madeline got out of bed, crossed to the windows, and pulled back the curtains. Sunlight glittered across the lake. Beyond it stretched the Northvale skyline. She could work her whole life and still never afford a place like this on her own. "Lottie, I got married." Silence. At least 30 seconds passed. "What? Who did you marry? Maddie, are you joking?" "I got married," Madeline repeated. "To Adrian Hayes." "Adrian Hayes?" Charlotte's voice shot up. "Lucas's father? Maddie, have you lost your mind?" III Chapter 3 "I haven't lost my mind." Madeline watched several swans glide lazily across the lake. "He offered me excellent terms. Why wouldn't I accept them?" "But he's Lucas's father. Fine, not biologically, but he's still his father on paper. How are the three of you ever supposed to be in the same room without it being unbelievably awkward?" "The awkward one will be Lucas, not me." Madeline's tone remained calm, but a hint of vindictive satisfaction crept into her voice. "From now on, he has to call me Mom." Charlotte went silent again. "Maddie, are you doing this because you're devastated? Lucas is trash. He's not worth making a life-changing decision over. This whole thing is insane." "It's not because of him," Madeline interrupted. "Lottie, I know exactly what I'm doing. Marrying Adrian gives me everything I want. Money, status, resources. This is better than even the best-case future I ever imagined for myself." "Do you love him?" "No." Madeline answered honestly. "I don't understand why he wanted to marry me, but the prenuptial agreement spells out exactly what I'm entitled to after marriage. I'm satisfied with the arrangement." Charlotte sighed. "All right. You've always known what you want. But Adrian Hayes has a complicated reputation. People say he's ruthless and hard to read. Just be careful." "I know." Madeline thought of those unreadable eyes and the almost excessive care Adrian had shown her. Something stirred in her chest. "But so far, he's been good to me." After ending the call, Madeline went to wash up. The marks on her neck were still impossible to hide completely. With a helpless sigh, she pulled on a cream turtleneck, managed to cover most of them, and headed downstairs for breakfast. Hartwell Tower stood in Northvale's business center. Lynwood Design occupied the 23rd floor and was one of the top architectural firms in the industry. Getting hired there required either a degree from a prestigious university abroad or exceptional talent. Madeline had both. She had won international awards while still in school, and Lynwood had offered her a position before her internship was even over. "Morning, Maddie." Her coworker, Tessa Morgan, leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Did you hear? The new hire starting today has serious connections." "Who?" Madeline asked casually as she turned on her computer. "Mr. Hayes Junior's fiancée. The one he just went public with." Madeline's fingers paused over the keyboard. Tessa made a face. "I've never even heard of her school, and her portfolio is average at best. Without the Hayes family behind her, there's no way she would've gotten into Lynwood." As she spoke, the design director walked in with a woman beside him. "Everyone, stop for a second." The design director clapped his hands. "I'd like to introduce our new colleague, Rebecca Blake. She'll be joining the design team starting today. Please help her settle in." Rebecca stood beside him in a Chanel suit, her makeup immaculate and her smile polished. A diamond ring glittered on the ring finger of her left hand. Her gaze moved around the office before pausing on Madeline's face. Her smile deepened. "Hi, everyone. I'm Rebecca Blake." Her voice was soft. "I'm new here, so I hope I can learn from all of you. Especially Madeline. I've heard so much about how talented you are. I have a lot to learn from you." There were plenty of experienced designers in the room, yet Rebecca had deliberately singled out Madeline, who had only recently begun working full-time. It was an obvious attempt to make the others resent her. Madeline couldn't even be bothered to smile. Rebecca's expression stiffened for a fraction of a second. The director assigned Rebecca a desk diagonally across from Madeline's. Every so often that morning, Madeline felt someone's gaze on her. At the afternoon meeting, the director assigned a new project. "We've got the conceptual design for Cedar Ridge Luxury Villas. It's a modest project, and we have plenty of time. Madeline will be the lead designer, and Rebecca will assist." Rebecca accepted with a smile. After the meeting, she walked over with a tablet and stopped Madeline before she could return to her desk. "Madeline, I already have a few preliminary ideas for Cedar Ridge." Rebecca lit up the screen and pulled up several renderings. "These are from a design course I took abroad. The concepts are more avant-garde. I think we could use that approach to give Cedar Ridge the iconic, artistic character the client wants." Madeline scanned the images quickly. Rebecca clearly knew how to use the software, but the work was all style and almost no substance. The designs barely considered the site itself, how people would actually live in the homes, or what local luxury buyers wanted. "The project has only just started, and the client has given us nothing more than a preliminary direction." Madeline lifted the project brief in her hand. "The first step isn't deciding what the buildings should look like. You need to understand the site in detail first: slope, orientation, views, surrounding restrictions, local building codes, and the style and target market of Stonegate Developments' previous projects." She glanced at the tension around Rebecca's mouth. "Start with the fundamentals. I want a preliminary analysis of Parcel A-3 by next Friday." "But I think starting with the concept would make a stronger first impression on the client," Rebecca said. Madeline kept her tone strictly professional. "This is the standard workflow, and it's how we avoid major rework later. If you don't think basic site conditions need to be analyzed, architecture may not be the right profession for you." Rebecca's expression changed. "Madeline, do you have some kind of problem with me?" Rebecca's eyes suddenly reddened. "Is this because of Luke? I know I shouldn't have come back and interfered with the two of you, but Luke and I truly love each other. I couldn't help it..." "This is work," Madeline cut in. "It's not an appropriate time to discuss private matters." She turned to leave. Rebecca caught Madeline by the sleeve. Then she lifted her left hand, letting the diamond flash under the office lights. "Madeline, Luke and I are engaged now. Let's leave the past in the past. We're going to be working at the same company, and I really hope we can get along. Luke wouldn't want us fighting, right?" Madeline gently pulled her sleeve free. "Miss Blake, first, Lucas and I are no longer together. What he does has nothing to do with me. Second, this is a workplace. Whether we get along depends on how well we do our jobs, not on our private relationships." Her eyes settled on Rebecca's face, and a faintly mocking smile curved her lips. Since Rebecca clearly had no intention of focusing on work, Madeline didn't mind needling her a little. "Third, that ring looks a little loose on you, doesn't it?" Madeline glanced at the diamond. "That's because it was custom-made to fit me. I picked it out too." Rebecca's face visibly drained of color. IV Chapter 4 Rebecca stared after Madeline and clenched her fist. The ill-fitting engagement ring dug painfully into her palm. The past 6 years abroad hadn't been kind to her, which was why she had come back. She had carefully staged her reunion with Lucas and succeeded in breaking him and Madeline up. She had been right. Lucas still had feelings for her. Rebecca took a deep breath, forced down her irritation, and put her flawless, gentle smile back in place. 'So what if the ring doesn't fit? I'm not after Lucas's love. I want the power of the Hayes family.' At lunch in the restaurant downstairs, several coworkers eager to curry favor with Rebecca gathered around her. Rebecca enjoyed being the center of attention and deliberately chose a table diagonally across from Madeline. "Rebecca, that ring is blinding. Mr. Hayes Junior gave it to you, right? How many carats is it?" Rebecca lifted her hand just enough to make the diamond catch more light. "He chose it. Honestly, I thought it was a little too flashy, but he said an engagement ring had to be the very best." Rebecca paused. "He said anything less wouldn't do justice to our second chance at love." "From college sweethearts to the altar. That's so romantic," another coworker gushed. "Mr. Hayes Junior must really adore you." Rebecca smiled without answering and glanced across the room. Madeline was eating alone in a cream turtleneck, quietly looking at her phone as though the excitement at the other table had nothing to do with her. Then Rebecca noticed something. When Madeline lifted her fork to take a bite, the edge of her turtleneck shifted, exposing several suggestive red marks along the side of her neck. A gleam flashed through Rebecca's eyes. 'Only a few days after the breakup and she's already sleeping with another man. So much for acting so above it all while looking down on me. Deep down, she's no better. Who knows what kind of nobody she's sleeping with? She didn't even bother to cover the hickeys.' Rebecca picked up her tray and walked straight over to Madeline's table. "Madeline, you don't mind if I sit here, do you?" Madeline looked up once. "Do whatever you want." Rebecca picked up her spoon and slowly stirred her soup. Then she gave a little gasp, just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. "Madeline, what happened to your neck? Is that an allergic reaction?" Her brows drew together in an expression of pure concern. Madeline put down her fork and wiped the corner of her mouth with a napkin. "Mosquito bite." "A mosquito?" Rebecca covered her mouth and laughed softly. "That doesn't look like a mosquito bite. Don't tell me it's a hickey." Conversation at the surrounding tables died at once. Several curious gazes immediately turned toward Madeline. Since joining the company, Madeline had become known for being beautiful, brilliant, and intensely private. No one had ever heard of her getting close to any man. A hickey on her neck was the kind of thing that would set the whole office buzzing. Madeline caught the smug, provocative gleam Rebecca couldn't quite hide and felt mostly bored. Rebecca never seemed to tire of childish games like this. "Miss Blake, are you always this interested in other people's private lives?" Madeline gave a quiet scoff. "If you have this much time to pry into mine, maybe use some of it to improve your terrible taste in design. I'd rather you didn't drag down the whole team." Her tone never wavered, but the insult landed hard. Several coworkers immediately began exchanging looks and whispering about Rebecca. For a second, Rebecca nearly lost her composure. Then she blinked innocently and forced her sweet smile back into place. "I'm only worried about you," Rebecca leaned in. "You must be seeing someone, right? What does he do? When are you going to introduce him to everyone?" She kept pressing, determined to tear down Madeline's aloof, untouchable facade in front of the whole office. Madeline set down her napkin and leaned back slightly. "I'm not dating anyone. I'm married." "Married?" Rebecca's smile froze. This time, she was genuinely stunned. 'Madeline only broke up with Lucas a few days ago. And now she's married? That has to be a joke!' Whispers erupted around them. Rebecca recovered quickly, her mind racing. 'She must have married some random man in a fit of heartbreak, just to get back at Lucas.' The thought reassured her immediately. A condescending mix of pity and satisfaction washed over her. Rebecca smiled again. "Congratulations, Madeline. But..." Rebecca deliberately dragged out the word and let her gaze fall meaningfully to Madeline's bare left hand. "I haven't seen you wearing a wedding ring. You haven't had time to buy one yet? Or...?" She raised her own left hand gracefully, and the large diamond practically blazed under the restaurant lights. "You really should have a ring. It's a symbol of marriage, and you only get married once, after all. It's worth making it special." Her tone became even more sincere. "You shouldn't shortchange yourself. Even if your husband can't afford a big one, a small ring would still show he cares. Don't you agree?" Every word sounded kind. Every word had a barb hidden inside it. The way their coworkers looked at Madeline immediately changed. Their expressions held a mix of pity, curiosity, speculation, and barely concealed amusement. Low murmurs spread through the restaurant. Madeline listened without reacting. 'This is almost funny. If these people, especially Rebecca, knew who my husband is, their reactions would be priceless. Too bad it isn't time yet. Adrian isn't the kind of man who would tolerate outsiders gossiping freely about his marriage. I'm actually starting to look forward to seeing Rebecca's face at the wedding.' "You're right, Miss Blake." Madeline suddenly smiled. Her dazzling smile quieted the surrounding chatter for a moment. She looked directly at Rebecca, her eyes clear and faintly knowing. "I really should choose a ring carefully." Something about that smile made Rebecca uneasy, but she refused to show it. She told herself Madeline was only forcing a smile to save face. "Oh, and have you had the wedding yet?" Rebecca pressed, sounding even more helpful. "If not, I know several good planners. I could introduce you. Your husband's budget obviously won't be anywhere near a Hayes family wedding, but I'm sure you could still manage something simple." Every sentence was meant to remind Madeline and everyone listening that Rebecca was marrying into the Hayes family while Madeline had apparently married some nobody. They were worlds apart now. Madeline picked up her tray and rose slowly, her back perfectly straight. "Don't trouble yourself," Madeline smiled brightly. "It's too early to decide what kind of wedding I'll have. And when the time comes, why would I take wedding advice from someone whose taste I don't respect?" Rebecca watched Madeline walk away, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. 'Madeline is married. She married a poor man who can't even afford to buy her a ring. Whatever lingering affection or guilt Lucas still feels for her should finally be gone now. From now on, Lucas is mine. So is my place in the Hayes family.' Rebecca took out her phone and opened her chat with Lucas. Rebecca: Luke, guess what major news I heard at work today? Madeline is actually married. I never would've expected it. But it looks like she doesn't even have a wedding ring... kind of strange, right? Are you picking me up after work tonight? Miss you! The message went through. Feeling thoroughly pleased with herself, Rebecca cut a piece of steak and took a bite. Elsewhere, Lucas had just finished what he was working on when he saw her message. His expression changed. He typed out and deleted several replies before finally sending one. Lucas: I'll pick you up tonight. 'Maddie's married. But who did she marry?' A deep sense of unease settled over Lucas. At 6 p.m., Madeline had barely stepped out of Hartwell Tower when someone blocked her path. She looked up. It was Lucas. Irritation flared at once. 'What does he want now?' V Chapter 5 Lucas wore a custom-made suit and had his hair styled perfectly, but his tie had been yanked loose, and irritation simmered openly in his eyes. "Maddie." He reached for her. Madeline stepped aside before he could touch her. "What do you want?" Her voice was flat. She glanced toward the black Bentley parked at the curb and the driver standing beside it. Adrian had arranged both for her. "You got married?" Lucas's voice was tight. He stared into her eyes, trying to find some sign that she was joking or had acted on an impulse to spite him. There was none. "When Rebecca told me, I didn't believe her. Maddie, do you even understand what you're doing?" "I do." Madeline almost laughed. "I got married. Why are you making such a big deal out of it, Mr. Hayes Junior?" "What do you mean, you 'got married'?" Lucas raised his voice enough to make people passing nearby look over. Madeline frowned impatiently. Lucas took a breath and lowered his voice. "Maddie, come with me. We need to talk." "We don't." Madeline moved around him toward the car. Lucas caught her wrist in a hard grip. "Madeline!" Pain shot through her arm. "Let go." "Tell me who he is." Lucas refused to release her, his eyes full of conflicting emotions. "What kind of family does he come from? How well do you even know him? We broke up only a few days ago, and you just married some random man?" Madeline tried to pull free, but his grip was too tight. "Lucas, you got engaged only a few days after we broke up. Whether I marry, and who I marry, is none of your business." The marriage agreement clearly stated that for the first 2 years of their marriage, her husband's identity should be kept private as much as possible. Madeline didn't know whether Adrian wanted Lucas kept in the dark too, so she sidestepped the question. "How is it none of my business?" Lucas forced himself to steady his emotions. "Maddie, I let you down. I know that. But you don't have to ruin your own life to get revenge on me. You're only 25. You have your whole future ahead of you. Why marry some man you barely know just to make me angry?" The more he spoke, the more convinced he became. "Listen to me. Divorce him. Even if we can't be lovers anymore, I can't just stand by and watch you walk straight into a disaster." Madeline stared at him, unable to believe the absurd logic he had constructed in his own head. "Lucas, do you seriously think I can't survive without you? That the only possible reason I got married is to get revenge on you?" "Isn't it?" His voice rose again. Madeline had never seen Lucas like this. He was frantic and emotional, with none of his usual composure left. She tried to keep her own voice level. "I didn't marry him to get revenge on you. You're not that important. My husband and I are doing very well, and I don't need your concern. Now let go. I'm going home." Lucas still didn't release her. Instead, he stepped closer, his eyes red and full of hurt. His voice turned hoarse. "Maddie, how about this? Divorce him, and I'll keep taking care of you. I'll explain things to Rebecca. We can still have what we had before..." Madeline looked at the man she had spent her entire youth loving and suddenly felt as though she didn't know him at all. She could barely contain her anger. "Like before? You're about to marry Rebecca, and you want me to stay with you the way I did before? That's cheating, Lucas. You'd be asking me to become your mistress." Lucas went pale. "Maddie, that's not what I meant..." "Then what did you mean?" Madeline's face turned cold. "So I divorce my husband, and then what? You keep me hidden somewhere? I spend the rest of my life unable to stand beside you in public, and when you finally get tired of me, you pay me another breakup settlement and send me away?" A vein pulsed at Lucas's temple. "Maddie, you know that's not what I mean." Madeline nodded once. His grip made her wrist throb, and tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. They had been together for 6 years. The breakup had been so sudden it felt as if the ground had dropped out from under her. 'My heart isn't made of stone. Of course it hurts. But I've already started a new life. Why is Lucas coming back now just to tear the wound open again?' Her voice trembled. "Lucas, you were the one who said we should end this cleanly. If you have any decency left, don't ever bother me again." The moment she finished, a sweet female voice called out. "Luke!" Lucas looked up. Rebecca came running toward him with a handbag in one hand. He immediately released Madeline's wrist. "Luke, did you come all this way just to pick me up after work?" Rebecca asked coyly, as though she hadn't noticed the struggle between them. "Yeah." Lucas smiled at her and took her handbag. "How was your first day?" "Great. Everyone has been so nice to me." Rebecca nestled close to him. "Especially Madeline. She gave me so many assignments so I could fit in with the team faster." Lucas frowned. "You just started. Can you handle that much work?" Rebecca smiled sweetly. "Of course I can. Don't blame Madeline." Madeline lifted a brow. "Only someone incompetent would see a normal workload as a burden. Mr. Hayes Junior, keep your fiancée under control." She glanced at Rebecca, who was already on the verge of losing her temper. The implication was obvious. Lucas's face darkened. "Madeline." Madeline looked at Rebecca and continued. "Miss Blake should spend less time worrying about me and more time keeping an eye on her fiancé. He's not even married yet, but he's already grabbing a married woman in public. That's not a great look, is it?" Rebecca swayed as if she might collapse. Madeline finally felt some of her anger drain away. With a mocking smile, she walked straight toward the black Bentley at the curb. Lucas and Rebecca headed toward the nearby Porsche together. Lucas opened the passenger door for Rebecca and helped her into the car. Across the street, two people peering in their direction saw the entire exchange. They were Madeline's parents, George Quinn and Laura Sutton. They had failed to catch Madeline outside her apartment the previous day. After asking around, they had finally learned that she worked at Lynwood Design and had made their way to Hartwell Tower to corner her. They hadn't noticed Madeline leave in Adrian's car. Instead, they saw the wealthy young boyfriend they believed she was still dating. George could barely contain his excitement. "That's him. That's the young heir to the Hayes family!" "But that woman isn't Madeline," Laura said, watching Rebecca settle into the passenger seat. George waved off the concern. "It's hardly unusual for a man as rich as Mr. Hayes Junior to have a few women on the side. As long as Madeline is still his girlfriend, he can't ignore us. Come on. Hurry." He ran toward the car, already out of breath. "Lucas! There you are!" Meanwhile, Madeline sat in the back seat of the Bentley. A vivid red pressure mark circled her wrist. "Mrs. Hayes, should I tell Mr. Hayes about your wrist?" Frank Miller asked with concern from the driver's seat. "It's fine." Madeline lightly covered her wrist. She didn't want to drag Adrian into something this minor. In this transactional marriage, she constantly reminded herself not to ask too much of him. She couldn't expect him to comfort her every time something upset her. "It was a small argument. It's over. There's no need to tell him." Frank agreed, at least out loud. But after dropping Madeline off at Silvermere Estate and parking in the garage, he immediately called Adrian and gave him a full account of what had happened outside her office. "Her wrist is hurt?" Adrian's voice turned instantly cold over the phone. "Yes. Mrs. Hayes told me not to report it." "Understood. From now on, stay with her from the moment she leaves for work until she's safely home. If Lucas tries to touch her again, stop him immediately. I don't care if it embarrasses the Hayes family." "Yes, Mr. Hayes." As soon as the call ended, Adrian's assistant, Tyler Ross, mentioned another piece of gossip that had spread through the company that day. "Mr. Hayes, Rebecca Blake went after Mrs. Hayes in front of everyone at work today. Apparently it had something to do with a ring." Adrian frowned, not immediately understanding what Tyler meant. "What ring?" VI Chapter 6 Tyler explained, "Miss Blake mocked Mrs. Hayes for not having a wedding ring and insinuated in front of her coworkers that she had married an ordinary man. Several of Mrs. Hayes's coworkers heard the remark." Adrian's fingers curled tightly. For 6 years, he had forced himself to wait for the chance to finally take Madeline under his protection. Their marriage had happened so quickly, and he had been so focused on pulling Madeline out of the mess she was in, that he had overlooked the ordinary formalities that came with marriage. Because of that, she had been forced to endure gossip through no fault of her own. "Clear my entire schedule tomorrow morning." The next morning was Saturday, so Madeline slept in a little and didn't get up until around 10 a.m. When she came downstairs, Adrian was already eating breakfast. After only a few days apart, Madeline already felt strangely distant from Adrian again. "Morning, Mr. Hayes," she said a little stiffly. "Morning." Adrian looked up at her. Madeline sat across from him. "How's your hand?" The moment he asked, Madeline knew Frank had told him after all about Lucas coming to see her. "It's fine now." Adrian held out his hand. Madeline hesitated, then placed hers in it. Adrian took her wrist, checked her hand, and then let go. "Margaret has always spoiled Lucas. He grew up doing whatever he wanted. If he lays a hand on you again, have Frank deal with him. Before he became your driver, Frank was one of my bodyguards. Don't hesitate to have him step in." The protectiveness in his words was impossible to miss. It left Madeline a little uncomfortable and more than a little puzzled. 'Adrian and Lucas really don't seem much like father and son.' After breakfast, Adrian stood. "Go change. You're coming out with me this morning." "Where?" "To pick out rings." An hour later, their car pulled up outside Northvale's most prestigious luxury jewelry boutique. They were escorted to a private room on the top floor. "Please have a seat. Mr. Hayes asked us to prepare everything in advance, so it's all ready." Several sales associates entered carrying black velvet trays. Every ring was a work of art, each with a distinctive design. Even the smallest center stone was five carats, while the largest, an oval pink diamond, was at least 10 carats. "Do you like any of them?" Adrian asked. "These are all too expensive," Madeline said quietly. "You really don't have to..." "Mrs. Hayes should have everything that comes with the name." Adrian's tone left no room for refusal, though it softened a moment later. "And it's not just for show. It's for you." Madeline's gaze flickered. She stopped protesting and studied the row of rings. Eventually, her gaze settled on a four-prong square-cut solitaire ring. It had a plain band and no unnecessary decoration, giving it a simple, understated look. "This one." Adrian followed her gesture and nodded. "Try it on." The sales associate removed the ring from the tray. Madeline held out her hand, and the cool metal slid over her ring finger. Tiny flashes of fire sparked from the diamond as it caught the light. It was undeniably beautiful. It was also far too conspicuous. "I really like it, Mr. Hayes, but it might be inconvenient to wear to work." She had only recently started her career. Wearing something this valuable to the office would draw attention she didn't want. Adrian looked at her downturned profile. She was always so considerate, weighing every choice carefully and choosing only what seemed reasonable. That kind of restraint left a bitter ache in his chest. Getting Madeline to truly accept him would take time. Fortunately, when it came to the woman he loved, Adrian had more patience than most people could imagine. "Then choose another one for everyday wear." The sales associates quickly brought out several more trays. These rings were much more delicate: solitaires, slim diamond bands, and plain bands set with tiny diamonds. This time, Madeline didn't hesitate long. She chose a simple ring with a smaller diamond. "This one's fine." Adrian had no objection. "We'll take both." "Of course, Mr. Hayes. Would you like your initials and Mrs. Hayes's initials engraved inside?" "Yes." While they waited for the engraving, the staff brought in coffee and pastries. For a while, neither of them spoke. Madeline sipped her coffee and stared off into space. "What are you thinking about?" Adrian asked. "Nothing. I just feel like this is too extravagant." "It's not extravagant," Adrian looked at her steadily. "If you need anything in the future, don't deny yourself. Just tell me." Madeline raised her eyes. "Thank you." Protection offered so casually by someone that powerful could be intoxicating. It was easy to become dependent on it. It was just as easy to mistake that dependence for love. Meanwhile, on the third floor of the shopping center, Lucas was browsing a luxury boutique with Rebecca. Rebecca held his arm while chattering about handbags, but Lucas barely listened. All he could think about was Madeline's sudden marriage. He stepped toward the railing to answer a call. Without thinking, he glanced down toward the first-floor atrium. Then he froze. He would have recognized that figure anywhere. It was Madeline. A tall man stood beside her. They were too far apart for Lucas to make out the man's face, but something about his silhouette struck Lucas as intensely familiar. 'Who is that? Who did Maddie marry?' Lucas turned on instinct and sprinted toward the express elevator. "Luke! Where are you going?" Rebecca hurried after him, clutching the handbag she had been looking at. "Wait here. I'll be right back." Lucas didn't look back. By the time he rushed into the first-floor lobby, people streamed in every direction. The two figures he had seen were gone. Lucas stood there as agitation and suspicion surged through him. He pulled out his phone, his fingers flying over the screen as he messaged the private investigator he had hired. Lucas: Find out everything you can about Madeline's new husband. I want his full background as soon as possible. VII Chapter 7 The custom rings were still being engraved and would be delivered the next day. Meanwhile, Lucas's private investigator was searching everywhere for leads. Inside Lynwood Design, Rebecca continued to target Madeline at every opportunity, emboldened by the support of deputy design director Martin Cole. Madeline ignored every attempt and focused on her project. Madeline gave her nothing to react to. Every underhanded move Rebecca made fell flat, only leaving Rebecca more frustrated. At 9:30 a.m. on the day of the project presentation, Madeline finished testing the equipment in a conference room at Novara Group headquarters. Everything was ready. All she had to do was wait for the meeting to begin. At 9:55, the conference room door opened. To Madeline's surprise, Rebecca walked in. She crossed the room in elegant heels and stopped directly in front of Madeline with a bright smile. "Madeline, thanks for all your hard work. Mr. Cole approved a change. I'll be handling the final presentation today." Madeline's fingers tightened, and her gaze turned cold. "What does that mean?" "Exactly what I said," Rebecca smiled sweetly. "I wanted a chance to gain some experience, and Mr. Cole is very supportive of giving young employees opportunities to grow, so he gave me this one. We're all working for the same company, Madeline. You don't mind, do you?" Martin had long been at odds with the design director Madeline reported to. He was also the person who had helped Rebecca get into Lynwood. "I led this project from the initial client contact through the site survey and every round of revisions." Madeline kept her anger in check, her voice calm and firm. "You weren't involved in many of the critical details, including the site parameters and the client's core requirements. What exactly are you planning to present?" Rebecca's smile didn't change, but every word carried a barb. "This is a team project, not your private property. Why are you so upset? Are you afraid I'll outshine you and steal the spotlight?" Several Novara employees nearby were already watching with interest. Madeline knew that making a scene in front of the client would damage Lynwood's reputation. She stepped into the hallway and called the design director she reported to at the Northvale office. Her design director sounded deeply uncomfortable. "Madeline, Mr. Cole put a lot of pressure on us, and Rebecca is Lucas's fiancée. I couldn't stop it. Let her try this once. I'll make it up to you later. I'm sorry you have to put up with it." After that brief explanation, he ended the call. 'I'm sorry you have to put up with it.' A few casual words were supposed to erase all the nights Madeline had stayed up late, working herself ragged on the project. Her heart went cold. Rebecca followed her into the hallway, refusing to let up. "Madeline, give me the flash drive. Don't hold up the presentation." Madeline forced down the anger churning in her chest, returned to the conference room, and tossed the flash drive into Rebecca's arms. Rebecca couldn't hide the smug curve of her lips. Just then, a Novara assistant hurried in with an announcement. Creston Group was a major investor in the project, and one of its representatives would be attending the presentation. The presentation would have to be delayed by 30 minutes. 'Creston? That's the company run by the head of the Hayes family.' Rebecca was thrilled. She immediately touched up her makeup and adjusted her clothes, eager for a chance to make an impression on someone that powerful. After 30 minutes, the conference room door opened again. A tall man in a sharply tailored steel-gray suit walked into the room at an unhurried pace. It was Adrian. He was supposed to be handling business out of town. Instead, he had flown directly back to Northvale. Madeline stared at him from across the room, stunned. Rebecca went completely rigid, her heart pounding. Lucas's adoptive father, at least on paper, was standing right in front of her. He was also the true head of Creston. A reckless idea suddenly took hold. 'What if I could land someone even more powerful than Lucas?' The Novara executive in charge hurried forward to greet him. "Mr. Hayes, welcome. This is Miss Blake, Lynwood Design's representative for today's presentation." Rebecca immediately approached with a gentle smile and extended her hand. "Mr. Hayes, it's an honor to meet you..." Adrian ignored her outstretched hand completely. His gaze swept coolly over the room. "Just a moment. I want to confirm something." His voice wasn't loud, but the authority behind it silenced the room. "Miss Blake, were you the lead designer on this project from beginning to end? Do you have firsthand knowledge of all the site details?" He paused. "Just answer yes or no." The color slowly drained from Rebecca's face. She stammered, unable to get a full sentence out. A sheen of sweat broke out on the Novara executive's forehead, but he forced himself to smooth things over. "Miss Blake joined the project later, but she has prepared thoroughly for today's presentation." "Then the answer is no." Adrian cut him off and looked toward Madeline, who had remained seated in the corner. "All of Novara's survey and communication records list Madeline Quinn as the project's primary contact." He spoke in a cool, businesslike tone that carried through the entire conference room. "Creston, as the investor, wants to hear the project explained by the person who actually designed it." His gaze settled on her. "Ms. Quinn, please take the floor." The room erupted in shocked whispers.

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