Chapter 1
The day I married Dominic Sterling, all of Manhattan called me mad.[]
He was drowning in debt, blind from a crash]
The whole city snickered: She’s just a desperate stand–in, clawing for his family’s crumbs.
Three years. I was his shadow. Tended to him, every breath, every step. But he never laid a finger on me.
They called me pathetic. A doormat.
But they didn’t know: I said “I do” to keep a deathbed vow to my dad
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One day, the creditors swarmed. To save his company, I went to the one man in town who fixes messes–for a price.]]
That night broke me. I cried till my throat bled, stumbled home bruised, shame scalding through my skin.]
Next morning, I dragged my battered self to the hospital, a cash–heavy bag burning my arm.]
But through the door? Laughter. Sick, familiar laughter.
There was my “blind” husband.[]
Pinned to my half–sister, kissing her like the world was on fire.]
She flipped through photos, grinning. “Three years of payback. Worth the wait, right?“]
Dominic huffed. “Her old man owed me everything. She’s just settling his debt. And after how she treated you? This? Perfect.” “Can you really
“Can you really bring yourself to do that?”
He laughed. “She’s totally hung up on me. She’s basically on her hands and knees begging me not to think she’s trash. So why wouldn’t I be able to go through with it?“]
The cash slipped.
In the next second. I called back the missed call on my phone.[]
“Dominic Sterling’s debt is clear.”
“Now it’s our turn“}}
Outside the hospital, storm clouds were gathering overhead.
I stumbled out clutching that bag of cash so tight my palmi was bleeding
I couldn’t shake what I’d just heard in that room. Dominic Sterling and Sophia talking, playing their sick games.]
“Damn, you’re good. Only took you three years to turn the Montgomery princess into your little bitch.”
“My guy said last night she was acting like a total whore. Even the pros would be jealous!”
I almost fell against the wall.[]
That whole nightmare was still messing with my head.
Dominic Sterling standing on that hospital ledge, looking like he wanted to die.
Then that empty laugh-
*Lauren, look at me. I’m broke. I’m nobody. What’s the point anymore….”
“If I don’t pay up in three days, Lauren… I won’t need to jump. These guys will kill me slowly first.“]
The wind was crazy up there. He looked so weak, like he might just blow away.]
His face was white as hell but he seemed so real. Like someone who’d lost everything. That broken look in his eyes is killed me.
And I bought it. Every single word
Three years, you know?
Even if it were a dog, you’d grow attached after three years.]]
But he is Dominic Sterling. The guy I’d been crazy about since we were kids.
So right then, I knew what I had to do. No matter what, I was gonna save him. I had to give him something to live for.]
But the Sterling family had serious money problems. The debt was huge.]
Ever since my family went broke three years ago, I’d been working my ass off. Every penny I made went to Dominic–paying for his treatments, keeping his family’s business from going under.[]
So Dominic told me there was one way out. Go beg his creditor.
But just now at the hospital, I found out the truth.
That so–called creditor? He worked for Dominic the whole time!]
When I showed up at Domine’s door with the money, he was on the phone with the guy. Laughing about what they’d through
But the second he saw me, Dominic’s whole face changed. Suddenly he looked all sad and hurt, his eyes getting red:
put me
“Babe.. you did so much for me. I’m so grateful…”
I’d never seen acting that good before.
My heart felt like it was breaking into pieces]
I grabbed my shirt, clutching my chest, and ran like hell.
Behind me, Sophia was laughing:[]
“Uh oh! So the Montgomery princess will do anything for money! Lauren, here’s your chance admit I’m part of the family too! Get on your goddamn knees and bow to me, and I promise I won’t put these dirty photos all over the Internet!”
I didn’t even turn around. Just kept running
That made Sophia even happier. She started throwing those nasty photos everywhere.]
“This is the Montgomery daughtert Pay up, and you can fuck her!“]
Guys on the street heard that and started grabbing at me with their nasty hands.]
“Look at all those marks on her! People used to call her the ‘innocent princess? Turns out she’s just a slut who’ll sleep with anyone![]
“Come on. Miss Montgomery, stop playing hard to get! Let’s have some fun tool“]
Tears were streaming down my face.
To get away, I grabbed a handful of cash from the bag and threw it in the air]
*Get out! All of you bastard–just get out!“]
They all went crazy trying to grab the money.
Finally I could run. I got the hell out of that hospital.]
It was pouring rain.
All I could hear was what Dominic said after Sophia finished talking. The disgust in his voice when he told that guy:
“What the hell is wrong with you! You think this is something to be proud of? If you can’t give me the result I’m satisfied with, you’re gonna find out what the Sterling family can really do!”
That’s when it hit me. Only now do I realize–Dominic hated me that much…]
I had no idea what “the result I’m satisfied with“-as Dominic put it–actually looked like.
But then I figured it out.
A huge truck was heading straight for me…
