Chapter 1
I ran into Tristan Whitmore I used to study with while sneaking Chicken tenders at a street stall,
His
eyes widened in surprise. “Vivian? You’ve been throwing a tantrum for quite a while, huh? Finally decided to come back to Grant?”
Grant Holloway was Tristan of my mother’s employer’s family–and also my first love.
We were supposed to study abroad together.
But at our graduation party, someone drugged him.
1 rushed to save him, but in the heat of passion, he suddenly sobered up…
And in front of everyone, he threw me out of the room, half–naked,
He said I’d do anything for money.
After that day, I became the city’s most infamous gold–digger.
The sheer malice suffocated me, so I left with my mother and didn’t return for two years.
Tristan pulled out his phone, dialing as he spoke to me. “You have no idea how desperately Grant’s been looking for you all these years. Now that you’re back, just apologize. Couples fight, but they always make up by bedtime.”
Make up by bedtime?
I laughed. Under his stunned gazo, I stood up, rested a hand on my six–month baby bump, and tilted my head. “My kid’s about to be born. What’s there to make up
Tristan was Grant’s childhood best friend.
He’d witnessed our entire journey–from fumbling first glances to burning passion.
Fumbling, he hung up the call, then stared blankly at my stomach and muttered under his breath, “Shit. This is bad. Really bad. You got pregnant behind his back?
I’d snuck out tonight and had no intention of catching up, so I turned to leave.
But he rushed over and blocked my path, his face openly panicked. “Vivian, Grant’s even richer now than when you two broke up! He’s the most eligible bachelor in Rivermere. He said as long as you come back, he’s willing to marry you–no prenup needed.”
His fervent voice trailed off under my indifferent expression.
Still, he forced out one last line, “Maybe get rid of the kid? I’ll pretend I never sing you today.”
My eyes turned icy. “You and Tang Yu should be in therapy, not out here dictating how others should live.”
His face flushed red, but he couldn’t spit out a single word.
I was already far away when I heard him shout behind me, “Vivian, who the hell are you pretending to be? Wasn’t it you who desperately climbed into Grant’s bed back then?
Climbed into his bed.
That accusation had been dogging me since the first day Grant and I got together.
Because Grant was the city’s most high–profile trust fund heir, and my mother was just his family’s maid.
A wealthy young master and a maid’s daughter? People couldn’t wrap their heads around It.
But Grant’s love had been undeniable–passionate and unashamed.
They said I must’ve used underhanded tricks to make him fall for a servant’s child.
Back then, I was young and proud. My dignity meant everything.
All I knew w
was that I loved Grant, and he loved me.
Soprinted my teeth, determined to prove I was worthy of him on my owIL
I refused the supplementary card he offered
eStory
Descargu Stor
Never used his connections to pad my resume.
From eighteen to twenty–two, our relationship–despite everyone’s doubts–lasted four whole years
I thought we’d have many more.
Until graduation year, when the daughter of the Holloway family’s lifelong business allies came to Rivermere for the summer and stayed with them.
Scarlett Winslow was a true aristocratic heiress.
She played the harp, rode horses, and even danced hip–hop.
Bright, dazzling–she had everything I did and didn’t
People started hinting, intentionally or not, that the Holloway and Winslow families had an unspoken arranged marriage years ago.
And Scarlett’s return was for an engagement
Anxious and unsettled, I finally went to
lly went to the equ
equestrian
luh to find Grant club to
Every Saturday afternoon, he rode to relieve stress.
But this time, he wasn’t on the field. He was leaning against the railing, watching the center with sparkling eyes,
followed his gaze.
Scarlett, in riding gear, cracked her whip with effortless flair.
I stared at her, then back at Grant.
He hadn’t noticed me yet, his eyes still glued to her.
My unease skyrocketed.
I couldn’t help but call out his name.
When he saw me, he paused–then eagerly grabbed my hand, gushing about t how amazing Scarlett’s riding was.
Then he asked, “Vivian, wanna try?”
My face burned. I bit my lip. “I don’t know how to ride.”
At that moment, the disappointment in his eyes nearly killed me.
