Chapter 1

Everyone in Harborlyn said Lila Wynn would be the perfect wife that all men wanted.

She was gorgeous enough to steal a man's breath, yet she was gentle and soft.

Dominic Steele had made headlines with 99 different scandals. It was always his fiancee, Lila, who stepped in to deal with the fallout.

The first time, Dominic got caught seeing a rookie model. Lila was burning up with a fever, yet she still forced herself out of bed late at night and had someone get rid of the trending topic.

The third time, Dominic was cornered at a hotel with an up-and-coming actress. Lila had just undergone surgery for appendicitis. She bit down on the pain and went to handle the reporters.

The ninth time, on the day of Lila's mother, Melanie Norman's funeral, Dominic celebrated his mistress' birthday.

With tears streaming down her face, Lila drafted and released a statement to clarify the misunderstanding for him.

And then came the 100th scandal. This time, the woman in Dominic's bed was someone Lila had loved and protected for 20 years.

Lila shook so hard she could barely stand. "Pearl Wynn, he's my fiance! He's your future brother-in-law! How could you get into his bed? Have you no shame?"

Pearl nestled against Dominic's chest and let out a mocking laugh. "Brother-in-law? Please! You two aren't even married. Who knows if he'll ever actually marry you? If you can't keep him, that's on you. Don't come screaming at me about it."

Lila let out a low, incredulous laugh and turned to the man who hadn't said a single word. "Dominic, of all the women throwing themselves at you, why did it have to be my sister?"

Dominic showed not a hint of embarrassment at being caught. He smiled, amused. "She looks a lot like you. I didn't notice at first."

He might as well have said he'd mistaken Pearl for her.

But a second later, mischief flickered in his eyes. "Still, she's a lot more enthusiastic in bed than you are. You just lie there like a corpse."

The blood drained from Lila's face. Heat roared in her veins, a mix of humiliation and rage.

Pearl's cheeks flushed. She gave his chest a playful punch. "You're awful. How could you say that in front of my sister?"

Dominic only chuckled. "Oh, now you're shy? You were the one begging me not to stop just now. Or am I remembering wrong?"

"If you keep talking like that, I won't talk to you anymore," she huffed.

"Alright, alright. I'll behave," he said, teasing her a moment longer before he realized that Lila was still in the room.

His smile faded just a little as he said, "This time, you don't need to do any damage control. The scion of the Hawthorne family refuses to end his engagement with Pearl and keeps pestering her. Since I accidentally took her first time, I'll chase off that nuisance for her. Think of it as compensation."

Lila sucked in a sharp breath and stared at him, stunned. "You're helping her get rid of a nuisance, but have you ever thought about me? What would others say about me?"

Lila had barely finished speaking when Dominic cut in, impatience flashing across his face. "You're good at handling rumors. Spinning this won't be hard for you.

"And Pearl is your sister. Are you really so heartless that you'd just stand there and watch that useless rich brat keep bothering her?

"Come on. I'm just doing Pearl a favor. Once she's shaken that idiot off, I'll marry you."

He didn't give Lila a chance to say no. He simply wrapped an arm around Pearl and walked out with her.

The door slammed shut. Lila stood where she was, her face as pale as a sheet.

Five years ago, her father, Kevin Wynn, had agreed to the marriage alliance between the Hawthornes and the Steeles.

Back then, the Hawthorne family had been one of the top families in Harborlyn. The Steeles were only just starting their climb.

Pearl had wanted the higher branch, so she chose the Hawthornes first.

She had done everything she could to win Ethan Hawthorne over, even followed him overseas for studies. It had taken years for her to finally secure that engagement.

Now, she was back from abroad, and she saw how the Steele family was poised to become the most powerful name in Harborlyn.

And suddenly, Pearl regretted her choice. She wanted out of the engagement with Ethan, but he refused. Hence, she got into Dominic's bed.

The Wynns' engagement arrangements with the Hawthornes and the Steeles were already written in stone. If Pearl backed out, the one who would be sent to marry into the Hawthornes would be Lila.

Lila knew how sharp Dominic was in business. There was no way he didn't understand that. He knew exactly what it meant, but he still went ahead and did this.

He'd chosen to trample her dignity in front of everyone.

Chapter 2

Lila bit down so hard on her lower lip that she tasted blood. Her nails dug into her palms, leaving deep, stinging marks that split the skin.

When this all started, the engagement between the Wynns and the Steeles had just been a business arrangement. Lila hadn't loved Dominic at all.

But for the sake of the family company, she'd followed Kevin's plan and started seeing Dominic.

Then, Wynn Group began to slide. Deals fell through, the numbers got worse every quarter, and bankruptcy loomed.

It was Dominic who wired in fresh capital and hauled Kevin back from the cliff. He'd even taken the initiative to propose the engagement, just to calm the anxious Wynn Group shareholders.

Lila had told herself Dominic only did it for the sake of the overall situation so that people wouldn't say the Steeles were fair-weather friends. Once the Wynn Group stabilized, he'd probably call off the engagement and walk away.

However, he didn't do so. He remembered everything about Lila, even her menstrual cycle.

Whenever she had cramps, he stayed with her the whole time, hovering at her side and making her hot herbal tea.

When Dominic's mother, Beatrice Langford, made things difficult for Lila, he would step in again and again, openly taking Lila's side.

When he chose to play the doting fiance, he was everything she'd ever imagined a partner could be.

Over time, she really did fall for him.

Six months ago, Dominic had been kidnapped by a business rival.

To get him out, Lila had gone alone into the enemy's hideout.

She had brought Dominic back alive, but she lost her baby.

Fear that he'd blame himself, she kept that pregnancy to herself and never spoke of it again.

But after the kidnapping, Dominic's attitude toward her shifted overnight.

He stopped touching her and hardly came home at all. After that, the scandals kept coming.

Lila thought he'd fallen out of love, so she told him they should call off the engagement.

But Dominic said people in their business field laughed at anyone who was too devoted. Those women were just for fun. No one could threaten her place as his future wife.

To coax her back, he kept raising his paddle at the auction, all so he could win the pink diamond she loved and give it to her.

He had gotten behind the wheel in the middle of the night, driven clear across Harborlyn, and come back with her favorite pastries still warm in the box.

Years of feelings didn't vanish just because she decided they should.

Besides, most of the time, those scandals really were just rumors. She'd never actually walked in on him with anyone.

So, Lila softened and let it go. She kept telling herself to give him one more chance. Sooner or later, he'd come back to her.

She never imagined that all her patience and all her effort would only make Dominic push things further.

He'd convinced himself that she couldn't leave him. That was why he kept testing how far he could push.

What he didn't realize was how every disappointment made her feelings for him fade gradually.

And now, that very last ember had gone out.

Lila's heart twisted with pain. She opened the door and walked straight into a swarm of paparazzi waiting outside.

Cameras and microphones were shoved toward her at once.

"Ms. Wynn, Mr. Steele just said the woman in there is his new girlfriend. Is that true?"

"He also said you two broke up a long time ago. What's really going on?"

"Mr. Steele's new flame said you're her sister. She claims he's been waiting for her to grow up and that he was only playing around with you. Mr. Steele didn't deny it. He even smiled at her as if he agreed to it. Do you have anything to say about that?"

Lila had no idea how she got out of that hotel. By the time her thoughts caught up, she was already sitting in the back seat of a car, staring blankly out the window.

Just then, her phone rang. It was a call from Beatrice.

"Lila," Beatrice snapped the moment the call connected. "I thought you knew your boundaries. I didn't expect you to indulge your sister and let her seduce Dominic, turning everything into such a disgrace! Get back here immediately and apologize!"

The line went dead with a sharp beep.

Lila let out a brittle laugh. Every breath burned all the way through her chest.

She'd been engaged to Dominic for five years and hadn't had a single day of real peace.

Beatrice was strict and controlling. From the day the engagement was set, she'd laid down rule after rule, demanding that Lila be the perfect, virtuous wife.

Lila had to be up at 6:00 am every morning to wait on Beatrice and help her wash up.

Even the fish soup Beatrice had every day had to be meticulously deboned and prepared by Lila.

On top of that, she had to follow Beatrice to every social event with the other wealthy wives in Harborlyn.

Lila was never praised for doing things right, yet the slightest misstep would have Beatrice tearing into her.

She'd apologize, yet she was punished over and over again.

Under the long sleeves and pants she always wore, her skin was bruised everywhere.

That night at the Steele family hall, the temperature had dropped sharply. Lila knelt on the freezing stone floor, the chill climbing from her knees into every bone.

Regret and resentment pressed hard against her chest.

She knelt there the entire night. By dawn, her body was numb, as if her legs no longer belonged to her.

While she shivered in the family hall, Dominic stayed with Pearl. He didn't even send Lila a single message.

It wasn't until the next morning that Lila was finally allowed to leave.

She dragged her exhausted body back to the villa. Before she could even sit down, Kevin called and sounded anxious. "Pearl said she's with Dominic now and wants to break off her engagement with Ethan. What on earth is going on?"

He didn't wait for her to answer before barreling on. "You've failed to win Dominic's heart after all this time. Then, you can take Pearl's place and marry Ethan instead."

The call cut off a moment later.

Lila let out a low, humorless laugh. Just as she'd expected, she was the one who had to marry Ethan instead.

But this time, she wasn't going to let anyone slot her wherever they pleased.

If it were all just for business, then she'd at least choose someone who actually loved her.

She opened her contacts, scrolled to a name she'd once blocked, and pulled him out of her blacklist.

"Mr. Porter, I'll end things with Dominic as soon as I can. Does your promise still stand?"

Chapter 3

Oscar Porter was Dominic's biggest rival. As the head of the Porter family, he was someone everyone in Harborlyn treated like a walking warning sign.

Five years ago, he'd fallen for Lila at first sight and gone after her with everything he had.

He'd put on 99 firework shows over Harborlyn Bay just to see her smile once.

The jewelry and designer clothes he sent could've filled a room.

But Lila had already given her heart to Dominic, and she'd always felt Oscar had ulterior motives. She was convinced Oscar was only pursuing her to get under Dominic's skin, so she never gave him so much as a glance.

Oscar hadn't backed down. He'd even warned her, saying Dominic wasn't good for her and would hurt her sooner or later.

Lila hadn't listened and had gotten engaged to Dominic anyway.

In the end, Oscar let her go, leaving her with one final promise. "If you ever regret it, or if he hurts you, just call me. I'll be waiting for you. Always."

Then, he got on a plane that same night and left the country.

It had already been five years. She had no idea if Oscar even remembered that promise.

The next second, his answer couldn't have been clearer. Instead of texting back, Oscar called.

His voice came through low and rough. "Of course it still counts. I'll give you a month. After that, I'm coming back, and I'll give you a wedding the whole city will talk about."

Lila hesitated. "There's something I need to tell you. I... was pregnant with Dominic's baby once. Does that bother you?"

The man on the other end didn't pause for even a heartbeat. "Lila, I don't care about your past. I just want you to marry me without looking back."

"Alright," she replied softly.

Right then, the bedroom door swung open.

"Lila, who are you on the phone with?" Dominic asked.

She ended the call at once. "A friend."

Dominic was controlling by nature. If he knew she planned to marry Oscar, he'd never let it go.

The last thing she needed was more chaos. It was safer to keep this from him, at least for now.

Dominic just nodded and didn't press further.

He walked over and pulled a velvet box from his pocket, taking out a diamond necklace. "I had my assistant snag this at an auction. Let me put it on you."

He'd mess things up first and then try to smooth it over with a gift. It had always been his way.

Lila had always been easy to coax because she'd loved him. But now, she wouldn't give in so easily anymore.

She turned her head away, dodging his hands. "Just leave it there. I'll try putting it on later," she said flatly.

Dominic's brows drew together. "Didn't I already tell you Pearl won't affect our wedding? Why are you—"

"I'm not mad," Lila cut in. "I'm just tired."

She'd already decided she was done loving him. Without love, there was nothing left to be angry over.

Dominic looked at her pale, exhausted face, his frown deepening. "Did my mom get on your case again?"

Lila let out a derisive laugh. "When have you had a scandal and she hasn't taken it out on me?"

Beatrice would never so much as raise her voice at her own son, so Lila ended up being the one she lashed out at.

Dominic frowned. "I told you, if she gives you a hard time again, call me."

Lila gave a bitter smile and said nothing.

What good would it do to call him? If Beatrice found out she'd complained, the punishment would only get worse.

Besides, she'd be gone for good in a month. Beatrice wouldn't get another chance to lay a hand on her.

Dominic lifted the blanket. Her knees, usually so fair, were scraped raw, with fresh blood still seeping through her skin.

His chest tightened. He immediately told the housekeeper to bring disinfectant and cotton pads, then carefully cleaned her wounds himself.

His eyes seemed to mist over, just enough to give the illusion of a man who actually cared.

Lila bit down hard on her lip, refusing to let her tears spill.

"From now on, don't bother with her," Dominic said hoarsely. "If anything happens, I'll handle it."

She'd once have cried from gratitude at those words. Now, they just sounded ridiculous.

If he'd ever been truly dependable, Beatrice wouldn't have had free rein to walk all over her all these years.

Back then, Lila had been blind, unable to tell the difference between a man worth loving and someone who treated her like a doormat. At least she'd finally come to her senses.

Suddenly, Dominic's phone rang. Beatrice's name flashed across the screen.

"Dominic, you're not getting any younger. Stop fooling around with those women. How do you expect your father to trust you with the company?

"And you and Lila are getting married soon. Tell her to hurry up and give me a grandchild. It's been five years, and she still hasn't gotten pregnant..."

Beatrice kept talking, but her words turned into static in Lila's ears.

Her face went completely blank. Her body trembled.

She didn't notice that Dominic was watching her closely, his gaze turning darker and sharper with every second.

He cut Beatrice off with some excuse and ended the call.

"Lila, are you hiding something from me?" he asked.

The question struck her clean across the nerves, sending her heart racing out of control.

Was he talking about the baby?

He was the child's father. He had every right to know what had happened.

With that thought, Lila drew a slow breath, ready to finally tell him everything.

But before she could speak, his phone rang again.

Dominic glanced at the caller ID, and whatever concern he'd had a second ago vanished. He tossed the cotton pads aside.

"There's an urgent matter at the office," he said. "We'll talk later."

Without waiting for her reply, he just turned around and left.

Dominic didn't have to say who it was, but Lila already knew it was Pearl.

An hour later, Lila received a message from Pearl.

It was a photo of Dominic behind the wheel of his sports car, his profile sharp and striking, with Pearl sitting in the passenger seat.

"Give it up. Dominic doesn't love you. All I have to do is call, and he comes running."

Lila's breath snagged in her throat.

Dominic had once told her that a man's passenger seat was reserved for his wife.

His words still rang in her ears. Now, they were nothing but a joke.

Right then and there, Lila let go of the idea of confessing anything to him.

He didn't love her. There was no point digging up old wounds.

"I don't want him anymore. If you like him, he's yours," she replied.

After spending the entire night kneeling in the family hall, Lila was drained and exhausted. Not long after she sent the message, sleep dragged her under.

She didn't sleep for long. A burst of noise yanked her awake.

The bedroom door swung open, and Dominic walked in with Pearl.

Pearl's makeup was flawless, her expression full of smug provocation. "Lila, we meet again!"

Lila's eyes went cold. "You're not welcome here. Get out!"

"I brought her here," Dominic said calmly. "If we're putting on a show, we're seeing it through. She'll be staying here this month until that spoiled rich guy finally gives up on her.

"Get up and pack. You're moving out of the master bedroom. Pearl's taking it."

Chapter 4

Lila stared at Dominic for a few seconds before it sank in that she'd heard him right. She nodded and replied calmly, "Alright. I'll get up now."

She swung her legs off the bed. The motion tugged at the scraped skin on her knees, but she didn't even flinch.

Lila's easy agreement made something twist uneasily in Dominic's chest.

He'd expected her to refuse or question him like before, but she didn't.

Just as Dominic opened his mouth, Pearl leaned into him with a sweet little whine. "Dom, I'm starving. You kept me in bed for so long just now..."

Dominic snapped out of it. "Okay. I'll have the staff make you something good."

Once he left, Pearl's expression shifted. The sweetness vanished, replaced by a cold smirk. "Did you see that? Dominic only cares about me now. Do yourself a favor and move out before you embarrass yourself any more!"

Lila snorted. "Relax, Pearl. The moment I saw you in his bed, I stopped imagining any future with him. If you're so desperate to be his wife, you can have the title."

Pearl's jaw tightened. "That title was mine to begin with. I don't need you to hand it over!"

Lila looked at the sister she'd protected for 20 years and felt like she was staring at a stranger. "Pearl, I've given way to you our whole lives. If you liked Dominic, why didn't you just tell me? Why sneak around and go after him behind my back?"

Pearl's face tightened, then she snapped, "You think you're so selfless? Giving up the man you love for me? Spare me, Lila. I hate that fake, noble act of yours! Whatever I want, I'll take myself. I don't need it from you!"

Lila actually laughed. "So, that's what you think. Everything I've done for you just seemed like I was showing off."

"Am I wrong, though?" Pearl shot back. "You've always been the one on top. Everyone only sees how perfect you are. And me? Why do I have to be second best forever?"

Lila listened to her and felt utterly disheartened. She wouldn't want to waste her breath, ready to turn around and leave.

She barely made it past the bedroom doorway before Pearl rushed after her.

"I know you can't stand to leave Dominic," Pearl said. "So, let me help you!"

Then, she raised both hands and started slapping herself across the face.

Lila grabbed her wrists, completely thrown. "Pearl, what the hell are you doing?"

Right then, Dominic's furious voice thundered from behind them. "Lila, what did you do to her?"

Lila froze for a heartbeat. By the time she turned, he was already there, shoving her out of the way.

She stumbled straight into the tall antique vase in the hallway, sending it crashing to the floor.

A shard sliced deep into her back. Warmth spread across her skin as blood soaked through her clothes. Pain shot through her so sharply that her whole body jerked.

Dominic didn't even glance at Lila. He wrapped his arms around Pearl instead, his expression soft in a way Lila hadn't seen in a long time. "Pearl, are you alright? Why didn't you defend yourself?"

Pearl instantly dropped the wild, arrogant act. Tears spilled down her cheeks as if she'd rehearsed them. "I'm fine. Don't blame Lila. She's just scared I'll steal you from her. That's why she lost control and hit me.

"I was wrong, Lila. Dominic is yours. I'll leave..."

"Lila!" Dominic turned around, his eyes dark and vicious. "Helping Pearl was my idea. I'm the one who told her to move in! If you've got a problem, take it out on me! Who gave you the nerve to lay a hand on her?"

His words knocked the breath out of Lila, pain splitting through her chest. Lila explained through gritted teeth, "She hit herself."

Pearl's eyes were filled with tears. "Lila, please don't be mad. I'll give Dominic back to you..."

Her pitiful act made Lila so furious that her whole body trembled. Something in her snapped. She surged forward and slapped Pearl across the face.

"Dominic, look closely! This slap was from me. I didn't even lay a finger on her just now. If you don't believe me, check the security footage."

Only then did Pearl seem to remember the camera at the end of the hallway. Her eyes rolled, and she went limp in Dominic's arms.

Dominic didn't bother digging any deeper. He scooped Pearl up and hurried downstairs.

As he passed Lila, his shoulder slammed into hers hard enough to knock her off balance.

She stumbled on the floor, and shards cut into her knees. Pain ripped through her, and she couldn't help but cry out.

Dominic's steps stopped for a second. Then, he walked on without looking back.

In his arms, the "unconscious" Pearl cracked one eye open and flashed Lila a faint, triumphant smile.

Lila watched Dominic's retreating back, a crooked, mocking smile tugging at her lips as tears finally spilled over.

There had been a time when Dominic would tense if she so much as frowned.

When her cramps were bad, he'd wanted to drag every specialist in Harborlyn to their house just to make the pain stop.

Now, she was bleeding heavily, but he acted like she wasn't even there.

The difference between love and indifference had never been clearer.

It felt like someone had stabbed her right in the chest. The agony spread through every inch of her.

Lila didn't sleep a second that night. Instead, she stayed up packing up everything that belonged to her. By dawn, she'd tossed it all into trash bags.

It wasn't until the next afternoon that Dominic finally came home with Pearl in his arms.

The moment he walked in, he noticed something was off. "Lila, why does it feel like a lot of stuff is missing in here?"

Chapter 5

Lila's face stayed blank. "Those things were old. I threw them out."

Dominic didn't think twice. He figured she was just clearing out clutter before the wedding. "My supplementary card's still with you. If you need anything, just buy it."

After a momentary pause, he added, "Pearl says she won't make a fuss about what happened yesterday. But make sure it won't happen again. Starting today, you two need to get along. Got it?"

Lila wondered if he actually wanted them both under the same roof, peacefully sharing him? Dream on!

She couldn't even be bothered to answer. She turned and headed upstairs.

Dominic noticed something strange about the way she walked and took a step to follow.

Pearl's gaze flicked after Lila. Then, she turned back, her voice sour as she said, "Lila's really lucky. She doesn't do a thing and still gets to spend as much as she wants."

Dominic chuckled, his tone warm and spoiling. "Are you jealous? Whatever you want, I'll buy it for you."

"Dom, I like you, not your money," she said, leaning into him.

"My dear, you get both," he replied.

He scooped her up, carried her straight past Lila, and disappeared into the bedroom.

Moments later, breathy sounds started drifting out through the door.

Once, those sounds would've cut straight into Lila's heart. Now, she only listened, cold and distant, as if the man in that room with Pearl weren't Dominic at all.

In less than a month, she'd be gone anyway.

After Pearl moved in, she and Dominic were practically glued together. If they weren't kissing, they would be hugging each other.

Lila pretended not to see a thing. She just kept counting down the days until she could walk away.

...

A few days later, Pearl suddenly announced she was leaving, tears streaming down her face.

Dominic looked at her and asked pointedly, "Why are you suddenly leaving? Did someone pick on you?"

Pearl shook her head. "No. I decided to leave myself. If I don't go now, Lila will kick me out anyway."

Before Lila could say a word, Pearl pressed a hand to her abdomen. "I'm pregnant. I know Lila can't accept this baby, so I'll just go to the hospital and get rid of it right now!"

She spun on her heels like she was about to run out the door.

Dominic froze for a brief moment, then caught her around the waist.

"Don't get rid of it!" he blurted, his lips actually trembling. "Pearl, this is my first child. Please, keep the baby."

His voice grew softer as he continued, "I've always wanted a kid. I promise you, as long as you're willing to have this baby, I'll say yes to whatever you want.

"Don't worry. You have me. I won't let anyone lay a finger on either of you."

Lila stared wide-eyed at him, stunned.

There was a time when she and Dominic had sat together talking about children, too.

She remembered exactly what he'd said.

"I hope it's a girl. She'll look like you and have my personality. That way, no one will dare bully her. If the baby is a boy, he can help me protect you after he grows up. Either way, Lila, the only person who'll ever carry my child is you."

Lila had believed him. For a long time after that, she'd tortured herself with guilt over the baby she'd lost.

But now, it was Pearl who was pregnant with his baby.

Even though Lila had already decided to leave him, the realization still hit her like a blow to the chest.

She pressed a hand to her chest and turned to go, but Pearl still wasn't done with her.

"Lila, the baby's innocent. Please, I'm begging you. Let me have the baby, okay?"

Lila let out a bitter laugh. But before she could answer, Dominic cut in with a cold snort. "Why are you asking her? This is our child. She's in no place to decide anything."

Then, he turned to Lila, voice dropping into a tone that left no room for refusal. "From now on, you will be responsible for Pearl's meals. If anything happens to her or the baby, I'll hold you accountable."

He paused, then added, "Don't overthink it. You're still going to be my wife. That isn't changing."

Anger and disbelief crashed together inside Lila until she shook. "Dominic, do you really think I can't live without you? Is that why you think you can treat me like this?

"Let me make this very clear for you! I'm not going to wait on her! I'd rather die than be the maid to your mistress!"

Dominic's gaze darkened, his voice turning icy. "I'm not asking for your opinion. If you say no, think about the things your mother left you and the money I funneled into Wynn Group."

The implication hit like a bolt of lightning. Lila's eyes grew wide. "Dominic, don't make me hate you!"

He gave a mirthless laugh. "Do you think I don't hate you?"