Chapter 1

Suzanne Trent was 18 when a drunk stranger violated her. She reported him to the police. Amid the crushing pressure and constant fear, she kept pushing forward with the case.

Finally, he went to prison, despite his deep connections.

The nightmare left a mark that didn't fade. For years afterward, whenever a man came too close, her body would betray her. She would start to shake, her stomach would turn, and sometimes she would throw up.

She thought that was how her life was going to be. She believed she was ruined. She was tainted, and she'd never be able to love or live like a normal person again.

Then, Spencer Price showed up. He was the head of Rivoria's wealthiest and most powerful family. He chose to pursue Suzanne anyway, even though she was an ordinary woman whom others had deemed to be impure and stained.

Spencer respected Suzanne and treated her with care. Over time, he drew her out of the darkness she'd been trapped in.

On the day he proposed, he dropped to one knee and said, "Suzie, give me the chance to take care of you for the rest of your life. I'll give you everything I have and mend every scar you're carrying."

Suzanne believed him. She placed her broken heart in his hands and held nothing back.

The wedding was extravagant and swept through Rivoria like news. People said Suzanne must've done something right to be loved by a man like Spencer, rising from a nobody to a wealthy wife in a single leap.

Suzanne had believed it all along. She thought she was lucky, saved by a light she never expected after falling into the dark.

That night, Spencer took her to a business dinner. She didn't do well in that kind of crowd, and after a while, she said she was tired and wanted to go home. Spencer had someone take her back and stayed to work the room himself.

By the time Suzanne reached the parking lot, she realized she'd left her phone in the lounge. She went back for it, and as she passed a VIP room with the door half open, she heard a conversation inside.

"It's been five years, Spencer. This revenge plan of yours should be done by now, right?"

"Yeah." Spencer's voice was low and cool, as always, but it was flat in a way Suzanne had never heard.

"I signed the divorce agreement a long time ago. In a few days, when she loves me most, I'll hand it to her and tell her the truth."

"It's been five years already. You wrecked her hand in a staged car crash so she'd never play the piano she loved again. Then, when she was pregnant and waiting for the baby, you set up another accident and made her miscarry.

"And for five whole years, you never touched her once. Every time she slept with you, you had Mace take your place. Spencer, you sure put in the work to avenge Isaac."

Spencer's voice stayed flat, but every word was venomous. "She reported Isaac to the police and sent him to prison. A heart attack killed him in there. If it were just one life for another, that'd be too easy on her.

"I want to take everything she treasured and make her fall straight into hell when she was happiest."

"And after the divorce, you're gonna marry Imogen, huh? Your little favorite you've been keeping hidden all these years."

Imogen Steele? She was the Steele family's eldest daughter. She was gentle and pretty, born into money.

Suzanne had seen her at banquets before and noticed the complicated way she always looked at Spencer. Now, it made sense. Imogen was the one he truly loved.

"Of course." Spencer's answer was short and sure.

"Yeah, that tracks. If Isaac hadn't died in prison and you weren't out for revenge, you and Imogen would've been together a long time ago. But Mace..."

The voice swung toward Mason Lowell, who was handsome in a way that felt almost aggressive, and the teasing turned sharp.

"You took Spencer's place in Suzanne's bed for five years. Don't tell me you didn't catch feelings. You watched Spencer wreck a pretty little thing like her, and you didn't feel even a little sorry for her?"

Mason's low laugh came from inside the room. It was careless, and it scraped raw at something in Suzanne.

His voice carried its usual swagger and contempt. "Feel sorry for her? She was nothing but a leftover.

"What was there to feel sorry about? I only did it all these years to help a buddy out. Otherwise, with all those women throwing themselves at me, you really think I wanted to sleep with her?"

The words were like a slap that caused her ears to hurt. She staggered back a few steps and almost fell.

She bit down on her lip until blood filled her mouth. Her nails dug into her palm, but she didn't feel it at all.

The pain was in her chest, tearing and crushing her heart. It hurt so badly she could barely breathe or stay upright. The man she'd sent to prison was Spencer's younger brother, Isaac Price!

That meant that everything Spencer had given Suzanne over the past five years had been fake. The love, the care, the rescue had all been part of a calculated and vicious revenge.

Her husband was the brother of the man who'd ruined her.

Spencer approached Suzanne and married her to destroy her. He ruined her hand so she'd never play the piano she'd dreamed of again. He killed her child and left her to live with that loss.

He wouldn't even touch her as if she disgusted him. For five years, every night she climbed into bed, the man who held her, kissed her, and slept with her in the dark wasn't Spencer at all. It was his best friend, Mason.

And she'd been a complete fool, caught in the tenderness Spencer built around her, believing she was the luckiest woman alive.

Chapter 2

Disgust, humiliation, and despair crashed over Suzanne, swallowing her whole. She couldn't bear to hear another word. She spun around and ran like she'd lost it, stumbling out of the hotel and into the night.

The wind slashed across her face, but she didn't feel cold. She burned all over, her blood boiling over from the anger and pain. She tore down the road, tears spilling fast and getting whipped away by the wind.

Suzanne never forgot what happened when she was 18. She was working a part-time shift at a hotel that day when Isaac, who had been drunk, grabbed her and dragged her into a room.

He was tall, good-looking, and dressed in expensive designer clothes, obviously born into money. He forced her onto the bed and violated her, ignoring her cries and her resistance.

After it was over, Isaac sobered up and apologized. He said someone had drugged him and that he hadn't meant to do it. He said he'd take responsibility and give her any amount of money she wanted.

However, Suzanne didn't want money. She wanted him to pay, so she called the police.

When Isaac was taken away, she caught his look. There was guilt there, and regret, and something else she couldn't make sense of. She didn't find out until later how powerful his background was, or how fast his family would pull strings to get him out.

She was terrified and in unbearable pain. Why should someone with money and power be able to violate a woman and walk away without paying for it?

For days, Suzanne barely slept. Night after night, she would wake up from the nightmares to find her pillow soaked.

Not long after, she heard Isaac had a heart attack in prison and died. She felt relief and thought he'd finally gotten what he deserved. What he'd done to her, though, didn't go away.

Suzanne became afraid of men and pulled away from intimacy. She felt filthy and believed she was unworthy of love. That didn't change until she met Spencer.

All it took was her saying she liked classical music before he had an entire concert hall rented out. He even brought in a world-class orchestra just for her alone.

When she had menstrual cramps, he put his pride aside and fumbled through making her chamomile tea. Even when the heat left his fingers red, he brushed it off and told her, "It doesn't hurt."

On every anniversary, Spencer showed up with carefully chosen gifts and romantic surprises that made Suzanne feel cherished. There were accidents, though.

Two years earlier, a car crash damaged the nerves in her fingers and left her unable to handle demanding piano pieces, killing her dream of becoming a professional pianist. A year earlier, she'd just found out she was pregnant and was still riding on the joy when she slipped on the stairs and lost the baby.

After every accident, Spencer acted like he was in more pain than she was, and he beat himself up over it. He became even more attentive, hovering and waiting on her so much that she couldn't scrape up even a trace of resentment.

She only thought she'd been careless and had made him worry. The truth was, every one of those accidents had been carefully designed by him!

Spencer had never loved Suzanne. What he'd been doing all along was carrying out a long, brutal revenge. He was so disgusted by the thought of touching her that he let other men take his place in bed.

For five years, she'd been living a lie that was both ridiculous and revolting. Suzanne didn't know how long she ran. She only stopped when her strength finally gave out. Her legs went weak under her, and she sank by the side of the road.

She pulled her knees to her chest and cried without making a sound. When her tears ran dry, all that remained was a raw, stinging ache and a cold, dead silence.

She knew she couldn't stay here. She couldn't spend another second beside Spencer.

Suzanne ran home like she'd lost her mind. She rushed into Spencer's study and tore through the drawers, the cabinets, the file racks.

She searched in a blind hurry, shoving things aside and flinging them away until the room was a mess. Finally, in the bottom drawer of the desk, she found the divorce agreement.

Spencer had already signed it. The date was three months earlier, which meant he'd had all of this ready back then.

Suzanne stared at the document as tears fell onto the page, dotting the paper and bleeding the name "Spencer Price" into a blur.

She picked up a pen and signed her own name with trembling hands. Each stroke cut into her chest.

When she was done, she messaged the lawyer, Andrew Lloyd.

"Mr. Lloyd, I want a divorce. I've sent the agreement to your email. Please take care of the paperwork as fast as possible."

Chapter 3

Andrew texted back right away.

"Got it. Since you've both signed the agreement, we can proceed. Once we do, the law requires a month to process everything. After that month is over, you'll be officially divorced."

Suzanne replied with a single "Okay." She set her phone down and stared out the window at the cold, dark night, her eyes empty.

Over the next few days, she shut herself inside her place. She was like a shell that had already been hollowed out.

She ate, slept, and drew blank. She didn't cry or make a sound, and she didn't say a word.

Spencer seemed busy with the last preparations before he ended his revenge against her. He rarely came home. Even when he did, it was always late, and he reeked of alcohol.

The way he looked at Suzanne was still gentle, even more tender than before, as if he were deliberately leaning into it to sell the surprise that was coming.

Suzanne watched him put on the act and felt only nausea and a deep, sinking desolation. She swallowed it all and made sure nothing showed.

That night, Spencer came home early for once. He walked into the bedroom and saw Suzanne propped against the headboard, staring blankly. He went over, sat down beside the bed, and reached out to touch her hair.

Suzanne's body tightened slightly, so subtly it was almost impossible to notice. She forced herself not to move away.

Spencer's voice stayed low and gentle, with an apologetic edge. "Suzie, work's been overwhelming these past few days, and I've ended up neglecting you. A friend of mine has a birthday banquet tomorrow.

"Come with me and take your mind off things, okay?"

Suzanne felt the pain twisting inside her, but she still gave a small nod. "Okay."

Spencer seemed satisfied by how compliant she was. He bent down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Get some rest."

…

The next evening, Spencer brought Suzanne to a lavish birthday banquet. She was dressed up for the occasion.

It wasn't until she stepped into the banquet hall that Suzanne finally understood why Spencer had brought her. She saw the birthday girl in a white gown, surrounded and treated like royalty.

He'd brought her here to humiliate her. The birthday girl was Imogen, Spencer's beloved. He had brought his wife, Suzanne, to Imogen's party.

As Suzanne went in with him, Imogen was standing on the staircase in a white gown, looking poised and luminous. She saw them and smiled as she came down to meet them.

"Spencer, Suzie, you're here."

Spencer nodded and handed over the gift. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you."

Imogen took it and slipped her arm through his. "Spencer, will you dance the opening with me, like we used to?"

Spencer glanced at Suzanne, who looked away.

"Okay," Spencer said.

He released Suzanne's hand and walked with Imogen toward the dance floor. The music started, and they held each other as they danced.

Spencer was tall and handsome. Imogen looked soft and luminous at his side. Their steps fell into rhythm without effort, as if they were a natural match.

Guests nearby watched them with looks of envy and quiet recognition.

Suzanne was left standing where she was, alone and conspicuously out of place. She could feel eyes on her from every direction, probing, pitying, or taking quiet pleasure in it.

A glass of champagne appeared in front of her. "Why're you standing here by yourself?"

Mason was at her side before she even saw him approach, wearing a roguish, careless smile. His burgundy suit only sharpened the aggressively handsome angles of his face.

Suzanne took the glass, her fingers trembling. She turned her head slowly and looked at Mason.

His face was handsome and deep-set, with a cocky, roguish edge that couldn't have been more different from Spencer's cool, aristocratic restraint.

She had never understood why Spencer was distant and proper during the day, then turned intense, domineering, and possessive once night fell. Now, she did. It hadn't been the same man.

Mason smiled as he spoke. "Don't take it personally. Spencer and Imogen have been close since they were kids. Every year, the opening dance at her birthday is with him. You'll get used to it."

Suzanne said nothing. She looked into Mason's eyes and realized, all at once, that the look he had for Imogen was the same look Spencer wore. It held possession and want.

So Mason liked Imogen, too.

Chapter 4

Mason said, "I'm going up there to drop off the gift. You stay here and eat something."

He patted Suzanne's shoulder, the motion casual and natural. She recoiled sharply, as if she'd been burned.

Mason paused for a moment, then smiled. "What's wrong? Are you that scared of me?"

Suzanne didn't answer. Mason didn't linger on it. He turned and walked toward the dance floor.

Suzanne looked up at the stage and saw all three of them together: Spencer, Imogen, and Mason. They stood together, talking and laughing. The scene looked like a perfect picture.

She stood apart, like someone who'd wandered in by mistake. Just then, a group of women headed straight for Suzanne. They were Imogen's friends. Leading them was Vivian Lambert, Imogen's best friend.

Vivian had never liked Suzanne. She gave Suzanne a slow, head-to-toe look. "Well, if it isn't Mrs. Price. Why're you standing here all by yourself? Where's Mr. Price?"

Suzanne didn't respond and turned to leave. Vivian stepped into her path. "Don't go. Let's talk."

"There's nothing for us to talk about," Suzanne said.

Vivian smiled. "Oh, there's plenty. We can talk about how you climbed into Mr. Price's bed. We can talk about how you schemed your way into marrying him. We can talk about how someone like you thought you could rise above your station."

All eyes turned toward them. Suzanne clenched her fists. "Move."

Vivian stepped forward and shoved her hard. "I'm not moving. Who do you think you are? You think you deserve to stand next to Mr. Price?

"Immy and Mr. Price belong together. He's going to dump you sooner or later!"

In the pushing, someone caught Suzanne's foot. Her mind was in chaos. As her body was already weak, she stumbled and went straight down onto the floor.

Vivian said sweetly, "Oh, no. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

The women behind her closed in. Wine was splashed over Suzanne. A heel crushed down on her hand. Her hair was seized and pulled hard.

"You bitch! Take a look at yourself and see if you're even worthy!"

"Mr. Price married you just for fun!"

"One day, he'll dump you and marry Immy!"

Pain hit, sharp and immediate. Suzanne tried to push herself up and felt panic spike when her body barely moved. Her limbs felt slack and useless.

Had Mason slipped something into the champagne he'd handed her? Had he drugged her?

The thought drained the blood in her from the inside out. She turned toward the dance floor and tried to call Spencer's name.

Spencer held Imogen as they danced. His eyes were soft, and he was smiling. He didn't look in Suzanne's direction even once. Something in Suzanne went completely cold.

She'd forgotten that Imogen was the one he loved. She'd forgotten that he spent his days thinking about how to get revenge on her. There was no way he was going to save her.

Suzanne's cries didn't bring anyone. That only made the women bolder. They kicked and punched her, spitting obscenities the whole time.

Her face and body burned with pain. Whatever was in that drink left her weak, and she could barely fight back. They hit her, stomped her, and kept going.

With whatever strength she had left, Suzanne shoved the nearest woman aside and forced herself upright. She staggered for the doors, crawling and stumbling at the same time.

Behind her, the women shrieked after her, screaming curses.

Suzanne's head spun, and her vision blurred. She ran on instinct, burst out of the banquet hall, and charged onto the driveway outside the hotel.

The night wind hit her, and the drug seemed to surge harder. Her legs went weak, and she could barely stay upright. Just then, headlights flared in her face, and a black sedan barreled straight toward her.

Suzanne's eyes flew open. She tried to get out of the way, but her body wouldn't move.

There was a hard bang, and the force of it launched her. She felt herself get tossed weightless for a split second, then slam down on the cold, hard ground.

Pain ripped through her all at once. Warm blood spilled from her mouth and nose, and it seeped from other parts of her body, spreading under her and staining the pavement red.

Her vision swam. Darkness rolled in like a tide. Just before she blacked out, she saw Spencer and Mason standing not far away.

They stood there and watched her lying in her own blood, barely breathing. Their faces were blank, like they were watching a show that had nothing to do with them.

Then, Suzanne heard Mason speak in that careless, offhand tone. "Whose idea was this? You had me spike her drink, then set Vivian and those idiots on her. Even if she got out, there was still a car waiting outside to hit her.

"Everything worked together like clockwork. It was ruthless."

Spencer answered next. His voice was as cool as ever, and Suzanne went cold all at once.

"That's how you make it stick. Relax. She won't die. I already worked out the angle and the impact. The hospital's been taken care of."

It all clicked at once. He'd planned every bit of it, and Mason had done it with him. For revenge, they'd use whatever it took.

Chapter 5

When Suzanne awoke again, she was in the hospital. Her body felt heavy, wrapped in layers of bandages. Stitches ran across her forehead, and one of her arms was immobilized in a cast.

She opened her eyes to a white ceiling and the sharp scent of disinfectant. Then, she saw Spencer, Mason, and Imogen.

Imogen's eyes were red, as if she had been crying. The moment she noticed Suzanne was awake, guilt and concern emerged on her face.

"Suzanne, you're finally awake! Thank goodness! I'm sorry—I'm so sorry. It's all my fault for not keeping an eye on Viv and the rest.

"I've already given them a harsh talking-to. They promised they'll never treat you like that again! Please don't be angry with me. Just focus on your recovery."

Spencer stepped forward and gently held her uninjured hand, his brows drawn tight. "Suzie, how do you feel? Does it hurt anywhere?

"The doctor said you have a fractured left leg, a cracked rib, and multiple soft-tissue injuries... This is all my fault. I should've protected you."

Mason leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets, still wearing his usual carefree look. His tone, however, was grim.

"Suzanne, it was an accident. Don't worry, the driver who hit you has been caught.

"He was drunk-driving; he'll be sentenced however the law dictates. As for those women, Immy will make sure their families discipline them as necessary."

Their voices overlapped, full of concern and sympathy. It was as though they genuinely cared for her and were standing up for her.

As Suzanne's eyes darted between them, taking in the carefully crafted worry in their eyes, a chill spread through her. She said nothing but withdrew her hand.

Spencer paused, surprised, but didn't challenge it. "Get some good rest. Don't dwell on it."

Just then, both his and Mason's phones started ringing. They answered and listened briefly. Within a few seconds, their expressions grew serious.

Imogen stepped in smoothly, her voice gentle. "Spencer, Mason, if something's come up at work, go handle it. I'll stay here and take care of Suzanne."

Spencer glanced at Suzanne, who had her eyes closed in silence, then at Imogen. Ultimately, he nodded. "Alright, I shall leave Suzie in your capable hands then, Immy. I'll be back once I'm done."

With that, he and Mason left in a hurry, leaving Suzanne and Imogen in the ward.

At first, Imogen did behave like a regular caretaker. She cut fruit for her, tucked her in, and spoke softly. She was the epitome of a considerate, well-bred lady.

Suzanne kept her eyes shut, ignoring her. After a while, Imogen rose to her feet. Suzanne heard the sound of flowing water, then Imogen's footsteps returning.

"Suzanne, have a drink," Imogen said from her bedside.

"No need. I'm not thirsty." Suzanne's voice was hoarse but firm.

Imogen's tender smile thinned. She glanced at the glass of hot water, then at Suzanne, and the corner of her lips curled into a vicious arc.

"But the water's already been poured. If you don't drink it, it'll get cold."

Before the words finished leaving her mouth, she flicked her wrist and flung the entire glass of boiling water straight onto Suzanne's bandaged left hand!

The scalding water soaked through the gauze and seeped into the wound. At once, pain seared through her body. Suzanne screamed in agony as her whole body convulsed. In an instant, her face turned deathly pale.

Imogen, however, stood holding the empty glass with a smug look on her face. Her eyes were overflowing with malice and cruel satisfaction.

"Suzanne Trent, do you really think Spencer likes you? Stop fooling yourself. He and I grew up together.

"The bond we built over the years isn't something you can ever replace. You're just a woman who's popped out of nowhere. Sooner or later, he will abandon you and come back to me!"

As she spoke, she reached for the kettle nearby. Her intentions were clear—to use up the remaining water as well!

Suzanne watched the steam rise from the kettle. Faced with the undisguised hostility in Imogen's eyes, her instinct for survival overpowered all else.

She swung out her still-functioning hand fiercely and shoved Imogen's arm.

Imogen hadn't expected resistance from the severely injured Suzanne. Caught off guard, she staggered backward, slipped, and crashed heavily onto the floor. The kettle flew out of her hand and hit the ground with a bang. Hot water splashed outward.

Imogen cried out in pain. It looked like she'd taken a bad fall. At that very moment, the door to the ward shot open.

Spencer and Mason had returned for something they'd forgotten. When they saw the scene before their eyes, both of the men froze.

"Immy!" Mason's face fell. He rushed over straight away, helping Imogen up. "Are you okay? Where did you hurt yourself?"

Spencer strode forward briskly. "What happened?"

Leaning into Mason's arms, Imogen burst into tears. She pointed at Suzanne, her accusations laced with a mix of grievance and fury.

"Spencer! Mason! I was just being kind and pouring her a glass of water. She said it was too hot, so I told her I'd let it cool down. Then, she suddenly lost her temper and pushed me!

"Look at my hand! It's all red from the burn! She shoved me to the ground! My back... It hurts."

She had the truth all twisted! Suzanne trembled with rage. The throbbing from her injuries left her clammy with cold sweat.

She desperately wanted to explain. However, the cold, scrutinizing look in Spencer's eyes told her he wouldn't believe her at all.

Then, she remembered what she had done earlier, out of fear that Imogen might pull something funny. She had secretly turned on her phone's recording function. It was propped up beside her pillow, with the camera angled toward them.

Gritting her teeth, she reached under the pillow with her trembling right hand and pulled out her phone. She fetched the video, pressed play, and turned the screen toward them.

The recording clearly captured everything, from how Imogen deliberately splashed Suzanne with boiling water, to how she hurled vicious insults. And how Suzanne had been forced to defend herself.

By the end of the video, Spencer's features had contorted into a dark scowl. He turned to Imogen, who was still sobbing in Mason's arms, his voice as cold as ice.

"Imogen Steele, explain yourself!"

The color drained from Imogen's face when she saw the footage. Yet, she quickly lifted her chin, defiant.

"Explain? What's there to explain? Spencer, it's clear you and I used to like each other.

"Why have you now chosen a woman like her? You're the one who owes me an explanation!"