Chapter 1

With the Spring Festival approaching,I went to the charity gala as usual to support my doctor husband.

While looking for him,I stumbled upon him in a secluded corner of the garden—tangled up with his ex-wife in a frenzy.

"Finn,you remarried so quickly just to forget me.Now I'm back—when are you divorcing her?"

Finn Gilbert pinched Kate Simmons's chin,pulling her waist tight against him.

"My wife is pregnant,"he said with a teasing smile."We're not getting divorced.You abandoned me back then—what status do you expect now?"

Then came the urgent panting.

I lost my balance stepping back and hit the ground.

When my family's company went bankrupt,my parents fled abroad to escape the debt.Overnight,I became a fallen heiress.

Finn Gilbert took me in when I was sleeping on the sidewalk.He bought ten thousand acres of flower fields just to make me smile.

Now he was telling me it was all to forget his ex-wife.

But when I went abroad to inherit my parents'new business,he had stood in this very spot every night,desperately waiting for my return.

An event coordinator helped me to my feet.

"Miss,searching for love in a place like this is a lifelong gamble.Don't disturb them."

"Dr.Gilbert has a generous heart.The gala organizers are happy to accommodate the romantic interests of a prominent couple."

I took a deep breath and unclenched my fists.

Like a walking corpse,I left the hall.

I wandered until I reached the private art gallery—and ran straight into Finn and Kate at the entrance.

He panicked,dropping her hand.His expression flickered when our eyes met.

"Bella,weren't you buying Spring Festival couplets today?Why are you here?"

"But it works out.I was about to tell you—Katie just got back and has nowhere to stay.She came straight from the airport to find me,her ex-husband.Can she stay with us for now?"

My heart seized.After a long moment,I forced a smile.

"Sure."

Finn's face darkened.

"Bella,you really don't mind?"

"Really."

I said it firmly.His expression soured further.

Kate looped her arm through his and shot me a smug look.

"Finn,your wife is so generous.Thanks."

Inside the gallery,Kate dragged me along to browse the rare manuscripts—then deliberately cut her own hand and cried out.

"Miss Henson,you agreed so nicely earlier,so why are you using the manuscripts to cut my hand?"

Finn rushed over,worry flooding his face as he examined her hand.

Before I could react,he slammed the heavy folder into me,eyes blazing.

"Isabella Henson,don't you know Katie is terrified of pain?If anything happens to her,you won't be okay either!"

"I didn't—"

I covered my bruised arm,but Finn had already scooped Kate up and shoved past me.

"Katie,don't be scared.I'll take you to the hospital and bandage it myself."

After they left,everyone in the gallery stared.Whispers rose around me.

"She's probably fighting for favor with the real wife and snapped.Mistresses these days are so vicious—and she still has the nerve to show her face in public!"

"Look at her playing the victim.The actual girlfriend's hand is bleeding and she didn't even cry."

Only then did I realize a tear had slipped down my cheek.

I ran to the center of the hall and threw away the gala invitation I’d kept for Finn.

For five years,I'd supported him at every event—my way of thanking him for being my light.

He'd sworn before the world:one lifetime,one man,one woman.

But the moment Kate Simmons appeared,none of it counted anymore.