Chapter 5

The condo Lucas prepared for me was definitely luxurious.

A 2,000-square-foot river-view unit with fancy decor. The walk-in closet was filled with the season's latest styles.

Even the vanity was covered with expensive skincare products I'd never normally dream of buying.

If I were some ordinary girl, I might have cried tears of joy.

I might have gladly become his lifelong mistress.

That night at ten, Lucas arrived, reeking of alcohol.

As soon as he walked in, he wrapped his arms around me from behind.

"Aria, do you like it?"

He buried his face in my neck: "Tomorrow at the wedding, don't look at me, okay? Not even once."

"Because I'll weaken. I'll want to take you away."

"But I can't."

He closed his eyes dramatically, like he was having some epic internal battle.

"For our future, I have to marry Vivian."

"Aria, do you get what I'm going through?"

Watching this display of supposed devotion, I just felt sick.

Wanting to be a player while acting like a saint—that summed Lucas up perfectly.

"Lucas."

I gently pushed him away and picked up the document he'd tossed casually on the table.

It was a prenuptial property agreement.

But not between him and Vivian—between him and me.

Titled as a gift, it was really a contract of servitude.

The agreement stated that while the condo was in my name, it was fully mortgaged, with Lucas's company as the lender.

If I violated the terms, the condo would be immediately repossessed, and I'd be stuck with massive debt.

Even more absurd was a clause at the end:

[The female party must unconditionally cooperate with the male party's technical research and development needs, including but not limited to providing inspiration and organizing data.]

So he didn't just want my body—he wanted my mind too.

He'd long suspected that the company's key technical breakthroughs were connected to me.

But he refused to admit that Aria the pig farmer was his technological savior.

He'd rather believe it was my "inspiration"—a resource he could exploit whenever he wanted.

"Lucas, do you really love me?"

I held up the agreement.

Lucas's eyes shifted, then he stepped over and took my hand.

"Of course I love you. If I didn't, why would I give you all this?"

"Sign it, Aria. Then we can be together forever."

He pressed a pen into my hand, watching eagerly.

In Lucas's mind, I was like that old sow back in the pigpen.

Useful for breeding when alive, good for meat when dead.

He wanted to squeeze every last drop of value from me, leaving nothing behind.

"Okay, I'll sign."

I bent my head and scribbled on the agreement.

But it wasn't "Aria."

I drew a little pig.

Lucas didn't look closely. Seeing me put pen to paper, he immediately relaxed, satisfied, and tucked the agreement away.

"That's my girl."

"Get some rest tonight. Wait for my text tomorrow."

He left in a rush, not even staying the night.

Probably hurrying back to sweet-talk his fiancée, or eager to lock this "contract of servitude" in his safe.

I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching his luxury car vanish into the night.

I pulled out my phone and called Brain.

"Tomorrow at ten in the morning, I'm going to Lucas's wedding."

Lucas and Vivian's wedding was at the Peninsula Hotel, the fanciest in the city.

I heard they'd flown in dozens of tons of fresh flowers, and the champagne tower was taller than a person.

All of River City's elite showed up. Media cameras lined the entrance.

Vivian clung to Lucas's arm at the door greeting guests, grinning from ear to ear.

Truly a match made in heaven—if it weren't for me.

The ceremony time arrived.

The emcee on stage passionately told their "love story."

"Mr. Lucas and Miss Vivian met in humble beginnings, childhood sweethearts who grew up together..."

Thunderous applause broke out below.

Lucas looked at Vivian with deep affection, about to exchange rings.

"Wait."