Chapter 1

I'm a fake heiress who fell in love with the true heir.

When I was ten, Damien Cross said he would marry me.

When I was sixteen, Damien kissed me and told me, "You're my only one."

When I was eighteen, I gave myself to Damien, thinking we were truly in love.

After that blissful night, when dawn broke, Damien suddenly grew disgusted with me.

"Get out. I don't have a sister as filthy as you."

From that day on, he never looked at me again.

Later, the true heiress Luna Cross returned.

She hated me, and effortlessly crushed everything I had.

Until she framed me for leaking military secrets, which led to Father's failed mission and eventual death from grief.

Damien came to completely despise me:

"The Cross family has no daughter like you, and I have no sister like you. For the rest of this life, don't let me see you again!"

Three years after being driven from the Cross family, and in my first year of being kept by River Kane, I saw Damien again.

This was a charity gala hosted by the Cross family.

I knew I shouldn't come. I didn't want to come.

But it was River's decision, and he was my patron—I had no right to refuse.

I lowered my eyes, my voice trembling:

"River, I don't want to go over there..."

River patted my face. The touch wasn't heavy, but the humiliation was palpable.

"What's wrong? Are you afraid of seeing Damien, afraid he'll see what you've become?"

"Aria, you know how it works. When you do something wrong, there's always a price to pay. I've been good to you. Why did you secretly take birth control pills behind my back? You think I didn't know?"

All the blood in my body instantly went cold.

Then I laughed bitterly at myself, actively hooking my arms around his neck with a seductive smile, carrying a sort of numb recklessness.

"Then you'll have to pay me more. Give me fifty thousand, and I'll go to the gala with you."

My medication was almost gone.

Fifty thousand would buy me three more bottles, three more months of life.

River froze for a moment.

His expression shifted from shock to amusement, and finally he laughed lowly:

"Fifty thousand?"

"Aria, when did you start valuing yourself so low? I'll give you a hundred thousand."

He leaned close, his lips almost touching my ear. Malice poured out:

"Remember to control your eyes. I'm your man."

"You, Aria White, were already thrown away by him. Rotten, stinking. Now I'm the one who paid to pick you back up. Understand?"

I lowered my lashes and answered docilely:

"I understand, River."

I followed closely behind River.

He seemed somewhat dissatisfied and actively wrapped his arm around my waist, heading toward the center.

Damien also noticed our approach.

He turned around, facing us directly.

River extended his hand, greeting him proactively:

"Mr. Cross, it's an honor to meet you. My father often mentions you, saying you're the most admirable young military officer of this generation."

Damien responded politely.

His voice was still the same as in my memories, carrying a metallic coldness:

"You flatter me. River is the true young hero. You secured that South Harbor project so effortlessly."

River smiled.

He didn't release his arm from my waist. Instead, he patted it with a hint of showing off:

"This is Aria. She's been with me for some time now."

River paused maliciously, waiting for my reaction.

My throat tightened, each word feeling like it was scraped from sandpaper:

"Mr. Cross."

Damien gave me a cold glance, which counted as acknowledgment.

Just then, Luna Cross from not far away let out a soft "oh," as if just noticing me.

She walked toward me proactively, her smile cutting:

"Aria? It really is you!"

"I never imagined I'd run into you here. So you're... with River now? How fortunate for you. Even though you're just a mistress, life must be better than before."

"You should be more obedient, Aria. Serve River well. Don't do those shameless things you used to do again."

I listened quietly, not even attempting to defend myself.

Luna hated me to the bone. If I said anything more, she would only humiliate me worse.

Only my heart ached terribly—my heart failure was probably worsening again.

At least with the money, I could buy a few more bottles of medication later.

River was initially enjoying my misery with interest, but seeing my face grow paler and paler.

Just as he was frowning, about to interrupt, Damien spoke first.

"Luna! Mom's been waiting for us over there for a while. Let's go."

Damien had spoken.

Even though Luna was in the middle of her tirade, she could only reluctantly stop.

But still unsatisfied, she directly cursed as she left:

"Disgusting!"

Damien had no reaction, letting Luna finish cursing before leading her away.

I remained silent throughout.

Quietly listening to the gossip spreading from all directions because of Luna's insults.

"Miss Cross really hit the nail on the head. With that kind of character, she's only fit to be someone's plaything."

"I heard Old Mr. Cross died of grief because of her. So ungrateful! Back then at the Cross house she wasn't decent, shamelessly climbing into Young Mr. Cross's bed. Now she's latched onto this one from the Kane family... Her skills really are impressive."

"What skills? Just good in bed. That slutty energy is exactly what men love."

...

The buzzing in my ears grew louder, and the squeezing pain in my chest began to intensify.

I couldn't tell if it was because of Damien's coldness or because of my illness.

My vision began to sway, and my body collapsed backward uncontrollably.

Fortunately, River caught me.

His harsh voice swept across, and the surroundings instantly quieted.

His movements weren't gentle as he leaned close and mocked:

"What's wrong?"

"Saw your old flame and it's already too painful to bear?"

I knew River was about to get angry.

I wanted to explain, but the severe pain from my heart strangled my throat, making even breathing shallow and weak.

I could only plead with a gasping voice:

"Medicine... my medicine..."