Chapter 1

"Audrey, marry that paralyzed guy from the Hayes family instead of Skylar. Then we'll get the special medicine for your mom right away."

I agreed to my father's demand.

On my way back to my room, at the turn of the stairs, through the partially open door, I saw my former fiancé pinning another woman against the wall. His voice was hoarse and full of tenderness. "Skylar, you're the only one I love."

A few minutes later, he walked out of the room, glancing at me as if I were a servant.

"The sheets are dirty. Go clean them up."

I stood my ground, my fingernails digging into my palms.

He raised an eyebrow. "What, you won't?"

I stared into his eyes and then, suddenly, I smiled.

"Liam, I'm marrying someone else in two weeks. You should probably ask Skylar to wash those sheets herself."

Audrey POV

"As long as you're willing to marry that shut-in, practically dead man from the Hayes family instead of Skylar, your mom will get the special medicine right away. Are you willing?"

I nodded seriously. "I am."

Once I was married, I would never have to be entangled with Liam again.

In two weeks, I'd be marrying another man.

I walked out of my father's study and turned to go upstairs, only to hear Skylar's soft voice mingling with a man's heavy breathing.

Through the door, left ajar, I saw everything inside.

"Liam, I suffered so much growing up, never had a good life. And now, I can't even keep you."

"Ever since I came back to this house, Audrey has bullied me. Now she's even stealing you away with an engagement."

Skylar sounded on the verge of tears.

Liam gently comforted her.

"I would never marry a woman I don't love. You're the only one I love."

Suffered outside? A rough life?

My womanizing father had spent a fortune on that mother-daughter duo over the years.

I stood outside the door, lost in thought, until Liam appeared before me, bringing me back to reality.

"So you love eavesdropping? Perfect. The sheets are dirty, go clean them up."

Liam's casual tone made it sound like the most normal request.

My hands involuntarily clenched.

"Do you really need to humiliate me like this? We grew up together for so many years, did it truly mean nothing?"

Liam raised an eyebrow, seemingly mocking me.

"Sure it did. If you promise to never bully Skylar again, I'll marry you."

No sooner had he spoken than Skylar appeared beside him, linking her arm through his.

"Audrey, I know you're used to taking my things, but you and Liam aren't married yet. I won't give him up to you."

Skylar's feigned distress was obvious, and Liam looked at her with doting pity.

A dull ache throbbed somewhere deep inside me, as past memories flooded back.

Liam and I grew up together, the perfect couple everyone in our circle acknowledged.

Liam had planned nine hundred and ninety-nine surprises, each one public and city-wide news.

I should have had a happy family and a successful career.

But everything changed when Skylar's mother showed up at the Bennett estate with Skylar, causing a scene.

My mother couldn't accept that her husband had an adult illegitimate daughter. She fell gravely ill and needed long-term treatment.

With his wife near death, my father simply moved Skylar and her mother in.

Even my own fiancé was completely smitten with Skylar.

Now, disregarding our engagement and years of shared history, he was determined to be with Skylar.

The once privileged Bennett daughter now had to rely on others.

And then, to make things worse, the Bennett family company faced a financial crisis.

The infamous Hayes family in New York specifically requested a Bennett daughter.

Marry into their family, and they would help the Bennett company overcome its crisis.

But the billionaire Mr. Hayes was rumored to be a sickly shut-in, practically a dead man walking.

Seeing that Skylar was now the favored daughter, my father naturally couldn't bear to sacrifice her.

My marriage would solve all their problems.

My only condition was that my father keep his word and save my mother.

I just never expected to be humiliated by these two betrayers, right before I left.

Seeing my silence, Liam smiled faintly, looking at Skylar with feigned affection, then turned his gaze to me.

"If you're really lonely, you can come join us."

Skylar laughed, trembling slightly.

"You and Audrey were together for so long, and she never let you touch her. How could someone so uptight possibly join us?"

Skylar's contemptuous gaze was undisguised, making me incredibly uncomfortable.

I bit down hard on my lower lip, my voice trembling as I finally managed to speak.

"No thanks. You two just have fun..."

Liam gave me a cold glance, then picked up Skylar, and they walked toward the bedroom.

I watched their retreating backs. In two weeks, all this love and hate would finally be over.