Chapter 1

The second year after marrying Damien Knight, the notorious mob boss, I ran into Julian Vance again.

He was on the same island, having splurged on buying out a pearl shop for his wife.

The moment he saw me, his expression froze.

"There was a reason for what happened back then."

"You know, if I didn't save your stepsister, she would have died..."

He was talking about that life-or-death moment years ago when the kidnappers forced him to choose between me and Amelia Sterling.

He'd chosen Amelia without a moment's hesitation.

And I? I was taken by those kidnappers and, well, defiled.

I simply smiled faintly.

"It's all in the past."

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my hand, his eyes suddenly red.

"Did those men... do anything to you back then? I'm so sorry. I won't judge you. I'm willing to take care of you from now on..."

I pulled my hand free and flashed the massive diamond ring on my ring finger.

"You're overthinking things. My husband and I are very happy."

Julian froze.

The pity in his eyes deepened.

"Summer, you don't have to pretend to be strong in front of me."

"So many media outlets captured it all back then, how you were... humiliated like that. I know you even suffered from depression."

Julian's eyes were red at the corners, his lips trembling slightly.

"It's my fault these past two years. I was so focused on taking care of Amelia that I didn't get a chance to find you—"

"But it's not too late now!"

"If you don't mind, I can keep you close, take care of you just like I take care of Amelia..."

Amelia.

The very same stepsister, Amelia Sterling, who mixed my mother's ashes into flour and baked them into a pizza.

A sarcastic smile touched my lips.

"No thanks. I'm doing perfectly fine."

After three years apart, Julian probably felt awkward too, trying hard to find a topic of conversation.

Just then, the waitress called my number.

I went in, picked up my steak, and sat at a table outside the restaurant to eat.

So many years had passed, but I still only loved this flavor.

It was all because the owner of this restaurant made food that tasted almost exactly like my mom's.

Maybe he added a little too much seasoning; it made my eyes water.

"Summer—"

Julian called out my name.

Only then did I notice he hadn't left, standing there like a statue, staring at me.

He approached, his gaze falling on the bowl in front of me.

The pity in his eyes was overflowing.

"You're eating *this*? Such a pathetic, cheap meal?"

He then looked at my clothes with the same pity, and I finally realized he thought I was living a terrible life.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have betrayed you back then."

His eyes were filled with guilt.

"But it's no use saying anything now... I know you've had a bad couple of years. From now on, I'll take responsibility for you. Will you come back with me?"

Julian even excitedly reached out to grab my hand.

I stiffly avoided him.

"No need. You know Amelia Sterling and I have too much animosity between us. There's no way we could live under the same roof."

Julian froze, his hand suspended in mid-air.

He knew better than anyone the deep-seated hatred between Amelia Sterling and me.

Without Amelia and her mother meddling, my mom wouldn't have died in that engineered car accident.

Without Amelia's repeated false accusations, I wouldn't have been kicked out of my own home.

Even now, my back bears jagged scars.

Those were from the glass shards Amelia deliberately hid in my bedding.

"Summer, I..."

Just then, his phone rang.

Amelia Sterling's saccharine voice came through the phone.

"Honey, why aren't you back yet? Did you manage to buy out that pearl shop for me?"

"I'll be there in 5 minutes, come pick me up quickly."

Julian hung up, wanting to say something, but then silently looked at me.

Before he left, he slipped a business card into my hand.

"Summer, I truly wronged you three years ago."

"If you change your mind, you can call me. I have an apartment in the suburbs that I can let you—"

"Without Amelia knowing."

I was about to speak, but he vanished.

How interesting.

Was he trying to make me his mistress?

Daring to suggest that Damien Knight's wife be his mistress? Julian has a death wish, doesn't he?

I shook my head, casually tossed the business card into the trash, and continued eating.

The restaurant owner came out, smiling as he took off his apron.

"Mrs. Knight, do you know that young man who was just here?"

I smiled, pondering how to answer.

The owner suddenly leaned in and whispered a warning.

"Don't get too close to him, you know. I saw it earlier—he has the slave mark from 'The Abyss' on him."

"What does that mean? It means he was born a slave. To have survived this long, he must be ruthlessly cunning."

I put down my forks and chuckled, looking down.

"Yes."

"He used to be my slave for five years."

I had saved him time and time again.

He'd promised to only be good to me his whole life, to even give me his life.

Yet, when forced to choose, he'd chosen my enemy without hesitation.

And left *me* to the kidnappers.