Chapter 1

My husband, Chase, wasn't just a freeloading gold digger—he was an ungrateful one.

Not long after our wedding, he managed to hook up with the sole heiress of a multi-billion-dollar empire. He threw the divorce papers right in my face.

"Your family's pathetic little company? I've outgrown it."

I smiled, gracefully stepped aside, and made a single phone call:

"Ms. Vance, that rare piece you were eyeing earlier? It's finally on the market."

A languid, dangerous voice came through the receiver.

"Clean it up first. I only collect... pristine specimens."

"Mia, we're getting a divorce," Chase said, cutting straight to the chase without a shred of guilt.

"I'm in love with Lauren. She can actually give me the future I deserve."

"Your dad's firm is obsolete. It's living in the stone age. But the Sterling Group is on a whole different level."

I stared at him, suddenly finding the entire situation laughably absurd.

"So, your justification for cheating is that my family's business lacks growth potential?"

"Don't make it sound so ugly," Lauren purred, her voice dripping with sickly-sweet condescension.

"When feelings fade, they fade. Chase settling for you was a downgrade to begin with."

"Besides a bit of cash, what do you actually bring to the table? How are you worthy of him?"

"Mia, sweetie, you should be thanking me. I'm the one who opened his eyes to reality and gave him the chance to conquer a bigger world."

I trembled with rage.

This man had lived off my family's dime for six straight years. Now, side by side with his side piece, he had the audacity to claim our silver platter wasn't shiny enough.

This wasn't just shameless mooching. This was biting the hand that fed him, then trying to chop it off.

"Chase, my parents treated you like their own son. Is this how you repay them?" I pointed an accusing finger at him.

Chase furrowed his brows, his face twisted in annoyance.

"Leave the elders out of this. It's between you and me. Bottom line—are you signing, or not?"

"And if I say no?"

Lauren let out a sharp, mocking laugh. She reached into her designer bag, pulled out a document, and slapped it against my chest.

"This is an official notice of intent to terminate all vendor contracts between Sterling Group and your firm.

"Refuse to sign the divorce papers, and this lands on your father's desk first thing tomorrow morning.

"Do you really think that dusty antique shop of a company can survive a blow like this?"

I picked up the document. The terms were brutally clear.

It was pure, unadulterated extortion.

They were holding my family's lifeline hostage, all to force me to bless their twisted love story.

Seeing the blood drain from my face, Chase finally cracked a smug grin.

"Give it up, Mia."

"Sign the papers, and you can keep the suburban house and the Mercedes in the garage. Let's make this clean."

I stared into his completely shameless eyes.

Whatever lingering warmth I once held in my heart shattered into dust.

"Deal," I heard myself say. "I hope you two deserve each other."

I turned, shut the door in their faces, and immediately dialed a private number.

"Ms. Vance, that piece you said you wanted? It's finally on the market."

Chase had the kind of face that felt like a divine cheat code.

Back in college, nine out of ten girls would have thrown themselves at his feet for a chance to buy him dinner.

In the end, he picked me.

Not because I was the prettiest, but because my family was the wealthiest.

We ran a legacy manufacturing business.

Right after graduation, he slid into a cushy, do-nothing vice director role at my dad's firm. He drove the Porsche I paid for and lived in the penthouse under my name.

For six whole years, he lived the high life on my tab.

I actually believed he would ride that gravy train until my dad retired, until we grew old and gray.

Little did I know, he was busy scouting for a bigger meal ticket.

Lauren Sterling. The only daughter of Chairman Sterling, our firm's biggest client.