Chapter 1

The first time I met Chloe Parker was on my twenty-sixth birthday.

I was still smiling, mingling with the guests at the party.

“Julian will be a little late, something came up at the office,” I was explaining. “But he already sent his gift ahead–”

I couldn’t finish my sentence.

Julian waltzed in with her on his arm, right in front of everyone.

Chloe Parker, in a bright red dress, was clinging to Julian’s arm, her eyes darting around curiously.

She chirped like a lively little sparrow.

“You said you were taking me somewhere fun. Is this it?”

She scanned the room, her gaze pausing on my face for two seconds before flitting away.

“Wow, that cake looks amazing! I want some!”

Julian watched her with a smile, indulging her as she proceeded to ruin my birthday party.

The guests around us began to whisper.

“How can she be so brazen? Acting like this right in front of Victoria.”

“Well, she’s his favorite, isn’t she? Besides, didn’t Victoria throw herself at him to get this marriage?”

“So humiliating. To be shamed like this on her own birthday and not say a word. If I were her, I’d want to die.”

I pulled my expensive evening gown tighter around me, pretending I couldn’t hear their taunts.

I found Julian and spoke in a low voice.

“We had an agreement. You weren’t supposed to bring her here.”

“No matter what, we should at least maintain a basic level of decency…”

He cut me off rudely before I could finish.

He’d had a few drinks with Chloe, and there was a drunken haze in his eyes.

As he looked down at me, the contempt and disgust in his gaze were all the more obvious.

“Victoria, it seems I’ve spoiled you.”

He smirked.

“Who do you think you are, talking to me about decency?”

I froze.

The bright chandelier overhead seemed to shine directly on me.

The hard shell I’d so carefully constructed around myself shattered under his mocking gaze.

Marrying Julian Thorne, despite coming from a minor family like the Sterlings.

Everyone thought I’d married up.

In truth, I was barely even a Sterling.

“She’s so trashy. But what else can you expect from a woman who came from a place like that…”

Someone’s voice behind me grew louder, the words reaching our ears.

Julian coolly handed me a check.

“That project you wanted to invest in. Go do it yourself.”

“And Victoria, don’t act like I owe you anything.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Learn how to please me better. Maybe then you’ll be worth a higher price.”