Chapter 1
Alexander Harrington was Cresthaven’s infamous wild heir, a man known for his reckless edge, yet he was utterly devoted to Emily Harper, a woman
with no wealth or status.
The girl he’d found shivering on the streets, a beggar at fifteen, had become his world by twenty–five. He’d cherished her, showering her with every ounce of his affection and tenderness,
Emily loved the violin, so he dropped everything to follow her to Vionelle, a prestigious European conservatory, for her music studies, shrugging off
stock losses worth billions.
To prove his love, he sent truckloads of extravagant gifts her way and livestreamed his proposals for 999 days straight, each one a public declaration of his devotion
To marry her, he endured three days of brutal family discipline, breaking the Harrington dynasty’s rigid rules of marrying within their class. He gave her a fairy–tale wedding at Harrington Manor, transforming her into a princess envied by all of Cresthaven’s elite.
But now, this same man who’d adored her forced her to kneel in the snow, clad only in a thin nightgown, all for a mistress he’d known for just six
months.
He believed Emily had driven his new lower to block his number, causing her to vanish.
“Sweetheart, tell me, what did you say to Sophia?” Alex sat across from her, swirling a glass of whiskey, his gaze casual yet piercing
His eyes were colder than the blizzard around them, but his tone was deceptively soft, as if he were asking about the beauty of the snowy landscape. Emily’s body was numb from the cold. Her lips trembled as she spoke, teeth chattering. “Alex, I’ve never even met Sophia Bennett
He studied her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Sweetheart, you’re not playing nice.”
With a flick of his finger, a bodyguard leaned in, handing him a phone. Alex played a video.
On the screen, Emily’s critically ill brother, Ethan, lay in a hospital bed, his breathing tube yanked out. His face purpled from oxygen deprivation, his body convulsing violently.
“Alex, he’s all I have left. Please, don’t hurt him,” Emily sobbed, tears streaming down her face as she clung to his legs. “You have to believe me. I didn’t say anything. I don’t know where she went.”
Alex leaned forward, brushing a tear from her cheek with a gentleness that belied his cruelty. “I told you before, Sophia’s important to me too.
“Do as I say, sweetheart. You’ve got fifty seconds. Without oxygen, Ethan’s got two minutes at most.” He straightened, tapping the phone screen with a single finger, his patience visibly thinning
Emily’s body jolted, her heart shattering.
He had said Sophia mattered, but she’d refused to believe it. How could she, when his love for her had once seemed unshakable?
In that moment, Emily felt utterly foolish. She’d truly believed she was irreplaceable in his eyes.
In truth, she’d only met Sophia once, at an event at Valmont Auction Gallery, where Sophila worked as an event hostess.
Sophia had comered her on her way to the lounge, tilting her chin defiantly. “Mrs. Harrington, I told him I’m not interested. Your husband’s obsession is disrupting my life.”
was when Emily learned the “wild kitten” Alex always mentioned was Sophia Bennett.
Sophia, born with partial blindness in her left eye, was a gifted artist who’d skyrocketed to fame online, her story of overcoming disability inspiring millions.
Instead of capitalizing on her popularity with sponsored streams, she worked regular jobs, serving at Cresthaven’s high–society banquets,
Her bold confidence and vibrant charm had instantly captivated Alex, an investor with a taste for the extraordinary.
The more Sophia pushed him away, the more Alex pursued her, his chase becoming the talk of Cresthaven, a scandal that spread like wildfire. Ehuilly had confronted Alex that same day. He didn’t deny it, merely pulling her into his arms with a dismissive chuckle. “It’s just a game, darling. My friends have all done It. I’m just curious how much it’d take to win her over. Don’t worry, you’re the one I love always will be.”
Still, Emily pressed him. “What if I can’t accept this?”
Hestroled her hair, his warm eyes reflecting her pale, anxious face. “Come on, sweetheart. Play your part, and you’ll always be Mrs. Harrington. Chipler 1
