id Chen' s fingers. He was younger here, his face less worn by the years of reg

. The beginning of

voice the same smooth ton

ay. Not hard, but it was enough.

y a flicker of confusion, then irritation. He retracted his hand, the lucky charm swinging between

e said, his

e to

little smile. I found another pair of eyes in the crowd, a familiar face that watched me wi

dog, had died. My husband, David, the man who was now giving my engagement gift to another woman, had lost his mind. He' d foun

he had announced, his eyes wild

led me, after he took his own life in front of my fading eyes, I under

rranged engagement. The outcome was supposed to be set in stone, a me

h, David! What

rp tone could silence a boardroom, glared at him. He

her knees. She held the lucky charm above her he

too precious. I' m not worth

ooked demure, self-sacrificing. But I

who would have at least pretended to listen to his mother. He rushed to Chloe's side, pulling h

oice ringing through the hushed room. "With m

red, her eyes filling with w

ged David' s mother. The v

she commanded h

g even more shocking. He knelt on the floo

oe. They' re both from the same family

was my father's illegitimate daughter.

oe!" he shouted, his voice echoing. "As fo

tress? Me? The woman his mother had handpicked fo

d. "What is all this about past and pre

nspiratorial whisper, loud enough for everyone to hear. "But I, David

bsession had festered in private for

doration. Then, she turned her performance on me. She app

Chen first, and my heart was captivated. But I don' t dare aspire to be

old. She wanted to be his mistress, servi

something in David. His face contorted with r

way fro

rd, my balance gone. The world tilted, and the sharp corner o

warm liquid, thick and sticky,

erupted i