Chapter 1

I was Ethan's secret lover for five years, his chief designer for five years, and all I got in the end was: "You think you deserve love?"

The day he got engaged, he forced me to design the ring for his fiancée. Then my father came for his debt and put my sister in the hospital.

With nowhere left to turn, I made a phone call—

Julian. A one-billion-dollar bride price. He was looking for a woman with the right birth chart to marry into his family for a spiritual cure.

They said Julian was crippled. Vicious. A devil crawled up from hell.

But the moment I signed that agreement, I realized—

At the end of hell stood my god.

The day Ethan announced his engagement, Los Angeles was hit by a heavy downpour.

I stood in a corner of the ballroom, nursing a glass of flat champagne.

"Everyone, let me introduce you to Chloe," Ethan's voice, unusually gentle, echoed through the microphone. "Our engagement party will be early next month. Please honor us with your presence."

The room erupted in applause.

All eyes were on the golden couple beneath the spotlight.

Chloe wore a pure white haute couture gown, appearing so innocent and fragile as she leaned shyly into Ethan's arms.

And Ethan, Los Angeles's youngest and most promising mogul, his usually cold, stern eyes had softened like water.

No one looked at me.

No one knew that I was Ethan's secret lover for five years, kept hidden in the shadows.

I was also the sharpest blade in his hand, his company's chief jewelry designer, Jade.

"Ms. Jade."

A mocking voice rang in my ear.

A few of Ethan's close friends, champagne glasses in hand, walked over, their eyes full of malicious amusement.

"Ethan's getting engaged. You, the big contributor who's been with him for five years, why aren't you going to toast them?"

"Exactly, Jade. Weren't you always sticking to Ethan? Now that his legitimate fiancée is taking over, your heart must be bleeding, right?"

They chuckled, making no effort to hide their disdain for me.

In their eyes, I, Jade, was nothing more than a shameless gold-digger who clawed her way into Ethan's bed for money and status.

I didn't say a word, just tilted my head back and gulped down the bitter wine in my glass.

Five years ago, my mother fell critically ill, and my father ran off with her medical funds.

It was Ethan who descended like a god, handing me a card, buying out five years of my youth and talent.

I accompanied him to business dinners, took the brunt of the drinks for him, and in bed, I did everything I could to please him.

I thought five years would be enough to warm his heart.

But a month ago, Chloe appeared.

She was just a new intern at the company, clumsy and even making mistakes with simple photocopying.

Yet, Ethan shielded her, and for her sake, he publicly reprimanded me for the first time.

He said, "Jade, you're too cold-blooded, too worldly. Chloe isn't like you, she's pure. Don't scare her."

Pure.

I mulled over those words, finding them damn ironic.

I collected my thoughts, looking coldly at the rich kids in front of me. "Mr. Ethan's engagement? Of course, I'll prepare a grand gift. Don't you worry about that."

With that, I turned to leave.

I hadn't taken two steps when my wrist was suddenly grabbed with immense force.

I was forced to stop, colliding with a pair of deep, cold, dark eyes.

Ethan had come down from the stage at some point and now stood before me.

Behind him, Chloe remained by his side.

"Where are you going?" Ethan stared at me, his voice tinged with displeasure.

"Back to the office to work overtime." I tried to pull my wrist free, but couldn't. "Do you need something, Mr. Ethan?"

Ethan's eyes narrowed. He seemed utterly displeased by my business-like attitude.

His grip tightened, threatening to crush my bones.

"Chloe said she really likes your design style," Ethan said, enunciating each word. "Our engagement rings will be designed by you personally."

I snapped my head up, staring at him in disbelief.

He wanted me to design the engagement rings for him and another woman?

Ethan, do you even have a heart?

"I apologize, Mr. Ethan," I took a deep breath, suppressing the tremor in my heart. "I'm tied up with next season's main product line. I simply don't have the time."

"Jade…" Chloe spoke timidly, her eyes instantly welling up. "Are you angry with me? I know you and Ethan used to… if you don't want to, I won't force it. We can just buy a pair."

Her act of aggrieved concession instantly ignited Ethan's fury.

"Jade, what's with the attitude?" Ethan sneered, his gaze cutting across my face like a knife. "Don't forget the binding contract you signed. You only have one role in company arrangements: obedience!"

"I said you're designing them, and you will draw out every single line!"

The air around us seemed to freeze instantly.

Everyone was watching me, enjoying the spectacle.

Watching how I, the woman once so favored by Ethan, was being trampled underfoot, my dignity crushed.

I looked at Ethan's face, a face I had loved for five years, and suddenly found it utterly unfamiliar.

My chest ached, as if countless needles were pricking me.

But I didn't cry.

My tears, Jade's tears, had long since dried up on that desperate, rainy night five years ago.

"Fine," I forced out a flawless professional smile. "Since Mr. Ethan has spoken, I will comply. It's just designing a pair of rings. I'm sure Ms. Chloe will be satisfied."

Ethan's brows furrowed even deeper.

He seemed surprised I agreed so readily.

In his mind, I should have been mad with jealousy, should have hysterically questioned him, or even humbly begged him not to be so cruel.

But I didn't.

I was as still as a dead pond.

"You'd better keep your word," Ethan abruptly flung my hand away, coldly tossing out, "Tomorrow morning, bring your tools to my villa and take Chloe's measurements."

With that, he wrapped an arm around Chloe's waist and walked away without looking back.

I stood rooted to the spot, rubbing my wrist, which was now marked with a red imprint, and watched their receding figures coldly.

Five years.

Ethan, it's time to settle our accounts.