Chapter 1

In my life, I've been someone's mistress twice.

The first time, I was young and naive. I got involved with a ruthless mob boss.

Back then I was soft and foolish.

I thought if I was good enough, he'd give me his heart in return.

When I realized he only saw me as a toy, I walked away without looking back.

The second time, I wised up. I got with Julian Rhodes, a legendary figure in high finance.

In the three years we'd been married, Julian spoiled me rotten.

Wherever I went, he had bodyguards shadowing my every step.

I told myself I'd finally earned real love on my own terms.

Then came a vacation earlier this year.

I went with Julian to visit his grandmother at her estate in Harbor City.

Standing outside on the villa terrace, I heard his grandmother let out a long, heavy sigh.

"Years ago, the eldest daughter of the Churchill family looked down on you for being illegitimate. She nearly got you killed. You swore then that you'd never love her again."

"And yet here we are. Isn't your current wife just a copy of what Chelsea Churchill looked like before her surgery?"