Chapter 1

My best friend married a billionaire, then like some charity handout, introduced me to her husband's assistant.

"You're my friend, Adrian is my husband's assistant—you two are perfect for each other!"

Just like that, Adrian was forced to marry me.

For three years after our marriage, he treated me well, doted on me beyond measure, making me believe I'd found true love.

Until I went into labor after ten months of pregnancy with massive hemorrhaging.

He said contemptuously, "This child isn't mine. Just a bastard from some homeless man. If it dies, it dies."

"My darling Gianna and I are the perfect match! As for someone like you, you only deserve to sleep with homeless people!"

Turns out on our wedding night, the man who slept with me was a homeless man.

On the operating table, I closed my eyes in despair and hatred.

When I opened them again, I'd been reborn—right back to the day my best friend introduced Adrian to me.

My best friend Melissa wouldn't stop talking.

"Josie, what do you think of Sebastian's assistant Adrian?"

"He's handsome, has a great personality—you two would be absolutely perfect together!"

I stared at the scene before me, my nails digging into my palms.

In my past life, out of consideration for years of friendship, I'd agreed to date Adrian.

Adrian was too good at pretending.

He put on this gentle, refined act, taking care of me meticulously in daily life.

After marriage, he was even more accommodating, making me mistakenly believe I was a happy woman.

It wasn't until I went through that brutal surgery that I heard those words insulting my child.

Only then did I understand that on our wedding night, it was a homeless man who'd slept with me.

Nausea surged up. I shoved away the photo Melissa was trying to show me.

"Not interested."

Melissa froze in place.

"Josie, you usually listen to me. Adrian really is amazing."

I looked directly at her.

"If you like matchmaking so much, go to a pet store and buy two dogs to pair up."

Melissa's face flushed red. Sebastian, sitting beside her, frowned.

"Josie, Melissa means well."

I grabbed my purse and strode toward the exit.

"I can't accept this kind of 'well-meaning.'"

I pushed open the private room door and collided head-on with a man.

This was Adrian's scent.

In my past life, these very eyes had deceived me for three whole years.

"Miss Sinclair, leaving in such a hurry?"

He lowered his voice. I couldn't help but step back to create distance.

"Move."

Adrian raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting my attitude to be so hostile.

He stepped forward, lowering his voice.

"Miss Sinclair seems to have considerable hostility toward me."

"Have we met before?"

I raised my head in defiance.

"Never met you, but I don't like the look of you."

Adrian let out a soft laugh.

"Miss Sinclair is quite forthright."

"However, Mr. Hayes and Miss Whitmore's kind intentions—for Miss Sinclair to refuse so directly, isn't that rather disrespectful?"

I pulled my lips into a smirk.

"My dignity—why should I let them trample on it?"

With that, I walked around him and headed out.

Adrian behind me kept staring at me.