Chapter 1

I spent seven years by Tristan's side. I drank until my stomach bled to protect him. I attended social events until I was worn down by the filth of that world.

Yet he found me dirty, kept a pure college student as his mistress, and forced me to kneel and polish that woman's shoes.

I slit my wrists to give back the life I thought I owed him. Then I walked away and married Lucas Ashford, a man rumored to be blind and ruthless.

Tristan went mad, kneeling in the snow clutching my shattered cello, begging me to come back.

I sneered and took Lucas's arm, ready to leave.

Suddenly, Lucas removed the silk blindfold from his eyes and bent down to kiss my forehead.

Those supposedly blind eyes looked down at Tristan kneeling on the ground, filled with mockery.

"Get lost. Don't appear before my wife again."

Selena's POV

The moment I pushed open the private room door, a wave of thick smoke and alcohol hit me in the face.

Inside, the lights were dim, the deafening bass making my heart pound.

I stood in the doorway, still wearing the black business suit I hadn't had time to change out of, clutching an urgent acquisition contract.

"Mr. Vale, the documents you requested..."

Before I could finish, I froze.

In the center of the sofa, Tristan lounged lazily.

His long legs crossed, his shirt collar slightly open, revealing his sharply defined collarbones.

Those usually unfathomable eyes now held traces of amusement.

He wasn't looking at me.

His gaze was entirely fixed on the girl beside him.

The girl wore a pure white cotton dress, her long straight black hair falling over her shoulders, her face free of makeup.

She seemed very uncomfortable in this setting, like a frightened deer, clutching tightly at Tristan's sleeve.

"Mr. Vale, I... I want to go back to campus."

The girl's voice was thin, carrying a tremor of fear.

Tristan chuckled softly.

He raised his hand, his slender fingers ruffling the girl's hair with a gentleness I'd never seen before.

"What's there to be afraid of? I'm here. No one dares touch you."

The group of wealthy heirs around them immediately started whooping.

"Where'd you find this innocent little thing? Protecting her so closely!"

"She's so pure! That's a rare commodity in our circle!"

"Your taste changed pretty fast, didn't it? Didn't you used to prefer the sexy type?"

As they spoke, someone noticed me.

The private room fell silent for a few seconds.

Countless gazes landed on me, filled with scrutiny, mockery, and undisguised derision.

My name is Selena Hart. I'm Tristan Vale's executive assistant.

I was also the "assistant" who'd been with him for seven years. Everyone in our circle knew me, but I'd never had any official status.

Tristan finally lifted his eyelids and glanced at me.

A flash of faint annoyance crossed his eyes.

"Put it on the table."

His tone was cold, as if instructing an insignificant servant.

I walked over and set down the documents.

My gaze inadvertently met the girl's.

She looked at me with innocent eyes, a hint of shame in them.

Just like me seven years ago.

"Aren't you going to introduce her?"

Someone nearby drawled, cigarette dangling, grinning with ill intent.

Tristan picked up his glass and took a sip.

"Summer Lynn, sophomore at the Music Conservatory."

He only introduced her, not me.

Perhaps in his eyes, I wasn't even worthy of being mentioned alongside this clean little innocent.

Someone deliberately stirred trouble, pointing at me and asking Summer.

"Do you know who this is?"

Summer shook her head, glancing at me timidly.

"Is... is she Mr. Vale's sister?"

The private room erupted in roaring laughter.

"Sister? You're hilarious!"

"This is his most capable person. She'll do any dirty work. Her methods are ruthless."

"Right, Selena?"

Those venomous words pierced me like needles.

I dug my nails into my palms, forcing myself to maintain a polite smile.

I looked at Tristan.

Hoping he'd speak up for me like before. Even just one word.

But he didn't.

He just toyed with his lighter, the blue flame flickering on and off, illuminating his coldly handsome face.

"Enough."

After a long moment, he spoke lazily,

"Don't scare her."

He was protecting Summer Lynn.

I lowered my eyes, feeling like my heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand, so painful I could barely breathe.

"Mr. Vale, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving."

I said.

"Wait."

Tristan stopped me.

He took the documents from the table, flipped through them casually, then tossed them back to me.

"This contract has problems. Redo it tonight, submit it to me tomorrow morning."

I was stunned.

"But Mr. Vale, you personally confirmed this yesterday..."

"I'm saying it has problems now."

Tristan cut me off, his gaze sharp,

"Selena, you've been getting careless with your work lately."

I stood there, cold all over.

I knew the contract was fine.

He was just using this method to warn me, to put me in my place.

Because when I entered earlier, my eyes looking at Summer Lynn accidentally revealed a trace of emotion.

He was blaming me for disturbing his little deer.

"Alright, I understand."

I picked up the documents and turned to leave.

As I neared the door, I heard Summer's soft voice.

"Mr. Vale, she looks so scary..."

Tristan chuckled lightly, his voice carrying undisguised mockery.

"Ignore her."

"That woman has nothing but schemes left."

My footsteps stopped abruptly.

My eyes stung with tears, but I didn't turn back. I pushed open the door and walked into the bitterly cold winter night.