Chapter 1

In the fifth year of our marriage, I did something stupid.

I sent Xavier Sullivan's most beloved little bird out of the country, hoping he would have a change of heart.

But when he found out, he said nothing.

Instead, in an instant, he bankrupted my family, forced my father to kneel, and turned my mother's hair white overnight.

Now he stands before me, his face dark with anger, ready to lay hands on me.

"Aria, I blame myself for being too good to you, letting you lose your sense of boundaries," Xavier says coldly.

"Now it's your turn to taste a fate worse than death."

After Xavier utters these words, I finally look up at him.

Four years of dating, five years of marriage.

We've spent the best years of our youth together.

I never imagined we'd end up like this.

My hand unconsciously touches my belly. I'm almost three months pregnant.

But Xavier seems not to notice, only darkly questioning:

"I'll give you one last chance. Where did she go?"

I want to laugh coldly.

But my one moment of willfulness has already cost my entire family their livelihood.

"Let my parents go, and I'll tell you," I say.

Xavier nods.

He walks over slowly and, catching me off guard, grabs my throat, forcing me to look up at him.

"Aria, don't push your luck," he growls.

"Finding out where Mia is is just a matter of time for me. What right do you have to bargain?"

The intense feeling of suffocation makes me gag reflexively, my face turning red, blood vessels bulging.

I grit my teeth, sudden fear and despair making my skin crawl, but I still manage to shout with all my might:

"So you can make my father kneel to you?!"

"That's my dad!"

Xavier just stares at me expressionlessly, his grip inhumanly strong.

I stare back into his eyes, tears forced out.

Dark and crazed.

I have no doubt he would strangle me to death over another woman.

Just as I'm about to suffocate, Xavier releases his hand.

I gasp violently, my body shaking uncontrollably from the aftershock, curled up on the sofa.

In almost an instant, memories of the past flash through my mind.

I suddenly can't control myself and start sobbing loudly.

For the past we can't return to, for this hopeless marriage.

And for how pitiful I've become.

Xavier just stands in front of me, unmoved.

He doesn't even give me time to catch my breath before grabbing my chin again, his tone icy:

"I'll ask you one last time. Where did you send my Mia?"