Chapter 1
When Maddie Patter was 18, she sold herself to a man ten years older just to pay for her mother’s medical treatment.
She didn’t know back then that he was the man behind the powerful Loreine Group–a ruthless giant in the business world, respected and feared by all.
He pampered her so much that she began confusing his kindness with love.
After she casually mentioned enjoying the cakes from a dessert shop in town, he bought the entire shop the next day just to ensure it made sweets solely for her.
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When she fell ill with a fever one night, he left an international meeting, flew back immediately, and stayed by her side, frequently changing her ice towel.
On her 20th birthday, he took her to witness the aurora. As the lights danced above, he kissed her fingertips and promised, “Little darling, I’ll spend every birthday with you from now on.”
She believed his words until a woman arranged to meet her.
“Let me introduce myself. I’m Crystal, Andy’s former girlfriend. Seven years ago, he asked me to marry him, but I chose my career and went abroad to study. We haven’t spoken since, but I know he’ll welcome me
back the moment I return.”
She then placed a check on the table and slid it toward Maddie. “I intend to rekindle things with him, but I need to clear the women
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around him first. This 8 million is more than enough for someone like you. Take it and leave him.
Maddie’s throat tightened. She had never known anything about Andy’s romantic history.
Being young, she had only ever loved one person–him. But he had loved someone else before.
Reflecting on all that had transpired, she gathered the nerve to say, “It’s been so many years. Mr. Loreine has probably forgotten about you by
now…”
Crystal grinned. “You probably don’t realize how deeply he loved me back then.”
She pulled out her phone. “Let’s make a bet.”
“I’ll text him saying I’m back in the country, my car broke down, and ask him to come get me. You send a message saying you’ve been in a car accident. Let’s see who he responds to first.”
Crystal looked at her confidently, certain of her victory. “If he replies to me first, you take the money and leave. If he replies to you first, I’ll step aside.”
A whirlwind of emotions surged through Maddie–unease, anxiety, doubt–all merging into a determination to risk it all.
“Alright.”
As both messages were sent at the same time, every second that went by felt agonizing
Maddie gazed at the screen, her mind filled with countless memories of herself with Andy, like images flickering in a magic lantern.
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She recalled the caring look he gave her while rubbing her stomach during her period, the soft kiss he placed on her lips amidst the falling snow, and the intimate moment when he pressed her against the window on New Year’s Eve.
Each scene played vividly in her mind, drawing her deeper into her thoughts until a sudden phone ring snapped her back to reality.
She watched Crystal’s triumphant smile as she answered the call and put it on speaker.
“Location.” Andy’s voice came through, icy and almost piercing Maddie’s ears.
She bit her lip hard, her fists clenching until her knuckles turned white, her breath nearly stopping.
Crystal was delighted by Maddie’s reaction.
“Is this too much trouble? Don’t you have other important things to
do?”
The other end stayed silent for a few moments, but Andy’s tone remained indifferent.
“No. Location.”
Crystal’s smile widened even more boldly. She ended the call and casually sent the address.
Maddie stared at her phone, which remained frustratingly silent, as her face turned pale and her mind went blank.
The light in her eyes faded, and she managed to whisper hoarsely, “Did he… love you a lot before?”
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Crystal smiled and replied, “Yes. Would you like to hear how he loved me?”
She recounted the memories with calm precision.
“He took me to see the aurora and promised to spend every year with me from then on.
“Because I mentioned liking a particular dessert, he bought an entire pastry shop for me.
“He wasn’t fond of cats, but when I brought home a stray, he allowed it to sleep in the master bedroom…”
A shiver ran through Maddie’s entire body.
It turned out that everything he had done for her was a way to fill the void left by another woman.
“A bet is a bet–you should go now,” Crystal said, sliding the check back toward her.
“Yes… I lost!”
Those words sapped all of Maddie’s energy.
She lifted a hand marked with nail scratches, took the check, and closed her eyes, speaking with cold detachment, “I’ll vanish forever, just as you wanted.”
Pleased with this vow, Crystal didn’t linger. She turned on her high heels and walked away.
Silence settled over the world once more. Maddie bit her lip until it bled, swallowing the turmoil inside her as she slowly left the café
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Outside, the rain poured down, but she wandered into it, seemingly oblivious.
She didn’t notice when Crystal’s car sped by, intentionally splashing her with a wave of dirty water.
The car window slid down, revealing her broad smile. “Sorry, I just imagined this is what a drowned rat should look like.”
With that, she drove off, laughing.
As the rain continued to pour, Maddie, drenched to the skin, miserably made her way back to the villa.
Her phone buzzed–it was her teacher from school.
“Maddie, have you made a decision about the study–abroad opportunity? Are you sure you want to pass it up?”
Hearing her teacher’s sigh, Maddie’s foggy mind suddenly became clear.
She shook her head, looked out at the relentless rain, and quietly replied, “No, I’m not giving it up. I’ll go myself.”
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