Chapter 1

I was the human shield, personally chosen by *him*, the unhinged prince of the underworld, to protect his precious childhood sweetheart.

Five years into our marriage, I was captured for the nineteenth time by one of his former business associates.

Caleb Thorne led his men to rescue me. He’d barely been negotiating with the associate for two minutes when his childhood sweetheart, Seraphina Hayes, called.

“Caleb, my friends and I made a bet. I’ll give my first kiss to the first man who comes for me. I hope that man is you.”

“Are you coming or not?”

The moment Caleb rushed off, a pair of iron fists smashed my ribs. An immense wave of pain swallowed me whole.

Just like the previous eighteen times, his men took over the associate’s demands, then sent me to the hospital.

In the car, I heard them complaining, wondering when I’d stop upsetting Seraphina. Saving me every time was such a hassle, they said.

I didn’t even have the strength to cry.

The mission to save the ruthless crime lord failed. The system was about to forcibly erase my memories.

Caleb Thorne, I won’t bother you ever again.