Chapter 1

My boyfriend asked me, the winner of the North American Architectural Design Award, to draw his blueprints.

After five years of dating and on the verge of getting married, I agreed.

I pulled all-nighters, day in and day out, helping him with his designs, which landed him the sole coveted faculty position at the university.

But when I went to help him organize his office for the new semester, I ran into his new assistant, Briar Thorne.

“Audrey, your designs are so handy. It’s just, the paper for your sketches was so stiff, it wasn't comfortable to lie on. It even chafed my skin. Next time, use something softer, like fine art paper.”

“I’m attending Professor Thorne’s induction ceremony in three days, and Mr. Hayes worked so hard to get Professor Thorne to take me on as his protégé. What if I can’t even wear my dress?”

I looked at the water-stained blueprints, and it hit me: my all-nighters, my blood, sweat, and tears, were just a flimsy pad for my boyfriend and his assistant to... well, *enjoy themselves* on!

Noah always preached that Briar came from a rough background, and he was just “doing his part” to help her out. He told me to “broaden my horizons,” to stop being so “petty.”

But he took my design plans and put Briar Thorne’s name on them!

And for three whole months, my hard-earned designs? Just a prop in their twisted little *game*!

Silently, I tossed the design sketches into the trash. Then, I called Professor Sterling Thorne, the man who’d been trying to recruit me as his protégé for years.

“Professor Thorne,” I said, my voice cutting through the silence, “Your apprentice? It’s either me or her!”