Chapter 1

My husband and I were on a business trip in Paris when he suddenly got a call from his childhood friend, Chloe Davis. She told him she was being abused by her husband.

Blake booked a flight that very night, leaving me alone in Paris.

Later, at the contract-signing gala, I was drugged and brutally attacked by executives from the opposing company.

They dragged me into a room, assaulting me until I was left with multiple fractures and internal injuries.

After 24 hours fighting for my life in the ICU, I looked at my phone. Dozens of missed calls from Blake.

I called him back, only to hear his accusatory voice on the other end: "Aurora Hayes, what's taking you so long to close a deal?"

"Chloe's been abused, she's really unstable. I have to stay with her. Just sign the contract and come back yourself."

My voice was raw, rasped out: "I was assaulted by those bastards."

His tone immediately bristled with impatience. "It's just a contract. What could possibly happen? Don't start with your drama here."

"I usually tolerate it, but with Chloe like this, how dare you try to compete with her for attention!"

The police sent him my injury report.

But all I got back was a cold, automated reply: "I'm unavailable right now. Will contact you later."

I never thought he could be so heartless.

Since the contract was signed, there was no need to keep this man around anymore.