Chapter 1

I was the adopted daughter of the Ford family, New York's most prominent household.

No one knew that every night, I would spend the hours entangled with my uncle, Mark Ford.

We had been in a secret relationship for three years, hidden from the world.

In the attic, in his car, in his bedroom or mine. We did countless secret and wild things.

"Mark, I..."

The man, usually so cold and reserved, suddenly grabbed my waist, thrusting forcefully, and my words were shattered.

Sweat dripped from his chiseled face onto my neck as I was sent soaring once more.

After we were thoroughly satisfied, Mark held me close, speaking lazily. "Grandpa arranged an engagement for me."

"She and I are just putting on a show for Grandpa. Be a good girl, don't get mad, okay?"

I froze.

He didn't know that in two weeks, my biological parents would be taking me abroad.

Aurora POV

I was the only daughter of the Ford family, New York's most prominent household.

But no one knew that every night, I would spend the hours entangled with my uncle, Mark Ford.

We had been in a secret relationship for three years, hidden from the world.

In the attic, in his car, in his bedroom or mine. We did countless secret and wild things.

"Mark, I..."

The man, usually so cold and reserved, suddenly grabbed my waist, thrusting forcefully, and my words were shattered.

Sweat dripped from his chiseled face onto my neck as I was sent soaring once more.

After we were thoroughly satisfied, Mark held me close, speaking lazily. "Grandpa arranged an engagement for me."

"She and I are just putting on a show for Grandpa. Be a good girl, don't get mad, okay?" His large hand casually stroked me, as if everything was under his control.

I was exhausted and didn't say anything.

Yesterday, I had excitedly run to Mark's study, wanting to tell him something important.

As I reached the study door, I heard voices from inside.

It was Mark talking with a few of his friends.

I considerately didn't interrupt. But I was so eager to tell him, I couldn't bring myself to leave, so I waited outside the door.

"Fiona Caldwell is coming back soon, Mark. How are you going to deal with Aurora?"

"Yeah, you and Fiona grew up together, and you've been waiting for her all these years. The alliance between the Ford and Caldwell families is crucial. If Aurora finds out, can she handle it?"

In that moment, I was completely stunned.

Who were they talking about? Me?

What alliance?

A rush of blood went to my head, and my ears buzzed.

Then another voice asked.

"Didn't you say she was just a plaything, and you'd get rid of her once Fiona came back?"

"You even stayed in New York for college instead of going abroad, all for Fiona!"

Mark's unhurried voice drifted out.

"Aurora is obedient, easy to placate. She won't cause trouble."

I heard it. He said my name. They were talking about me.

To me, the world might as well have ended.

I wasn't a true member of the Ford family. I had grown up in an orphanage.

At the orphanage, I was always small and frail, easily bullied.

One day, Mark's older brother, Richard Ford, visited the orphanage for a charity event. He saw me being bullied by other kids and felt sorry for me.

Richard and his wife, Eleanor, didn't have children. So, Richard discussed it with Eleanor, and they adopted me.

I was only eight years old that year.

My adopted parents hadn't expected that shortly after adopting me, they would receive a confidential research assignment that required them to be isolated for five years.

Though Grandpa Robert, the Ford family patriarch, didn't object to his son adopting a girl, he never quite warmed up to me, his non-blood-related granddaughter, and largely ignored me.

Seeing that I had no one watching over me, the staff didn't treat me well.

They took advantage of my young age and innocence.

When my adopted parents were home, they would pretend to be kind to me, but as soon as they left for their research, my treatment immediately declined.

Breakfast was often stale leftovers, and no one made sure I had warm clothes in winter.

Once, I developed a fever, and it took three days for anyone to notice.

That winter was particularly cold.

I was playing in the Ford family's yard when I accidentally fell into the artificial lake by the rockery.

The water was deep and bitingly cold. I struggled to swim but couldn't surface.

Just as I thought I was about to sink, Mark happened to come home.

The young man saw me in the water and jumped into the icy cold without hesitation, pulling me to shore.

Mark noticed that his non-blood-related niece was even thinner than when she first arrived.

Mark was furious.

The usually quiet heir punished the negligent staff and even fired the butler.

He told everyone that I was the only daughter of the Ford family, and anyone who dared to disrespect me was disrespecting him.