Chapter 1

The wedding venue.

Caleb and I were at the entrance, greeting guests.

But he turned and walked straight to his rumored girlfriend.

Finally, I packed my bags and left.

He snapped, impatient, "Jade, can't you just grow up?"

Later, I 'grew up' and went back to my childhood sweetheart, but he went insane.

He wept until his eyes were blind with tears at my tombstone.

Caleb and I used to keep to ourselves. Our paths barely crossed.

But Caleb was hopelessly romantic.

He saw me at an entrepreneur's gathering.

From then on, he pursued me relentlessly.

Though I had money and no shortage of excellent men around me,

I was still a normal person.

Who wouldn't be captivated by the fierce devotion of a rich, handsome guy?

That's how I ended up with him.

Caleb was sickeningly devoted to me, bending over backward for my every whim.

At that time, I had just integrated into the city's elite circles. Because of my personality, I'd offended quite a few spoiled kids from influential families.

Caleb, with his immense wealth and power, went to each of them, showering them with money, until they all came to me, apologizing.

But behind my back, everyone scorned me.

They whispered that I'd used my 'talents' to wrap Caleb around my finger, making him utterly devoted to me.

"Jade, don't mind them. I truly love you."

I nodded obediently.

Accepting this love that filled me with dread.

From the very beginning, I knew.

Caleb's love for me was stolen.

Unlike the Blackwoods, who had a smaller family line,

My father, on the other hand, had children everywhere; I knew of at least three illegitimate ones myself.

And my birth mother, a woman from a less-than-respectable background, had shamelessly used any means necessary to get into my father's bed.

Even after giving birth to me, my mother remained restless and was eventually caught cheating and promptly thrown out of the house by my father.

I was taken in by Mrs. Stone, becoming the nominal Miss Stone.

But my life in the Stone family was worse than that of a servant.

Everyone in our circles knew this.

So when news of Caleb and I dating spread, it caused a huge uproar.

But I never expected the first opposition to come from my own father.

"Jade, know your place! Don't try to climb above your station with just anyone!"

Looking at my father's disgusted expression,

I swallowed every word I was about to say.

Why should I have to suffer so much?