Chapter 1

Brenna's POV

Seven years ago, I was Velmoor City’s youngest surgeon. A bloodied nursing assistant knelt at my feet, weeping that her thug boyfriend was going to beat her to death. I gave her my guest room.

On her chemo bed, my mother gripped my hand, begging me to kick that woman out. I said she had nowhere else to go.

Later, I caught her wearing my pajamas in my own home. Then, I caught her and my husband naked in his office. Immediately after, a fatal medical error was pinned on me, and my medical license was revoked.

My husband looked at me arrogantly and said: I can liquidate everything I own to settle this for you. On one condition—divorce.

What he didn’t know was that I was pregnant. On the day of the divorce, the judge read out the division of assets: $26.30.

Seven years later, I took a catering gig at a billionaire’s mansion. Less than half an hour into the banquet, his seven-year-old daughter pointed at my seven-year-old daughter. “She stole my ten-million-dollar diamond necklace!”

I looked up and finally recognized him. The billionaire was my "bankrupt" ex-husband. And the woman clinging to his arm, dripping in diamonds, was the nursing assistant who had once knelt at my feet.

——

"Brenna! Something happened to Marnie! Yara claims she stole her ten-million-dollar diamond necklace, and she's demanding Marnie pay for it!"

My friend Briony kicked open the kitchen door and snatched the tray right out of my hands.

My heart skipped a beat. Without even untying my apron, I sprinted out in my worn-out flats.

The intricately carved double doors on the second floor were ajar.

I pushed them open. The first thing I saw was Marnie shrinking into the corner of the wall. Standing opposite her, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, was Eamon. My ex-husband.

"Momma—"

She threw herself into my arms, eyes red and voice choking. "I didn't touch the necklace. I don't even know where it is!"

Before she could finish, a girl in a pink couture princess dress lunged out and roughly shoved Marnie.

"Liar!" seven-year-old Yara screamed, pointing her finger. "Your mom is just a waitress! You're a poor beggar, of course you stole it!"

I shielded Marnie behind me, my gaze piercing straight into Eamon. "Control your daughter. You need proof to accuse someone of theft. Marnie has nothing on her. On what grounds are you calling her a thief?"

Eamon frowned. Just as he was about to put on his refined, elite persona, a maid ran down the hall, breathless. "Sir, we found the necklace! It was left on the sink at the end of the hall!"

The air went dead silent for a full second.

"Since it's a misunderstanding," Eamon cleared his throat, "Yara, apologize to Marnie."

"Why should she apologize?"

The click-clack of high heels echoed down the hall, sharp and grating.

Delphina strolled over, clutching a glass of champagne. Silk evening gown, neck heavy with diamonds, makeup absolutely flawless. Her eyes swept over my wrinkled uniform with undisguised disgust, letting out a cold scoff.

"Eamon, figure out what's going on before you speak," she drawled slowly. "The girl is probably a thief. She heard she was going to be searched and dumped it in the bathroom halfway."

"Delphina, shut up."

"Am I wrong?" She swayed her hips, walking to Eamon's side and looping her arm through his. She looked down her nose at me. "Like mother, like daughter. What kind of trash could a black-hearted doctor, who lost her license over malpractice, raise? Letting people like them dirty our carpets... The ones who should be kneeling and apologizing to Yara are this mother and daughter."

"Let's see who dares to make Brenna apologize."

I turned my head.

Caspian Vale was striding toward us. The most feared, top-tier lawyer in Velmoor City. Right now, his expression was as cold and sharp as an unsheathed blade.

Eamon’s face instantly froze. He even started to stutter. "Mr. Vale? What... what are you doing here?"

Caspian didn't even look at him. He walked straight to my side, draped his suit jacket over my shoulders, and leaned down to gently pat Marnie's head.

"Sorry I'm late."

He straightened up, his icy gaze sweeping over Eamon and Delphina.

"My wife gets restless and likes to get out of the house, but that is not an excuse for you to arbitrarily slander and humiliate my family," he said, his voice flat but carrying an overwhelming, suffocating pressure. "Say one more word, and a defamation and emotional distress lawsuit will be on your desk first thing in the morning."

"Your... your wife?!" Delphina’s voice broke into a screech.

Caspian ignored her. Putting an arm around my shoulders, he looked down at me. "Darling, let's go."

I held Marnie tight, letting his broad shoulders shield us as I straightened my back and walked out of the mansion.

The night wind hit my face, cold and crisp.

"Caspian, why are you suddenly here?" I stopped, looking at him, feeling somewhat surreal.

His hard features softened, a faint smile touching his eyes. "Briony called me. She said you guys were in trouble."

My chest ached, then flooded with warmth. I looked down at Marnie snuggled against me. The three of us exchanged glances and shared a quiet smile.

I stopped and looked back. Inside the window, Eamon and Delphina were arguing fiercely, both their faces twisted and hideous.

Staring at the woman dripping in jewels, the smile vanished completely from my face.

Who would have thought that this wealthy socialite was merely a lowly nursing assistant who had worked under me?

It was her. She personally destroyed my career. And she stole my husband.