Chapter 1

Prologue:

Five years ago, I was set up by my enemies and brutally violated by dozens of men.

Intimate photos of me spread across the internet. My fiancé, Lucas, immediately tore up our engagement and married my adopted sister, Olivia, instead.

As I prepared to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge, Marco pulled me back and stayed by my side.

Five years later, I finally emerged from that darkness and accepted his proposal.

Until the night before our wedding, I overheard Marco talking with his friend:

"You're really going to marry that slut who's been used by a dozen men? The one you actually love is Olivia."

Marco chuckled, his tone mocking: "After all, I'm the one who arranged that whole thing. I have to take some responsibility. As long as Olivia is happy, what does it matter if I marry damaged goods?"

"As for Sonia, if she behaves herself, I'll let her keep her dignity."

I froze outside the door, my blood running cold.

He answered a phone call. His voice held a tenderness I'd never heard before: "Liv, don't be scared. I'm coming right now."

The moment he pushed open the door, he met my icy stare.

1

Marco's movement faltered, panic flashing in his eyes. "Sonia, what are you doing here?"

I stared into his eyes without speaking.

He avoided my gaze, forcing composure into his voice. "Is your headache acting up again? Looking for painkillers? I told you not to drink hard liquor. You never listen."

I watched the fake concern on his face, feeling somewhat dazed. Unable to reconcile him with the man in my memory who had pulled me out of hell.

Five years ago, I was drugged and dragged into an empty room, subjected to unspeakable violation. Those degrading intimate photos spread across the internet. At the grand family gala, it became a trial condemning me.

My fiancé Lucas publicly announced he would never let a whore into his family. My father, the Rossi family patriarch, stripped me of my inheritance to quell the outrage. From that moment, I became a slut in everyone's eyes.

When I faced questions and suspicion from other family representatives, it was Marco who draped his jacket over my shoulders and led me away. He blocked all those judgmental stares, his voice cold with warning: "If anyone dares say another word, they'll be making an enemy of the Rossi family."

Later, I developed severe PTSD. I locked myself in my room all day, refusing to see anyone. After receiving yet another text calling me a slut, I completely broke down and climbed onto the bridge railing.

The second before I jumped, Marco rushed over and pulled me back. He held me tight, trembling all over. His eyes reddened as he said, "Sonia, marry me. I've liked you for so long. Those people who hurt you—I won't let a single one of them get away with it. So don't leave me, okay?"

In that moment, my numb heart seemed to start beating again.

But now—

Nausea churned in my stomach. I kept my voice steady. "Marco, let's cancel the engagement."

He froze for two seconds. The panic on his face vanished, replaced by a contempt I'd never seen before.

"Sonia, since you've already heard everything, I won't hide it from you. What's done is done. No matter how much you make a scene, it won't change the fact that you're damaged goods used by dozens of men."

My whole body went rigid, pain lancing through my heart.

For five years, he was the one who led me out of darkness, taught me to forget the pain, helped me rebuild trust. When nightmares tormented me, he held me through countless sleepless nights. He would kiss my forehead gently: "Sonia, in my heart, you'll always be pure."

Those words became my only light for five years. I thought he was my salvation. I never imagined he was the source of all my suffering—just so Olivia could marry into a more prestigious family.

The man ignored my pain. He glanced at his phone, speaking casually. "Look around all of New York. Who else would want you now besides me? Your father's still in the family's care facility, his life sustained by imported Swiss medication. Canceling this engagement does you no good."

I opened my mouth but couldn't make a sound. My eyes slowly reddened as I looked at him.

After my mother died, I grew up with my father. He was the only person in this world I cared about. Marco knew exactly how important my father was to me.

Seeing my silence, Marco's tone softened. He pulled out a velvet box and handed it to me. "I bought you a gift. Stop making a fuss."

The box opened to reveal a diamond necklace glittering under the light. It was the necklace he'd bought for Olivia at last month's auction. She'd found the design dated and tossed it aside without a second thought.

I didn't take it. I just smiled. "Marco, in your heart, do I only deserve other people's castoffs?"

The smile froze on the man's face, the tenderness in his eyes disappearing. "Sonia, don't be ungrateful."

"I know this is hard for you to accept right now, but I've been more than generous with you. The wedding in three days will proceed as planned."

He stepped closer, his eyes carrying a warning. "Olivia is doing very well right now. You'd better not cause trouble. Think about your father. His life is still in our hands."

A sour sting rushed up my nose. I never imagined the man from back then would use the person I cared about most to force my hand.

Seeing I'd stopped resisting, his expression finally eased. "That's better. I knew you were the most sensible one. Tomorrow night there's a family business dinner. Important partners will be there. You must attend."

I nodded numbly.

Marco didn't look at me again. Probably anxious to see Olivia, he left in a hurry.

I slowly crouched down as tears spilled over. After the searing pain, the space where my heart should be felt hollow and empty.

I wiped away my tears and dialed a number that had been buried for five years.

"I accept your previous conditions. Help me cancel this engagement."