Chapter 1

“I’ve decided, I’ll marry that vegetative Don from the Jones Family.”

Leaning against the doorframe, Emma flashed a sarcastic smile.

At her words, my father, Eric Miller— the Don of the Miller family— nearly dropped his cigar on the priceless Persian rug.

He shot up from his leather chair, the wrinkles around his eyes easing as he grinned, “Mia, have you made up your mind? That’s great! Jones Family has been pushing for the marriage, you’ll be in Manhattan within half a month. What kind of wedding dress do you want? I’ll have someone order it for you...”

“Just like that?” I asked, my expression freezing cold. “I’m marrying to cover for your precious mistress’s daughter, and you won’t even show a little gratitude?”

The air stiffened instantly. Eric’s face darkened. “What are you saying? She’s your sister.”

“A sister’s only a sister if they share the same mother,” I snorted dismissively. “She’s the product of your affair, and I’ll never acknowledge her as my sister in this lifetime.”

The veins on Eric’s forehead bulged, but he suppressed his rage, taking a deep breath as the ashes of his cigar fell in slow motion. “What do you want?”

“Ten billion,” I licked my lips, speaking coldly, “And after I marry, transfer Carter to protect your precious mistress’s daughter.”

His expression froze. His gaze locked onto me as if he were looking at a madwoman. “Are you crazy? Ten billion would drain all my liquid assets! And Carter, wasn’t he your favorite bodyguard? You used to chase after him, wanting to marry him. Now you’re getting married, and you won’t take him with you?”

My patience snapped. “Are you going to answer or not?”

I turned to leave.

“Fine!” Eric immediately agreed, standing up. “The moment you marry and go to Manhattan, I’ll take care of these two matters for you.”

His eagerness was clear, and I couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

Back when Noah Jones was the sole heir to the Jones Family throne, Eric had planned to snatch up the marriage before I could, securing it for Emma.

But after an accident, the Don heir became a vegetable.

Eric, unwilling to let Emma suffer, remembered me, his daughter.

I waved my hand dismissively, signaling I understood, my heels clicking sharply on the marble floor. Just as I grabbed the doorknob, Eric’s voice sounded again behind me.

“You want money, I get it. But aren’t you the one who’s obsessed with Carter? Why give him to Emma?”

My body froze at the question. I didn’t turn around, but my eyes burned with unshed tears.

That name was like a dagger, stabbing deep into the softest part of my heart.

I pushed the door open forcefully, ignoring his question, and left Eric and his words behind me.

When I returned to the villa, it was already deep into the night.

Walking in my heels up the stairs, I passed Carter’s room and heard muffled, labored breaths.

The door wasn’t shut all the way, and I looked through the crack, catching a vivid, painful scene:

Carter leaned against the bed, a photo of Emma held between his fingers, his other hand… moving across his body.

His eyes were closed, and his throat bobbed as his deep, sensual voice murmured, “Emma… baby… good girl…”

It was a photo from her birthday party last year. She wore a white dress, innocent, pure, smiling.

My nails dug into the leather of my Hermes bag, and I finally answered Eric’s question in my mind.

Because he, just like you, only loves Emma.

The answer burned through my chest, searing every organ with pain.

Three years ago, the first time I saw Carter was when I was choosing a bodyguard.

Among a bunch of burly, imposing men, I spotted him immediately, and the reason was simple.

He was too handsome.

Six feet three, broad shoulders, narrow waist, brown wavy hair, especially those blue eyes.

Cold, clear, like a god who ruled the seas.

I thought I’d flirt with him, just for fun. But over the years—

I pretended to be drunk and stumbled into his arms, but he’d gently lift me and set me back on the couch.

I knocked on his door at midnight wearing only a silk slip, but he’d wrap me in his suit jacket, courteously escorting me back to my room.

I even pretended to drown in the pool, but he dove in to save me, without ever touching my waist.

No matter how I flirted, he always maintained the strict professionalism of a bodyguard.

But I couldn’t help it. I fell for him.

I don’t even know how my heart started beating for him.

Maybe because, since my mother died, I’ve been so lonely.

When I was seven, Eric had an affair and brought home an illegitimate daughter.

Her name was Emma, three months younger than me, and I later found out Eric had been cheating for nine years.

That day, I watched the supposedly happy family fall apart.

At the time, my mother was pregnant with Eric’s second child. She had been carrying for nine months and was about to give birth any day.

She loved Eric desperately, screaming at him, crying so violently she nearly passed out. That night, it caused a miscarriage. By the time she reached the hospital, she was already gone.

From then on, I hated Eric. I hated Emma.

I left home, went to school alone, ate alone, grew up alone. Until I became so beautiful that the men in my circles began eyeing me with dirty looks.

There were always ignorant men harassing me, which made me realize I needed a bodyguard.

Carter was my first.

After that, I was never alone. No matter what I did, Carter was always there.

From admiration to flirting, and then to truly falling for him.

But in all these years, he never once gave me even a flutter.

I thought he was naturally cold, until I saw him for the first time…

Holding Emma’s photo, relieving his desires. Then watching him answer a phone call.

“Ethan, how long will this bodyguard game last? You’re the Don of the Taylor Family, America’s top mafia family. What woman can’t you have? Why not just take Emma, get her back right away? Why keep playing the pure knight for her?”

Carter’s expression was cold. “I checked, Emma’s a mistress’s child. She’s had a hard life, lacks security. Rushing things would scare her, I plan to take it slow.”

“Great, the Taylor Family produced such a sentimental fool. I thought Mia would be the one to move you, you know, she’s famous for being a little seductress, men line up to fall for her…”

Carter gave a slight smile, his words freezing me completely.

“Is that so? Not interested. Not a single strand of hair from her is worth more than Emma’s.”

Every word felt like a knife, stabbing deep into my heart.

In that moment, I could never care for Carter again.

How long this scene lasted, I didn’t know. But for some reason, tonight, Carter didn’t seem to release himself.

With a cold smile, I suddenly slammed the door open.