Severing the Sacred First Bond

I spent three months meticulously planning my wedding of the century to Preston Hayes, the heir to a business titan, at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. However, at the altar, my fiancé, Preston, turned to his newly widowed sister-in-law, Camila, and vowed to take care of her.

I rushed to confront him, but before I could utter a word, Camila clutched her chest and collapsed.

An enraged Preston had me forcibly committed to a remote private sanatorium, accusing my hysterics of ruining the wedding and triggering Camila's heart attack.

"My brother just died! I was trying to give Camila the support she needs, and you had to make a scene?"

"Camila's heart is fragile, and this is on you. You'll stay here until she recovers and think about what you've done."

Three years later, as the fiancée of Rhys Nelson, the CEO of a world-leading biotech company, I accompanied him to an industry summit in Aspen.

Preston, along with Camila, also came to the summit, hoping to persuade Rhys to invest in his new project.

He saw me being blocked by security at the door and glanced at the documents in my hand.

"I heard after the Hayes family dropped you, you ended up with some second-rate nobody out of spite. Regretting it now?"

"If you beg me, I might consider letting you in."

I didn't waste a glance on him.

The reason I was even there? Rhys had forgotten a critical report at the hotel, and I had to get it to him before the summit began.

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1

"No invitation, you're not getting in."

The summit was about to start. A burly security guard shoved me back forcefully, his gaze raking over me with contempt.

I staggered back a few steps, nearly dropping the files in my arms.

The entire ski resort was on high alert. A VIP's heirloom had gone missing, and tense-looking security personnel were everywhere.

"These are urgent documents—"

"Rhys Nelson doesn't see just anyone!" the guard sneered. "Especially not some social climber trying to sleep her way to the top."

He wrinkled his nose, as if I reeked of cheap perfume.

"You don't even have a decent coat. I hear Mr. Nelson is announcing his engagement soon. God knows what you climbers are trying to pull!"

He shoved me out the door. I lost my balance and crashed straight into a solid, muscular chest.

A familiar scent of sandalwood cologne enveloped me.

My head snapped up.

Preston.

It had been three years. He was still as tall and handsome as ever, his tailored Zegna suit impeccable. But his eyes were colder than I remembered.

A flicker of shock crossed his eyes when he saw me, but it vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by that same, unchanging arrogance.

He waved a dismissive hand, and the security guard was gone.

The once-overbearing guard now scurried away with a fawning smile, casting a venomous look over his shoulder as he left.

"Alicia?" His voice was low and dangerous. "What are you doing here?"

I straightened up, putting space between us. "That's none of your business."

"Following me?" Preston sauntered down the steps. "It's been three years. I thought you had more self-respect. You've been blacklisted from this circle. What are you doing back?"

I watched his lips move, but the words were just noise. My mind was already elsewhere.

The endless torment in that sanatorium had taught me one thing: I didn't need him.

So, I managed to contact the outside world. I accepted a new job offer from a man I had long admired: biotech giant Rhys Nelson.

A month later, Preston came to the sanatorium to "release" me himself.

I didn't meet his gaze once. I just got into Rhys's car and headed to California to start my new life, leaving him in the dust.

Before long, Rhys became the leading figure in the entire industry.

Before I could answer him, a cloying voice cooed from behind.

"Preston, darling, what's all the commotion?"

Camila sauntered over, dressed in a custom Chanel suit.

She linked her arm intimately with Preston's.

When she saw me, her lips curved into a perfect smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Alicia? Oh, my goodness, it really is you!" she feigned surprise. "It's been three years. Have you... been well?"

Her gaze lingered on my jeans and plain sweater.

"Looks like life's been tough."

"What's that in your hand?" Her sharp eyes noticed my files.

Preston snatched them from my grasp.

"Give them back!"

He dodged my reach with ease and tore open the cover.

"'Report on Illegal Gene Experiments.'" He read the cover, his brow furrowing. Then he let out a cold laugh.

"I heard that after you were cast out of our circle, you went to work for some third-rate company to spite me. Looks like it's true."

My heart hammered in my chest.

"You left without a word, and now you're reduced to running errands for a shell company like this?"

His voice was laced with pity. "Working for a company with no future, without the protection of your family name. Alicia, have you really sunk this low?"

"What are you talking about?"

I snatched the files back.