Three years ago, I was supposed to have the wedding of the century with Griffin Lancaster in New York City.

But on the eve of our engagement ceremony, he chose my sister, Felicity.

Overnight, I became the laughingstock of New York's high society. Before I could even demand an explanation, a sudden hostile takeover plunged both the Blackwood and Lancaster family empires to the brink of bankruptcy. And I was framed for leaking company secrets.

After pulling our company back from the brink, I washed my hands of them, leaving New York and cutting off all contact with that world. I started a new life in Europe as an anonymous designer.

I thought I was done with them for good.

However, three years later, we met again at a top-tier charity gala. Felicity was nestled in Griffin's arm, her expression a mask of shy surprise as her eyes found mine. "Scarlett! What are you doing here? I thought you were thriving in Europe."

Seeing my silence, she laughed mockingly. "Well, well. Couldn't make it out there and had to come crawling back to New York?"

Griffin stared at me, his disgust unconcealed. "Even if you knelt and begged, I would never allow you back into the Blackwood family. But, for Felicity's sake, I can offer you a job as her assistant."

A small, knowing smile touched my lips, my gaze serene. Little did they know, the only reason I was here was that the founder of Covington Capital—my partner—had thrown this entire star-studded gala just for me.

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1

Just three days ago, I learned that Rhys, my partner from Europe, was none other than "the Conqueror"—the mysterious tycoon who had struck fear into the heart of Wall Street in just a few short years.

He said that on my birthday, he would reveal my identity to the world as one of my gifts.

Right now, he was backstage reviewing his speech, and I was resting my head in his lap, already bored out of my mind. He must have sensed my restlessness, because he let out a soft sigh.

"Darling, why don't you go have a glass of champagne at the party? We still have some time before we're on."

I nodded lightly. When I pushed open the heavy double doors of the ballroom, the sheer opulence of the scene before me was breathtaking. Just as I was about to text Rhys and tease him about going so over-the-top for my birthday, a commotion near the entrance caught my eye.

It was Griffin and Felicity. As representatives of two powerful families soon to be united, their arrival immediately drew a fawning crowd.

"It's Griffin Lancaster and Felicity Blackwood!"

"Mr. Lancaster, we're so grateful for this opportunity! We don't know what we would have done without you!"

Felicity demurred, playing the part of the shy debutante. "It was our pleasure. After all, New York's finest families have to stick together."

Griffin stood beside her, politely exchanging pleasantries with the CEOs of major corporations. His eyes landed on me. He froze for a second, then his mouth twisted into a cold, disdainful sneer.

"Scarlett. You've got some nerve showing your face here. Still chasing the best of everything, I see. But a party of this caliber isn't for you anymore."

I gave a slight nod. He wasn't wrong about the first part. As the shining jewel of the Blackwood family, I had always demanded the best. It was only natural that my partner would be the most exceptional man of his generation.

Back then, I'd been drawn to Griffin's brilliant business acumen and had quickly chosen him as my fiancé. However, when I arrived at our engagement ceremony, brimming with joy, I found the two of them kissing in the lounge. My world came crashing down. I lost it, pointing at Griffin and demanding an explanation, even foolishly threatening him with my inheritance.

"Everything I have—my inheritance, my connections—it’s all far more than she could ever offer! You’d better think this through, Griffin!"

But not only did he not back down, he held Felicity even tighter. He said that before Felicity, he'd thought power and ambition were everything. But after meeting her, none of it mattered anymore.

That day, I became the biggest joke in New York. A woman jilted at her own engagement, a joke of a woman who only knew how to throw her family's weight around. I would never forget Felicity nestled in Griffin's arms, her flushed face a mask of provocation and triumph as she told me, "So what if you're more talented than I am? I can take everything from you with a snap of my fingers."

Griffin's voice pulled me from my reverie. "Scarlett, today is the day Rhys Covington celebrates his mysterious partner's birthday. Someone like you doesn't belong here."

I tilted my head, looking at him. "And what kind of person is that?"

Before I could finish, a ripple of muffled laughter spread through the crowd.

"Scarlett, you're nothing but the woman he left."

"Abandoned by your family, forced to flee to Europe. What are you doing back? Do you really think you're still that high-and-mighty socialite?"

I glanced at the man who was sneering at me. I had personally bailed out his company when it was on the verge of collapse.

A flash of triumph lit Felicity's eyes. She glided forward to block my path, her voice dripping with fake sympathy, "Everyone, please. Scarlett must have had a rough time to come all the way back. Let's not be cruel. We should all welcome her home!"

With that, she took my hand, her voice thick with feigned sincerity. "Scarlett, come back. You don't have to be embarrassed. This will always be your home."

Seeing the counterfeit sincerity in her eyes, I coldly snatched my hand away. "I'm not coming back."

At my refusal, Felicity’s face immediately crumpled into a mask of hurt, her eyes welling with tears. "Scarlett, are you still angry with me? But you can't force love..."

Her fragile, pitiful act tore at Griffin's heart. He quickly pulled her into his arms, murmuring, "You're just too kind. That's why she always bullies you."

Then Griffin turned, glaring at me. "Europe didn't want you, and our world has no place for you either!"

Felicity pressed a hand to her chest, her expression theatrically heartbroken. "Scarlett, back then, you tried to use leaving as a threat to force Griffin to accept you. But you know he only loves me, so your threats were useless. No matter what, you'll always be my sister. Showing up here just proves you weren't doing well in Europe. If you want to come back to New York, I can let bygones be bygones."

Hearing Felicity's aggrieved performance, Griffin roared, "If you had any backbone, you would have stayed away! Now you're shamelessly trying to crawl back to New York and take what belongs to Felicity!"

Griffin’s words instantly drew all eyes to me.

"I thought she came back to support her sister, but it turns out she's here to ruin her sister's happiness."

"It's a good thing Mr. Lancaster loves Felicity."

The surrounding chatter made Felicity's eyes grow even redder. She stepped in front of me again, playing the part of the magnanimous sister. "Please, everyone, don't say that about Scarlett. She is my sister, after all." Then she looked at Griffin with pleading eyes. "Griffin, it's okay. As long as you love me, Scarlett's return won't really change anything..."

Griffin stroked Felicity's hair dotingly, then shot a scornful glare at me. "For Felicity's sake, I can offer you a job. As her personal assistant."

Griffin frowned, his hatred for me seemingly etched into his bones.

We were once genuinely in love. It started with mutual admiration at a charity auction, and blossomed as we moved seamlessly together on business deals, becoming the power couple everyone envied. He had promised he would be mine and mine alone, forever.

I had even proudly announced our engagement to the company's board. At the party celebrating it, I was supposed to be the one on his arm, but Griffin's gaze never left my sister, Felicity. A knot of unease tightened in my stomach, and I voiced my displeasure to him that night. His brows furrowed with impatience, his tone dismissive. I thought he was just exhausted from the party, so I let him rest, never imagining it was the beginning of my downfall.

Later, at the engagement ceremony, I saw the decor was completely different from what I’d chosen and stormed off to find Griffin. He just met my rage with cold eyes and said, "I will not have an ambitious woman for a wife! The lady of the Lancaster house can only be your sister, Felicity!"

I couldn't understand. How could the man who once praised my talent now attack me with such venom? I lost control and rushed to the center of the hall, demanding to know what Felicity had said to him. In the midst of our argument, a competitor launched a devastating hostile takeover. Both our family empires were on the verge of bankruptcy overnight.

The sight of my father's suddenly aged face broke my heart. I was the heir. I was supposed to protect our family, and I had failed. So incompetent. Once I'd stabilized the company, I walked away. I let them have each other. I helped my father clean up the corporate mess, pulling us back from the brink. But when I saw them happily engaged, saw the genuine joy on my family's faces, I knew I had no place there anymore. I left for Europe to start over, burying the hurt deep inside.

But I never imagined that my choice to walk away would be twisted into something so contemptible. They painted me as the bitter ex who fled to Europe after being caught.

"Scarlett, you're no longer the heir to the Blackwood family. You should drop that arrogant attitude," Griffin said, standing before me with his arm wrapped around Felicity's waist.

Felicity's eyes were red and swollen. She choked out, "Scarlett, I don't care about your past with Griffin; I can accept it. Come back to New York. You can even start from the bottom."

After speaking, Felicity looked me up and down. "And by the looks of it, you don't have a partner right now, do you? I know how painful it was when Griffin chose me. To make it up to you, Griffin and I can help you find someone. Given your current situation, a young elite is out of the question, but I'll do my best to find you a decent, wealthy older man."

Her words were laced with such cloying sincerity that many guests murmured in admiration of her supposed kindness.

I had no desire to watch her performance any longer and turned to leave. However, as I turned, a sudden shove from the crowd sent me stumbling backward, my hip catching the edge of a display stand.

The next second, the alarm on a priceless modern art sculpture shrieked, echoing through the hall.

Felicity's scream followed. She covered her mouth, pointing at the blaring sculpture. "Scarlett! That's the birthday gift Mr. Rhys Covington prepared for his partner! How could you be so careless?!"

"I heard that Mr. Covington is ruthless about his art. You're finished!"