Chapter 1
In the third year of her relationship with her younger boyfriend, Grace Harper was ready to propose to him. She prepared a candlelit dinner, wore an elegant dress, and applied bold makeup.
Just as she was pouring the red wine, Zane Jensen wrapped his arms around her from behind. His passionate kiss lingered on her ear. “So, you’ve finally made up your mind, huh? Tonight…”
His strong arms circled her slender waist, and his long fingers wandered across the smooth satin of her dress.
Grace turned around and gently pushed at his chest. “Stop it. Dinner first.”
Zane was three years younger than her and about to graduate from university. He was tall and lean.
His physique was noticeable even in a simple white T-shirt, showcasing broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and defined abs. With sharp, well-proportioned features, he radiated youthful vitality.
He chuckled softly, a mischievous smile on his lips. Moving closer, he stepped between her legs, held her wrist, and kissed her against the wine cabinet. The candlelight flickered as his breath grew hotter and more intense.
Grace felt overwhelmed by his intense passion. But recalling her plans for the night, she gently pushed him away before things got out of hand.
His eyes were filled with desire. Biting her lip, he murmured in a husky voice, “Forget dinner, Grace. How about a taste of me instead?”
Grace chuckled, her beautiful face glowing. Her sharp yet radiant features were elegant and striking.
Despite being only three years older, her demanding job made her appear stern and unreadable. Zane’s friends always teased her by calling her an “ice queen”.
But when she smiled, her icy demeanor melted away, revealing a warm and breathtaking beauty that made Zane’s heart race. The thought that she might finally be his tonight filled him with excitement.
“Sit,” she said.
Grace poured the red wine while glancing at Zane, who promptly took his seat. This was what she appreciated most about a young man. He always listened.
Setting her glass aside, she took the seat opposite him. In the warm, dim light, a subtle, electric tension hung in the air.
Grace was unusually soft and alluring tonight. “Zane, do you love me?”
The teasing disappeared from Zane’s face as he took her hand. “You’ve been testing me for three years. Don’t you already know how I feel? Of course, I love you, Grace.”
Grace curved her lips into a faint smile and pulled out a small velvet box. “This is for you.”
Inside was a simple men’s ring. The platinum band shimmered under the candlelight, radiant and refined.
Zane’s hopeful expression faded. A frosty chill enveloped his features, replacing the joy Grace had hoped to see.
Yet, she could understand. Perhaps he wasn’t ready mentally. Maybe she had startled him.
“What does this mean, Grace?”
“My family’s been pressuring me. I want to take you home to meet them, and hopefully, we can set a date for the wedding.”
She explained gently, then looked him straight in the eyes. “What’s wrong? You don’t want to?”
Zane and she had been together for three years, and it was clear how much he loved her. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have stayed with her without crossing any boundaries. It took her three years to open her heart to a boyfriend who was three years younger.
When she agreed to his pursuit, it wasn’t only because she was impressed by his sincerity. She had already done her research on his background.
He was the youngest son of the Jensen family in Jadewood. He had hidden his identity to apply to a southern university and lived like an ordinary student for four years.
In contrast, she was the eldest daughter of the Harper family, feeling unloved and neglected. After her mother’s death, her father brought home his mistress and her child, sending Grace abroad for years.
After returning from studying abroad, in order to secure a place within the Harper family, she accepted Callum Harper, her grandfather’s proposal. She took over a small, failing, near-bankrupt company without the Harper family’s assistance.
If she could achieve results in three years, Callum would consider entrusting the Harper family to her.
The Harper family and the Jensen family were evenly matched, making them an ideal pair for a marriage alliance. Whether it was in terms of family background or pure romance, the two of them were a perfect match.
Having successfully met her performance goals, she received news from Jadewood. The Jensen family sought to establish a marriage alliance with the Harper family.
To prevent her younger sister from swooping in and seizing the opportunity, Grace realized the moment had arrived. She was prepared to reveal everything.
She had thought Zane would be overjoyed to hear their relationship was about to move forward. What she didn’t expect was the look of panic on his face.
She had thoughtfully selected this ring and had it engraved with their initials. However, he treated it as if it were a dangerous object. He wouldn’t even dare touch it.
“Grace, this is all too sudden… I’m not mentally prepared yet.”
He stood up, his handsome face clouded with a cold expression. “Oh, right, Dylan was just looking for me about something. I’ll head over to him first.”
With that, Zane rushed toward the door. He didn’t even bother to change his shoes.
With a loud bang, the front door slammed shut behind him. Moments later, the sound of a car engine echoed from the driveway.
Grace gazed at the untouched ring blankly. So, he had never intended to marry her.
The simple bracelet on her wrist sparkled with a cold, mocking gleam under the light, as though it were ridiculing her naive assumptions. During their first year together, he dedicated a month to part-time work, earning six hundred dollars to purchase this very piece for her.
It might have been the challenge presented by the Jensen family. Over the years, his living conditions were even worse than those of an average university student.
He wore a mascot costume every day, handing out flyers. Despite suffering from heatstroke and fainting on several occasions, he refused to give up. Therefore, when she discovered his true identity, she truly fell in love with him.
In his eyes, she was the owner of a small company on the verge of bankruptcy, living in a rented house. If her company failed, she would be homeless.
Yet, her determination was unmatched. She often attended networking events, seeking investments.
He often promised that one day, when he had money, he would ensure she wouldn’t have to struggle again.
He played the role of a poor university student, while she portrayed the image of a strong woman on the brink of bankruptcy.
They had made it through such difficult times, but just before revealing everything, he pulled back.
It was already midnight, and he still hadn’t come back. He had once said that a good man always came home before midnight.
Grace dialed his number, but it was off. She wondered if her actions had scared him away.
She went to the bar they often visited, ready to have a serious conversation with him. The door was ajar, and before she even stepped inside, she saw him in the private room, surrounded by a cloud of smoke.
She knew he smoked, but after she had told him smoking was bad for his health, he never smoked in front of her again. She chose to overlook the situation, refraining from bringing it up any further.
He had always behaved well around her, allowing her to overlook his minor flaws.
However, at that moment, Zane was just like any other man. He was holding a beautiful woman in his arms, his legs crossed, lazily leaning back on the couch. He casually had the woman light a cigarette for him, the tip glowing brightly and then dimly.
One of his friends teased. “Mr. Jensen, I told you to break up a long time ago. Now look, you’ve messed it up. That old woman really has feelings for you and even wants to marry you. Does she even know who you are?”
Grace froze in place. They were those friends who she believed always treated her kindly and with respect when in her presence. Yet, that was how they spoke about her when she wasn’t around.
Zane exhaled a puff of smoke, lowered his head, and bit the grapes the escort handed him. He replied coldly, “A foolish dream. Does she really think she can marry into the Jensen family? It’s impossible. Based on her appearance, she’s more suited to being a kept woman in Norelia.”
“True. You’re about to have a marriage alliance with the Harper family. North and South, completely unrelated. As long as she doesn’t cause trouble for Ms. Harper, it’s fine.”
Another friend reminded him, “Zane, our bet’s deadline is coming up. If you lose…”
The white smoke surrounded Zane’s face, making his features unclear. He declared icily, “Don’t worry, I’ll sleep with her before returning to Jadewood. It’s time to end after playing this innocent game with her for so long.”
