<strong>Chapter 1 She ys Dirty, I Pay the Price!</strong>


    The day Ste Dawson was born, the family maid threw her away—just so her own daughter, born on the same day, could have a better life.


    Eighteen yearster, her family finally found her. But instead of guilt andpensation, what awaited her was something else entirely.


    “You’re gorgeous!”


    Ste stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a wedding gown. The fitted bodice hugged her slender waist, and the voluminous skirt made her look like a fairytale princess.


    Even without makeup, her delicate features were striking.


    The boutique manager helping her adjust the gown couldn’t help but praise her.


    “Mr. Keene didn’te with you? Men and women have different tastes when ites to these things.”


    Ste smiled politely. “He’s busy with work. Couldn’t get away.”


    As soon as she finished speaking, her phone buzzed. She nced at the caller ID before picking up. “Tess?”


    “Ste, I just saw Lillian with Ethan!”


    Ste’s expression froze.


    The satisfaction on her face disappeared bit by bit, buried under the weight of Tessa Miller’s words. Her gaze turned cold.


    Ethan Keene was her fiancé. Their wedding was in a week.


    And just hearing Lillian Reed’s name made a flicker of disgust cross her eyes. Lillian—the maid’s daughter. The girl who stole her parents at birth and now had the nerve toe after her fiancé.


    Ste shot a look at the boutique manager, who instantly understood and nodded.


    With a simple hand gesture from the manager, the other employees quickly left the room.


    Once they were gone, Ste nced at her manicured nails and asked casually, “Where’d you see them?”


    Tessa hesitated. “The hospital. OB-GYN department.”


    Ste raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “Well, that’s an interesting ce.”


    A man and a woman showing up together in the OB-GYN department—what could they possibly be there for?


    Tessa scoffed. “Lillian’s nothing but a two-faced maniptor, and Ethan’s a bastard. Call off the wedding!”


    Ste hadn’t even gotten angry yet, but Tessa was already fuming.


    She took a slow sip of water from the ss in front of her and smirked. Every time she pulls one of her stunts, I’m the one who pays for it. What are you mad about?


    Two years ago, Lillian had left the country of her own ord, iming that since the real daughter of the Reed family was back, she had no right to stay. And yet here she was again—cozying up to Ethan.


    Had Ste been too kind these past two years? Or just too forgiving?


    Tessa huffed. “She came back right before your wedding. What do you think that means? She’s up to no good.”


    Ste’s gaze darkened. “I’ll call youter.”


    Tessa sounded rmed. “What are you gonna do?”


    Ste smiled. “If someone’s selling a lie, how could I not buy into it?”


    With that, she ended the call.


    She turned to the mirror, looking at herself in the pristine white gown.


    Her fingers trailed over the bodice.


    With a sharp rip, the fabric tore apart in her hands. She tossed the shredded dress to the floor.


    The boutique employees watching from a distance gasped in shock, but seeing Ste’s expression, none of them dared to say a word.


    Just as she finished changing into her own clothes, her phone buzzed again.


    She nced at the screen.


    Ethan.


    The moment she picked up, his cold voice came through. “Once you’re done trying on the dress,e to the office.”


    Two years.


    For two years, Ethan had been nothing but gentle and considerate toward her.


    And now? This change in attitude… was it because Lillian was back?


    A mocking smile flitted across Ste’s lips. She didn’t even bother replying—just hung up.


    Half an hourter, Ste stepped into Ethan’s office.


    He stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, talking on the phone.


    Bathed in sunlight, his features were sharp yet refined. His side profile alone was enough to make anyone stop and stare.


    God had favored him, gifting him a face that was unmatched in all of Rivermount.


    The moment he noticed Ste, he hurriedly said into the phone, “Eat lunch by yourself. I’m hanging up.”


    He walked over to the couch and sat down.


    The warmth in his voice from the call was gone. His expression turned cold as he looked at her. “Come here.”


    Ste met his icy gaze.


    She walked over but didn’t sit next to him like she used to. Instead, she took a seat across from him.


    Ethan noticed the distance she put between them, and his expression grew even colder.


    With a click, he flicked open a lighter. The sharp scent of gasoline filled the air.


    Ste disliked the smell and waved a hand to clear it.


    Ethan didn’t seem to care. He lit a cigarette and took a drag. “Lillian’s back.”


    A flicker of guilt shed through his eyes, but it wasn’t enough to stop him from saying what came next.


    “Our wedding… needs to be postponed.”


    The moment Ste picked up Tessa’s call, she’d already expected this.


    “What do you mean?”


    Lillian came back, so the wedding gets postponed?


    Ethan exhaled a slow stream of smoke. “She’s sick. It’s serious.”


    As he spoke, he pulled out a document and handed it to her. “Bradford University’s admission letter. You should go study abroad.”


    The way he said it—like it was a favor. Like it was an order.


    Ste nced at the envelope in his hand. She didn’t take it. Instead, she let out a soft, mockingugh.


    “You want me to leave? To make room for her?”


    Ethan’s expression darkened. “Isn’t this the school you’ve always wanted to go to? Now—”


    “Ethan.”


    Before he could finish, Ste cut him off, her voice ice-cold.


    She reached out, snatched the envelope from his hand, and tore it to shreds right in front of him.


    The pieces fluttered to the floor like snowkes. One stray scrap stuck to her palm. She flicked it straight at Ethan’s face.


    Whatever warmth was left in his eyes disappearedpletely.


    Ste didn’t bother softening her tone. “No need to postpone the wedding. Just cancel it.”


    Why dy?


    Canceling was much easier.