Chapter 1

When I was born,Wall Street's oracle named me the market's golden girl.

My fiancé,Julian Hawthorne,had delayed our wedding for three years.

At the rehearsal dinner on the eve of our wedding,everything changed.

He stood there holding his pregnant assistant,who was wearing my custom Valentino dress.

"Ava is carrying my child.Let her wear the dress.Once the baby's here,I'll still marry you."

The assistant,Ava,stood there playing the crying victim.

He was never worth waiting for.

I smiled.

"She can have the dress.The wedding is off."

Julian's face darkened.

"If you leave me,who on Wall Street would marry you?"

A drawling,bone-chilling voice came from outside the ballroom.

"I would.Call my lawyers.This venue is mine tonight."

…

"Scarlett,stop making a scene."

Julian stood in the middle of the ballroom in a custom suit.

He looked annoyed.

The woman beside him wore the dress meant for me.

She clutched her stomach,pale and trembling.

That wedding dress.

My mother had found a designer who had spent a year tailoring it for me.

It was one of a kind.

My hands curled into fists.

"Take it off!"

My voice shook with rage.

"You don't deserve that dress!"

Ava's eyes filled with tears.

"Miss Sterling,it's all my fault.I'll—"

She tugged at the dress,then stumbled into Julian's arms.

Julian steadied her.

He looked back at me,irritated.

"Scarlett,Ava's pregnant.Do you really have to come at her like this right now?"