Chapter 1

After five years apart, I reunited with Lucas Thorne.

His business was thriving, and his love life flourishing. He toured the mall arm in arm with his fiancée, surrounded by admirers.

Seeing me in my plain work uniform, he smiled with a hint of mockery: "Evelyn Shaw, your retribution has finally come."

To seek revenge and torment me, he stopped at nothing.

But later, with bloodshot eyes and hands covered in scars, he knelt before me crying:

"Can we go back to the way things were?"

I swayed my high heels and replied, "Of course not."

Lucas Thorne is now the most prominent figure in Ocean City's business circle, wielding immense power and influence.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new shopping mall, Lucas's handsome face stands out strikingly.

Tall and slender, impeccably dressed in a suit, his cold eyes sweep across the crowd.

His fiancée, Olivia White, clings to his arm, flashing a gracious smile at the reporters.

She's wearing an elegant white dress, the epitome of a refined beauty.

Suddenly, Lucas's gaze fixes on me, his eyes piercing and cold. He walks towards me, his voice low and calm: "Long time no see, Evelyn."

His voice isn't loud, but my heart still skips a beat.

I keep my head down and say, "Welcome, Mr. Thorne."

Olivia leans on his shoulder, asking gently, "Lucas, is this your friend?"

"Evelyn Shaw, heiress to the Shaw Group, once a top socialite. She was the princess of the entire Capital City, no one dared to cross her back then." He pauses, letting out a brief, cold laugh. "But now, the Shaw Group has gone bankrupt. Her pride and status are gone."

"Oh, I see." Olivia nods in understanding, not pursuing the topic further. She changes the subject, "Lucas, shall we go for Japanese cuisine?"

"You go ahead, I'll join you shortly."

Lucas and Olivia kiss goodbye in front of me.

After everyone around has been cleared away by Lucas's security, he suddenly pins me against the hard wall. "Come, let me have a look at you."

"Lucas, let go..."

My weak struggle causes my collarbone to form a deep hollow.

Lucas's fingers slide down from my shoulder, leaving a trail of fire wherever they touch.

He asks me meaningfully: "How have you been, Evelyn? Where's that Miss Shaw who used to humiliate me with her money? Thanks to you, I'm doing very well now."

My eyes sting, and I slowly clench my fists. "Actually, back then I..."

"Are you showing up in front of me now just to disgust me?"

The sarcasm in his words makes my heart tremble, and I can't utter another word.

I never told him that back then, I was in debt of hundreds of millions, attempted suicide, and broke up with him because I didn't want to drag him down.