Chapter 1

I walked into Serena's apartment with our wedding invitation in hand.

Too hurried, so that I grabbed Damian's phone by mistake on my way out.

The second I stepped through the door, the screen lit up. Connected to Wi-Fi automatically.

I froze for a moment.

Damian had never been to her place. How the hell did his phone know her network?

Serena glanced at the phone in my hand and smiled.

"Stop guessing. Every time he told you he was on a business trip these past three years, he was sleeping here."

I stared at the invitation in my hand, ten years of my life suddenly feeling like a sick joke.

She picked up an ultrasound scan from the coffee table and waved it at me.

"Two months along. If you still want this wedding, perfect—you can be my free nanny."

The fingerprint lock beeped. Damian walked in carrying takeout soup.

Our eyes met. His smile froze on his face.

I folded the invitation and slipped it into my pocket.

From this moment on, Serena Croft and Damian Sterling were dead to me.

........................................

"Why the hell are you running around with my phone?"

Damian kicked off his shoes and set the soup container on the entryway table.

His eyes swept over the ultrasound in Serena's hand, then landed on my face.

After a brief pause, he loosened his tie and sat down next to her.

"Since you already know, there's no point hiding it."

He looked up at me.

"The scan's real. She's pregnant with my kid. Almost two months."

The invitation crumpled in my pocket as my fingers tightened around it.

"So?"

I could barely hear my own voice.

Damian frowned, clearly pissed at my reaction.

"What's with the attitude? I haven't even called you out for snooping through my phone."

He picked up a glass of water and took a sip, his tone self-righteous.

"You've had two miscarriages. The doctor said your uterine lining is too damaged to carry another pregnancy."

"I need an heir. Serena's willing to have my child—she's doing us a favor."

"The kid will call you Mom when it's born. You're getting a free baby. What's the problem?"

Ten years.

I'd starved with him. Destroyed my stomach drinking for his business deals. Lost two unborn children for him.

And now he was telling me that screwing my best friend was for my own good.

Serena leaned against Damian's shoulder, her hand resting on her flat stomach.

"Sienna, I never had parents growing up. I've always thought of you as my sister."

"The three of us can live together. My baby will be your baby too."

She lifted her chin, her eyes gleaming with victory.

"You've always wanted a complete family, right? Well, now you have one."

Damian stroked her hair.

"See how understanding Serena is? Unlike you, walking around with that bitchy expression all the time."

He pulled a document from his briefcase and tossed it onto the coffee table.

"This is a supplemental agreement. My lawyer drafted it."

"Next month's wedding goes ahead as planned. You'll still be Mrs. Sterling."

"But publicly, Serena will be my cousin. She'll move into our penthouse for the pregnancy."

I stared at the document without reaching for it.

"Serena moves into our home as your cousin?"

"Yes." Damian nodded. "I can't leave her alone in this condition."

"And after the baby's born?"

I forced a bitter smile.

"Registered under your name. Serena's still young—she can't let a kid hold her back."

Damian pulled out a pen and held it toward me.

"I'll add an extra ten grand to your monthly allowance, specifically for taking care of Serena and the baby."

"Sienna, don't be greedy. I've given you the best of everything. What more do you want?"

He looked into my eyes with terrifying sincerity.

He genuinely believed he'd done nothing wrong.

To him, I was nothing but an accessory with no income of my own, completely dependent on him.

As long as he tossed me a few scraps, I should be grateful.

Serena grabbed the pen and shoved it into my hand.

"Just sign it, Sienna. If you don't, those ten years will have been for nothing."

"You don't even have a job. What are you going to do without Damian?"

The pen dug painfully into my fingers.

I watched them play their synchronized game, and suddenly the whole farce felt absurd.

Ten years of my youth, traded for a contract to be the mistress's free nanny.

I set the pen down on the table.

"I'm not signing."

Damian's expression darkened.

"Don't push your luck, Sienna. I've felt guilty about those two miscarriages."

"Think of this baby as compensation. What the hell else do you want?"

He stood up, looking down at me.

"Last chance. Sign it."

I stood, pulled the invitation from my pocket, and threw it in the trash.

"I'll think about it."

I turned and walked toward the door.

Behind me, Damian sat back down and picked up the soup container, blowing on it.

"I knew you'd come around. Remember to pick out engagement rings tomorrow."

"Serena said she likes pink diamonds. Get her one too while you're at it."