Chapter1 Everyone in Harbor City knew that Jewel Whitmore was the luckiest woman alive. And Ivy Sloane? She was the town's favorite villain. Though born the true daughter of the Sloane family, Ivy envied the adopted Jewel with a heart full of spite. She hated the way her own brother, Grayson Sloane, indulged Jewel with limitless affection. She hated even more that Weston Vale, the heir of Harbor City's most powerful family, loved Jewel with a devotion no one could rival. To win Weston, Ivy stooped lower than anyone thought possible. She slipped into the Elysium Club, hired its most notorious performer, and trained in secret. She filmed herself in countless sordid fantasies and sent the videos directly to Weston, desperate to prove her "talent." At other times, she used her family name to slip past his guards, dressing in sheer veils and sneaking into his bed, pretending to be Jewel. Sometimes she trailed him, costumed as a maid, trying to force him into ridiculous role-play. Weston rejected her every single time, without hesitation, without mercy. Still, Ivy never stopped. Her boldest scheme was unthinkable. She plotted to get pregnant by stealing his used condom, and thought she could trap him. That was the last straw. Weston and Grayson intervened. They arranged for the pregnancy to be ended, her womb removed. And Grayson himself lashed her ninety-nine times. "Ivy Sloane, remember this," he had said coldly. "Even if Jewel is only adopted, I will never allow you to harm her." Jewel had been deeply grateful. No matter what happened, she knew her brother and her husband would always shield her. Until, on her third wedding anniversary, everything shattered. Grayson and Weston walked in, each holding one of Ivy's hands, and stood before her. "Jewel," Grayson said gravely, "during the hysterectomy, Ivy contracted HCV. It's turned into liver cancer. She doesn't have long to live. Her final wish is to take your place, as the true Sloane daughter and as Mrs. Vale." Jewel froze, staring at them in disbelief. "Grayson... Weston... what are you saying? A title I can hand over, but a husband? That's impossible!" Ivy sank to the floor, sobbing. "Jewel, I have only a month left to live. Please, give Weston back to me. This marriage was meant for me from the start. You stole my name, but I never blamed you. Can't you at least return my marriage before I die?" Jewel's head pounded. Her eyes burned red as she looked to Weston, silently pleading for him to speak sense. He was silent for a long moment. Then his voice came cold. "Jewel, Ivy's reputation is already ruined for my sake. No one else would ever marry her. Now she has only a month left... why not grant her this one wish?" Jewel's heart plunged into darkness. Seeing her trembling lips, Weston softened his tone just slightly. "Don't worry. The divorce will be on paper only. The wedding with her will be a sham. In my heart, you are my only wife. The moment she's gone, I'll marry you again." Grayson's voice joined in, sharp with reproach. "You've stolen Ivy's life for years. Because of you, she was mocked as the fake heiress while you lived in glory. Now she's dying, and her last request is so small, how can you refuse? Don't be so cold-blooded!" The brother who had always doted on her now glared at her as though she were a stranger. Jewel felt as if she'd been cast into an ice cavern, her whole body trembling. Then Weston tossed a packet of photographs onto the table. Her hands shook as she opened them, private photos of herself, once taken in love, now turned into leverage. "Jewel," Weston said lazily, his finger tapping the table in a clipped rhythm, "either you let Ivy take your place... or these go public. Choose." Once, he had told her he wanted to capture her beauty, to keep it forever. Now those cherished pictures hung over her like a guillotine. Jewel clenched her fists until her palms bled. Slowly, she lifted her chin. "Fine. I agree. But I have one condition." "What condition?" "Say it. Whatever it is, we'll agree," Weston and Grayson answered at once. Jewel looked at the two men, so eager to betray her, and gave a small, bitter smile. Tears slipped down her cheeks, soundless. "After the divorce, I want nothing more to do with any of you."