Chapter 1 Everyone knew Celeste was Dominic's little sugar baby . [ ] Beautiful . Obedient . Compliant . Perfectly accommodating . [ ] Give her money , and she'd put up with every one of his selfish whims . [ ] Even when he threw her out like trash the second his first love crooked a finger . Even when he stood by and watched her get ripped apart . ] ] Everyone thought she'd never let go - that she'd still be there , pathetic and waiting , even when he walked down the aisle with someone else . [ ] But guess what ? Celeste got married first . [ ] To a man who had nothing but love to give . [] - 0 When this month's $ 300,000 deposit hit her account , Celeste was sorting through documents for her move back home . [ ] Her friend Iris Lang asked hesitantly , " You're really going through with this ? Moving back and getting married after graduation ? What if Dominic finds out and comes after you ? " Celeste's hands paused , but her voice stayed calm . " He won't . " Dominic was always generous with mistresses who called it quits . He never looked back . [ ] Once she returned home , he'd probably forget her quickly enough and find a replacement . [ ] Another obedient little canary just like her . " Alright then . " Iris sighed . " When are you leaving ? " Celeste's lips curved slightly . " One month . ' In one month , her contract with Dominic would expire . There wouldn't be a renewal . ] After that , she'd start fresh - new name , new city , forget Dominic entirely . Forget everything about England and just be herself . [ ] London's weather was perpetually gloomy . When Celeste emerged from Wilkins Building , a fine mist had started falling again . [ ] She hurried home under her umbrella , then froze at her apartment door . [ ] Another umbrella stood there . He was here . ] ] In that instant , her heart felt like it was melting in the rain . Celeste dutched her papers lighter and slowly pushed open the door . [ ] Warm amber light spilled out . ] Dominic's silhouette moved in the kitchen , the dim lighting outlining his tall frame . From the doorway , she could just make out the sharp angles of his face . [ ] Celeste watched for a few seconds before stepping inside . ] She plastered on a bright smile and wrapped her arms around Dominic's lean waist from behind . " It's been nineteen days . You usually come back after fifteen . " [ ] Occasional complaints from the canary provided emotional value to her patron . [ ] Usually Dominic would give her that half smile and ask if she needed more money [ ] This time , he simply plated the steak from the pan , his voice flat . " After dinner , go shower . " [ ] Chapter 1 * Celeste froze . Out of the corner of her eye , she caught sight of his rolled - up sleeve a clear bite mark on his wrist , the wound crusted over with dried blood . * Someone had bitten him hard . [ ] Celeste said nothing more . She released Dominic , ate her steak obediently , then went to shower . [ ] Under the spray , the fresh woody scent of her shampoo filled her nose . ] The same scent from the first time she'd met Dominic . Rain drummed against the windows outside . Celeste's thoughts drifted back with the sound of rain to that first glimpse of Dominic . [ ] When she'd hit rock bottom . [ ] Four years ago , during her college entrance exams . Her mother Grace - who'd never once cared about her grades - had slipped a note into her pencil case , getting her flagged for cheating and all her scores invalidated . ] When Celeste confronted her , Grace cried and said she'd only meant well , it was a blessing , why was Celeste blaming her ? [ ] Celeste nearly laughed until she cried . [ ] Grace had always played favorites . Everything Celeste owned were her sister's hand - me - downs . [ ] Yet during the entrance exams , Grace's " blessing " went to Celeste , not her precious younger daughter . The irony was suffocating . [ ] Celeste - who should've gotten into China's top universities - ended up branded a cheater , mocked by everyone . She wanted to retake the exams . But Grace dropped to her knees in front of the entire apartment complex , sobbing . ] ] " Your sister needs art school , we don't have money left . I'm begging you , be good , let your sister have this . " [] " Mom already talked to your aunt - you can work at her factory . I'm doing this for your own good , giving you a way forward . " ] ] A bright future reduced to the endless darkness of a factory floor - this was " a way forward " ? [ ] Celeste refused to accept it . She took every penny she'd saved from years of part - time jobs and fled to England for university . - When Grace found out , for the first time she didn't guilt - trip Celeste - she just screamed obscenities over the phone and swore she'd never help her again . [] To survive , Celeste spent every waking hour working side jobs , skipping meals , just to finish those four years of school . Then one night walking home , she got mugged . She fought desperately to keep something , anything , but only got beaten bloody for her trouble . [ ] What little money she had left wouldn't even cover next month's rent . " Finally , she called Grace , begging for just enough to get through one month . Grace cried , " How is this my fault ? You chose this . " ] That's when Celeste broke . [] She hadn't cried working double shifts on three hours of sleep . She hadn't cried getting robbed . But that phone call destroyed Her . [ ] In the international student circles , broke students like her had limited options for quick money beyond scholarships - find a rich " boyfriend . " [ ] The day her landlord came demanding rent , Celeste spent her last dollars getting her hair and makeup done , made herself look as stunning and alluring as possible , contacted her acquaintance Iris Lang , and went to the biggest private party in their circle . [ ] She spotted him immediately the man sitting at the center of the crowd , everyone fawning over him . [ ] Chapter 2