Chapter 1

I had just put on my evening gown and hadn't even zipped it up yet when the door was suddenly slammed open.

In the darkness, two intertwined figures were reflected in the full-length mirror.

The woman had her arms hooked around the man's neck, her voice seductive and alluring.

Her dress fell to the floor, and the man spun her around to face the wall, leaning down and pressing against her.

Today was a party hosted by Jason Cooper, the head of Glacier Corp. Near the end of the workday, my boss Brian brought me along to attend.

He thought my business suit wasn't appropriate for this kind of evening event and forced me to change into a gown.

How was I supposed to know I'd walk into such an explicit scene?

Within seconds, the woman was already moaning.

She twisted her body to look back, but the man grabbed the back of her neck and pressed her down firmly.

The mirror was right behind them. If they turned around even slightly, they'd see me.

I made a quick decision, clutched the dress strap hanging off my shoulder, and ducked into the nearby wardrobe.

I'd wait for this couple to finish before coming out.

I don't know how much time passed before the sounds outside finally stopped.

I pushed the wardrobe door open a crack and carefully peeked out.

Moonlight filtered through the glass, casting a quiet white glow over the room.

They were gone.

I let out a small sigh of relief, pushed the door open, and tiptoed out with my right foot.

Suddenly, the door slammed shut with a bang.

Before I could react, a strong force shoved me toward the window, grabbed my neck, and pressed me against the glass.

Frost had formed on the window, completely obscuring his reflection. I couldn't make out his features.

"Talk. Who sent you?"

The man's voice was deep and heavy, carrying a chilling, murderous intent.

It sounded somewhat familiar.

In my panic, I didn't have time to think much. I quickly raised both hands. "Don't misunderstand. I just came in to change clothes. I didn't see anything."

The dress strap hanging off my shoulder slid down my arm, and the bracelet on my wrist clinked against the glass.

The force behind me gradually lessened, and the man lowered his voice. "You..."

I had no time to hear what he was saying. Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed my shirt, ducked under his arm, snatched a throw pillow from the couch, and hurled it at him based on memory. Then, not daring to look back, I fled through the door in a panic.

Racing down the hallway, I was terrified.

Although I didn't know who that man in the room was, anyone invited to a mafia boss's party was no ordinary person. They could crush me with a flick of their finger.

And I had just thrown a pillow at someone like that.

If he recognized me, I'd probably die without even a complete corpse.

Disheveled, I leaned against the wall, debating whether to wait for him to find and kill me or go back and beg for mercy to at least keep my body intact.

Just then, a hand landed on my shoulder. "Sue."

Startled, I whipped my head around.

Brian stood there in an impeccably tailored black custom suit, his brows furrowed. A flash of surprise crossed his round eyes as he looked me up and down, his brow creasing slightly. "I just asked you to change clothes. Why did it take so long?"

I shifted my numb body and quickly zipped up the gown. "It's nothing."

Brian said with displeasure, "Whether we can close this deal with Glacier Corp depends on today's performance. Don't cause me any trouble at a time like this."

My throat moved as I swallowed the words on the tip of my tongue and replied quietly, "Got it."

I'd been Brian's secretary for almost three years. Knowing him as I did, if he found out what just happened, he'd fire me immediately.

I didn't want to die yet. Jessica was still at home waiting for me.

I followed Brian through the corridor to the main banquet hall.

Jason, the current head of Glacier Corp, had only taken over the group five years ago, but in that short time, he'd transformed it from a small organization into a powerful corporate empire.

No one dared question his capabilities.

However, he kept an extremely low profile.

Today was his first public appearance since taking over the group.

Brian led me to a corner seat and said, "When Mr. Cooper arrives, I'll go greet him, and you offer a toast. Try to get him to come to our side and create an opportunity to discuss the project with him."

Still thinking about what had just happened, I was too flustered and distracted to pay attention to what he was saying.

He reached over and pushed my arm. "Go pour the drinks."

As I stood up, I noticed my wrist was bare.

My bracelet was gone!

It was a token of love from my ex-boyfriend. I'd worn it for eight years. How could it just disappear?

Could I have accidentally dropped it in the changing room?

My heart sank. I turned and pulled out my chair, wanting to go back and look for it.

At that moment, the heavy doors of the banquet hall slowly opened.

More than a dozen men in black jogged in and lined up on both sides, leaving a path down the center.

A man in a black trench coat walked in slowly.

Six feet tall, broad-shouldered with long legs, his leather shoes struck the ground with authority, the hem of his coat swaying with each step.

His narrow eyes gleamed coldly beneath sharp, sword-like brows.

It was him. My ex-boyfriend.

As he passed me, his steps paused for an instant, his pupils dilating slightly. But within a second, he returned to normal, brushed past my shoulder, and went straight to sit in the main seat.

I heard someone nearby call him "Mr. Cooper."

So he was Jason.

Everyone became restless with his arrival.

A few bold ones were already rushing over to toast him, including several of Brian's business rivals.

Seeing this, Brian grew anxious and quickly pulled me along.

There was a long line ahead. Following behind Brian, I could just see Jason's profile from the edge of the queue.

Compared to before, he'd lost a lot of weight. His former clean-cut demeanor had been replaced by a faint aura of menace.

He leaned back lazily in his chair, his right hand tapping the table rhythmically. On his ring finger was a very clear mark from a ring.

When we were dating, he'd worn a ring engraved with my name there.

But when we broke up five years ago, he'd thrown that ring away himself. The mark should have faded long ago.

This one was probably from a wedding ring.

I stared at his hand in a daze when I suddenly felt a burning gaze.

Looking up, I met his dark, brooding eyes head-on.

Our eyes locked. After a few seconds, he looked away and beckoned to Brian with a finger.

The people in front all turned their heads.

Under more than a dozen envious gazes, Brian pulled me forward. "Mr. Cooper, I've heard so much about you. I'm Brian Ethan, General Manager of MT Corp."

He handed over his business card.

Jason glanced at it and set it aside. His narrow eyes and dark gaze fell on me. "Ms. Wilson, that's an expensive outfit you're wearing. You must have married a rich man."

Five years ago, when he threw away our promise ring, he'd said through gritted teeth that he hoped I'd marry a rich, good man in the future.

I knew he was mocking me.

I clenched my fists and looked at him, lifting my lips in a slight smile. "Mr. Cooper, you guessed right. I'm already married."