Prologue
Emily Dawson had always been the girl who wore her heart on her sleeve. Ever since she laid eyes on Alexander Sinclair during her first day at Sinclair Industries, she had been hopelessly in love with him. For years, she devoted herself to him—both professionally and personally—hoping that one day he would notice her. She endured his coldness, his indifference, and even the countless rumors of his involvement with other women, all while silently hoping that her unwavering loyalty would eventually pay off.
What Emily didn't know was that Alexander's heart had always belonged to another—Vanessa King, his first love and the embodiment of everything he thought he wanted in a woman. Vanessa was his crush ,the woman he could never forget, even after she left him to marry a wealthy foreign businessman. Vanessa's departure had left a gaping wound in Alexander's heart, and no matter how much time passed, no one could replace her.
Chapter 1:
Emily couldn't believe her ears when Alexander finally proposed to her. It was so sudden, so out of character for him, that she almost thought she was dreaming. After all those years of waiting, of watching him from afar, and hoping against hope that he would notice her, the moment had finally arrived.
Alexander, with his usual detached demeanor, handed her a small velvet box. "Emily, marry me."
The words were so devoid of emotion that they sounded more like a business proposition than a declaration of love. But Emily didn't care. All she heard was the word "marry" and the fact that it was directed at her. She had won. Or so she thought.
In reality, Alexander was far from being in love. He had grown tired of seeing Vanessa's name pop up in headlines, flaunting her glamorous life abroad. His pride had been wounded, and when he heard through the grapevine that Vanessa was returning to the city, now divorced and seemingly single, he felt an inexplicable urge to show her that he had moved on too.
Emily was the perfect candidate. She was already hopelessly devoted to him, she would never question his motives, and most importantly, she would make Vanessa believe that he had found someone new. It was the perfect plan. He would marry Emily, make Vanessa jealous, and then, when Vanessa realized what she had lost, she would come running back to him.
What Alexander didn't anticipate was the depth of Emily's feelings or the weight of the commitment he was making. For him, it was all a game, a twisted way to win back the woman he had always wanted. But for Emily, it was the culmination of years of heartache, longing, and hope.
The wedding was a grand affair, filled with all the trappings of luxury and wealth that came with being married to one of the city's most powerful men. Emily looked radiant in her gown, her eyes shining with love and happiness. She couldn't stop smiling, even when Alexander barely glanced at her as she walked down the aisle.
Nathan Carter, Alexander's loyal assistant, watched the proceedings with a heavy heart. He had known Alexander for years, and while he admired him as a boss, he couldn't help but feel sorry for Emily. She had no idea what she was getting into. Nathan had been the one to arrange everything, from the flowers to the guest list, and he knew that Alexander's heart wasn't in it. The wedding was just a show, a performance designed to make someone else jealous.
Sophie Martinez, Emily's best friend, was less forgiving. She had tried to talk Emily out of marrying Alexander, knowing full well that he didn't love her. But Emily, stubborn and headstrong, refused to listen. Sophie could only watch as her friend walked into a marriage that she knew would bring nothing but pain.
Vanessa King made her grand entrance at the reception, fashionably late as always. She was everything Emily wasn't—tall, elegant, and dripping with sophistication. She sauntered over to Alexander with a smirk, her presence immediately drawing his attention away from Emily.
"Congratulations, darling," Vanessa purred, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. "You've done well for yourself."
Alexander's heart skipped a beat at the sight of her. For a moment, he forgot that he was married, that Emily was standing right beside him, beaming with happiness. All he could see was Vanessa, the woman who had once been his everything.
The weeks following the wedding were a blur of formal dinners, public appearances, and endless social obligations. Emily tried her best to be the perfect wife, always by Alexander's side, always supportive. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.
Alexander was distant, often leaving the house early in the morning and coming back late at night. When they were together, he was polite but cold, never showing any of the affection that Emily had longed for. She told herself that it was just his way, that he was still adjusting to married life, but deep down, she knew something was wrong.
Nathan, ever the observant assistant, noticed the tension between the newlyweds. He wanted to say something, to warn Emily that Alexander's heart wasn't in it, but he couldn't bring himself to interfere. It wasn't his place, and besides, he had seen firsthand what happened to people who crossed Alexander Sinclair.
Sophie, on the other hand, had no such reservations. She confronted Emily one evening when they were alone, the two of them sharing a bottle of wine on the balcony of Emily's penthouse.
"Emily, you need to wake up," Sophie said bluntly. "He doesn't love you. He never did."
Emily flinched at the harshness of Sophie's words. "You're wrong. He just needs time. He'll come around."
Sophie sighed, shaking her head. "You're living in a fantasy. Alexander only married you because Vanessa was out of the picture. Now that she's back, he's going to drop you like a hot potato."
Emily refused to believe it. She had waited so long for this moment, for Alexander to finally notice her. She couldn't accept that it was all for nothing.
It happened on a rainy Tuesday evening. Emily had been feeling unwell all day, a nagging headache that refused to go away. She had sent a text to Alexander, asking him to come home early, hoping that they could spend some time together. She missed him, missed the closeness they had never truly had.
Alexander arrived home later than usual, his tie loosened and his expression weary. He barely glanced at Emily as he walked through the door, heading straight for his study.
"Alex, I'm not feeling well," Emily said softly, her voice trembling slightly.
He paused, turning to look at her. For a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of concern in his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
"Take some aspirin and go to bed," he said curtly, before turning away.
Just as he reached for the door handle, his phone rang. Alexander pulled it out of his pocket, glancing at the screen. His expression changed instantly, a look of excitement flashing across his face.
"Vanessa?" he answered, his voice softening in a way it never did for Emily. "What are you doing back in town?"
Emily's heart sank as she listened to the one-sided conversation. Vanessa was back, and she wanted to see Alexander. She wanted him to pick her up from the airport and take her out for drinks, just like old times.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes," Alexander said, already heading for the door.
Emily watched in stunned silence as he left without another word, her heart shattering into a million pieces.