It all started after a weekend party in the Hamptons, when my fiancé, Blake Covington, got the estate manager's daughter, Sabrina Shepherd, pregnant.

At our engagement party at the Newport Bay Yacht Club, he publicly broke off our engagement, claiming he had to "be responsible" for Sabrina and her unborn child.

"Clara, Sabrina's pregnant with my child. I have to marry her. I know you still love me, so... after I marry Sabrina, you can be my mistress. We can still be together."

I agreed to call off the engagement on the spot, then turned and proposed to Darryl Hawthorne—the very man whose business-motivated marriage proposal I had once rejected.

At my wedding, Blake stood before the guests and sneered at me.

"Have you fallen this low without me? Marrying some nobody on the verge of bankruptcy? I'm the real estate tycoon of Newport Bay. If you beg, I might take you back."

I gave him a distant smile.

What he didn't know was that whoever I chose was destined to become the new king of Newport Bay.

————————

1

At the engagement party, Blake Covington, immaculate in his custom suit, placed a protective hand on Sabrina's stomach and strode toward me with her at his side.

"Clara, Sabrina is carrying my heir. I have to do right by her."

"Sabrina isn't like you—she's just the estate manager's daughter. Having a child out of wedlock would destroy her."

"I'm asking you to be gracious and agree to call this off. Otherwise, I'll terminate the partnership between our companies, and the Sinclair family's reputation will be in tatters."

The moment he finished speaking, the entire room erupted.

"Has Blake lost his mind? He's abandoning the Sinclair family's heiress for an estate manager's daughter?"

"Calling off the engagement at the engagement party? The humiliation is unforgivable!"

My father's face went white with rage, the hand clutching his champagne flute trembling violently.

"Blake, you've gone too far! You rented out the big screen in Times Square to propose to her—everyone knows Clara was supposed to be your bride."

"And now you're abandoning her in front of everyone for another woman? You're making her the laughingstock of the entire East Coast!"

"This can't just be swept under the rug. You owe Clara an explanation!"

Blake looked at me, his eyes tinged with red. A flicker of guilt crossed his face as he opened his mouth to speak.

But suddenly, Sabrina burst into sobs.

"Clara, please don't fight with Blake because of me! It's all my fault. I never should have gotten pregnant!"

"I—I'll go away tomorrow, somewhere no one knows me, and raise the child alone. I promise I'll never get in your way."

"As long as you two can be happy together, my own suffering doesn't matter."

She turned to Blake, wiping her tears.

"Blake, I'm leaving. I just want you to be happy."

Her performance was so absurd I almost had to laugh.

"My happiness doesn't require your blessing, Sabrina. So you can save your breath."

Sabrina's face turned pale. She wrung her fingers awkwardly.

"I'm sorry, Clara, I misspoke. I know I'm just an estate manager's daughter and can't compare to you. But you don't have to humiliate me like this. Don't I deserve some dignity, even if I wasn't born rich?" she asked, her voice choked with hurt, even as a triumphant glint flashed in her eyes.

Seeing this, Blake immediately pulled Sabrina behind him protectively. When he turned back to me, the guilt in his eyes had vanished.

"Clara, that's enough! You can't just belittle others because you were born with a silver spoon!"

"Sabrina is gentle and kind. She fought her feelings for me for so long. If she hadn't been there for me that night in the Hamptons when I was drugged, who knows what might have happened."

"You should be grateful she was there, but instead of being thankful, you insult her. Why can't you be considerate for once, like her?"

Rage trembled through me. It took all my composure to unclasp the sapphire necklace—a Covington family heirloom—from my neck and place it gently on the table before him.

"This is the Covington family heirloom. Take it back. The engagement is off. As of this moment, we're through."

Blake stared, stunned by how easily I agreed. He clearly couldn't process it.

"Clara, you agreed that quickly? Are you already seeing someone else?"

His chest heaved, every word tight with fury.

"No man wants a woman who's been publicly thrown aside! And you—with that acid tongue and petty mind—no one but me would ever tolerate you!"

I clutched the bouquet in my hand, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.

"We're not together anymore. My life is my own."

Amid the gasps of the guests, I walked toward Darryl Hawthorne, whose family was on the verge of bankruptcy.

"Darryl," I said, "are you still willing to be my fiancé... and take his place tonight?"

Everyone stared at me in disbelief. No one had expected that, in a moment like this, I would agree to marry a man on the brink of ruin.

A faint smile touched Darryl's handsome face. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.

"Of course," he murmured. "I've always dreamed of making you my bride."

The room fell silent.

Guests whispered amongst themselves, hiding their shocked faces behind their hands.

"Is Clara insane? Why would she marry someone who's about to go under?"

"Why not? Maybe she was involved with Darryl first, which is why Blake was forced to call off the engagement!"

At their words, fury contorted Blake's features. He let out a cold snort and stormed out, dragging Sabrina with him.

...

The next day, I made good on my word and went to the old Hawthorne residence on Boston's Beacon Hill to discuss the wedding arrangements.

Darryl's gaze never left me, as if he feared I might vanish if he blinked.

His family laughed at his lovesick expression.

His grandmother pulled me to sit beside her, her expression warm and kind. Then she laid out a collection of priceless jewelry she had amassed over the years, presenting them all as wedding gifts.

"Oh, my goodness... This is far too much," I gasped, rising to my feet. My hands hovered, not daring to touch the priceless collection.

But she packed everything back into a box and firmly pressed it into my arms.

"Clara, you're a rare and wonderful young woman. We are all so thrilled that Darryl is marrying you. These are a token of my blessing, so please, don't deny an old woman this small joy."

I smiled and nodded, finally accepting the box from her.

As I was leaving the Hawthorne estate, I unexpectedly ran into Blake, who was waiting in a secluded cobblestone alley.

He rushed over the moment he saw me.

"Clara, you're really here! So you're really going to marry Darryl?"

I immediately took a step back, putting distance between us.

"Of course. Who would joke about marriage?"

Blake stared at me as if he couldn't comprehend the words, then let out a low laugh.

"Clara, I know you're just doing this to spite me."

His eyes searched my face for any sign of heartbreak, humiliation—any emotion.

"Why go to such lengths just to get back at me? We were in love. I can't bear to see you ruin your own life out of a moment of spite."

"So... I'll marry Sabrina, but you can be my mistress. We can still see each other. I've already prepared an apartment for you."

He didn't seem to notice my simmering fury, continuing as if he were discussing the most natural thing in the world.

"Sabrina is very understanding; she won't get jealous or fight for my attention. Since she's pregnant, I need to take care of her, but I'll come to you every weekend. Don't expect too much; this is the biggest concession I can make."

He smiled at me, a strange, expectant look on his face, as if he were waiting for my gratitude.

"Sabrina is willing to tolerate your presence. You should be grateful."

I could barely believe what I was hearing, my entire body seething with anger.

"Are you listening to yourself? You sound insane."

"Let me be clear—we were completely over the moment you called off the engagement at the party. You still think I'll be your mistress? You're delusional."

My words finally provoked him.

"Clara, I admit I went too far at the party. But I came to you in person and offered you a place by my side. You should know when to back down."

His shamelessness almost made me laugh.

"In your dreams. I'm getting married soon, so stop bothering me."

Blake let out a sharp, incredulous breath and then grabbed my wrist.

"Stop being so stubborn! Darryl is about to go bankrupt—what can he give you?"

"I can give you everything but marriage. If you insist on leaving me, I'll leak fabricated stories to the press about your family's company committing financial fraud!"

"Do you really want to watch your family's company stock price plummet?"

I turned away, my voice as cold as a knife. "The Sinclair family's business is none of your concern."

He stared at me, every word laced with frustration.

"Clara, when did you become so selfish? Let me tell you—no man finds a willful woman attractive."

"Come with me now. Once you move in with me, I'll teach you how to behave."

I struggled, trying to yank my hand free.

Just then, a low, commanding voice cut through the air.

"Let her go."

I turned my head.

Darryl lunged forward, his hand clamping around Blake's wrist. The pressure was so intense that beads of sweat popped out on Blake's forehead. With a powerful shove, Darryl sent him stumbling back.

"Clara is my fiancée," he said calmly. "Her future is my responsibility now. If you ever dare to harass her again, you'll face the consequences."

Blake let out a cold, mocking laugh. "You? Don't make me laugh."

But he was no match for Darryl's strength. He was forced to retreat, a sneer still on his face as he turned to leave.

"Darryl, you're just a tool Clara is using to get back at me. What are you so proud of? Just wait. In less than three days, she'll come crawling back to me, crying her eyes out."

...

That evening, Blake hired hackers to launch a hostile short-selling attack on the Sinclair family's stock. The impact was immediate. Sinclair Holdings suffered a devastating blow, and its stock price plummeted.

The next morning, all the shareholders rushed to an emergency board meeting.

No one expected Blake to show up uninvited—with Sabrina in tow.

He carried an air of smug superiority, yet his voice was deceptively gentle.

"Clara, forgive me, but you were too stubborn and willful. A little tantrum is to be expected. Just consider this a lesson—to teach you how to behave."

He snapped his fingers. A group of assistants walked in, holding a lavish diamond bracelet.

Blake came to my side, his chin held high in arrogance.

"I know you're only holding out because you were humiliated at the engagement party. So, this is a gift for you."

I trembled with rage. He was ridiculous—laughably so.

Sabrina came over, trying to place the bracelet on my wrist with an expression of magnanimous sacrifice.

"Clara, your friends are all waiting for you to come to your senses. You should hurry up and accept Blake's generous offer."

I looked closer, and it was no treasure—just a gaudily designed piece of jewelry.

Blake caught the displeasure in my expression.

"Clara, Sabrina is the wife, and you're the mistress. There has to be a distinction."

I flung the bracelet to the floor. "Get out," I seethed.

Sabrina's eyes flickered—a moment later, she suddenly leaned against the table and retched.

"Clara, it's one thing to hate me, but how could you trample on Blake's goodwill like this? For you, he..."

I wrenched my arm from her grasp, and she immediately crumpled to the floor.

She clutched her stomach, wailing loudly.

"It hurts—my stomach—! Clara, I was just trying to help you and Blake make up. Why did you have to push me?"

A flash of panic crossed Blake's face. He rushed to her, sweeping her into his arms, his grip tight, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Doctor! Get a doctor! Sabrina, don't be scared. I won't let anyone hurt you or our child!"

Then he turned to me, his breath trembling with rage.

"Clara, Sabrina has already made so many concessions for you, and you're still so vicious! If anything happens to this child, I'll make the entire Sinclair family pay for it!"

I returned his threat with a soft, humorless laugh and said nothing.

He only breathed a sigh of relief when he learned the baby was fine. Then he stood before me again, his chin jutted out self-righteously.

"Even if Sabrina is fine, you still owe her an apology. I know you own 10% of that venture capital fund. Transfer the shares to Sabrina, and I'll let this matter go."

At the mention of the shares, an unmistakable greed lit up in Sabrina's eyes.

I steadied myself, suppressing the storm within me.

"Those are my personal assets. What right do you have to them?"

Blake smiled faintly.

"When we were together, what was yours was mine. So naturally, I get a say in what happens to it."

I gritted my teeth, swallowing the rage that was burning through me.

"In your dreams. I'm not going to be your mistress, and I'm not handing over those shares. Get out of my life with Sabrina, or I'll make you regret it."

Blake clearly hadn't expected me to humiliate him in public. He trembled with fury.

He took a step closer.

"It seems I've been too lenient with you. You will pay for your foolishness—and your viciousness."

Then he pulled out his phone, his eyes like steel.

"Give the order to acquire all remaining Sinclair family assets. I want them ruined."

The room was silent for three full seconds before erupting into chaos.

Sabrina peeked out from behind him, a smug, expectant look on her face.

But before she could even smile, Blake's phone began to vibrate wildly, and a breaking news alert popped up on the large screen in the conference room.

"Breaking News: A certain real estate company has filed for bankruptcy protection today after defaulting on massive debts!"