After graduating from college, my boyfriend, Adrian Ashwood—heir to a business empire—made me his personal assistant at his company.

Adrian had promised me countless times that he would place the Ashwood family's heirloom ring, the symbol of the Ashwood matriarch, on my hand.

But that day, when I went to find him with some preliminary wedding plans, I overheard his phone call on the balcony.

"Oh, Dorthy? She's just a pretty, pliable ornament. How could someone like her ever become the matriarch of the Ashwood family?"

Adrian let out a soft chuckle. "She's nothing special in bed. I can't even be bothered to touch her when she's lying naked on my mattress."

"The woman is so naive it's almost foolish. She has no mind of her own, which is exactly how I like it. All I have to do is whisper a few sweet nothings, and she'll do anything for me."

"That's why I shaped her into the person she is today. Perfect, and perfectly hollow."

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1

I was an orphan, adopted by Adrian Ashwood's parents and raised in the Ashwood Manor.

Growing up, I trailed him like a shadow. His devotion to me made us the talk of high society.

We were childhood sweethearts, meeting at eight and falling in love at sixteen. The rest felt like it was written in the stars.

At his twentieth birthday party, he strode through the crowded room, his eyes shining as he came toward me. "It's you, Dorthy Turner. You're the one I want."

I melted under his fiery gaze. And just like that, I was utterly lost in him.

From sixteen to twenty-two, we shared six years of passionate love. I never imagined I would hear such venomous words from his mouth, yet I couldn't find a single reason to argue, because I was, in the end, a girl with nothing to her name.

I couldn't aid his business, forge a powerful alliance for him, or even provide an heir to secure his position.

I stumbled back to my room in a daze. I shakily pulled out a suitcase, only to realize I had nothing of my own to take. Everything I had was a gift from Adrian.

Just then, the door burst open.

"Dorthy! What are you doing?" Adrian was drenched in sweat, his face pale.

When he saw the suitcase, his expression contorted with rage, and he yanked me fiercely into his arms.

I shoved him away with all my might. "I don't want to be your 'perfect project,' Adrian. I'm leaving."

"You heard?"

Panic flared in his eyes. He clutched me even tighter, declaring possessively, "You're not going anywhere, ever. You're mine. Everything about you is mine!"

"So I'm just your ornament? Meant to stand by and watch you marry some heiress?"

He reached out, gently wiping my tears. "I won't marry anyone but you."

His embrace, once my sanctuary from all anxieties, now felt like a cage tightening around me.

He rested his chin on the crown of my head, rubbing my back soothingly. "Don't be like this, Dorthy. I was just saying that to throw off a business rival. You know how much I love you."

"You are mine. Our fate was sealed the year we both turned eight."

My tears streamed down my face. I couldn't deny that, aside from those cruel words, Adrian had always been good to me. His protection was the only reason an ordinary girl like me commanded any respect in high society.

In our daily life, his care was meticulous. He prepared my meals, selected my clothes, and even had heating pads and painkillers ready for my period. Few would believe an heir of his stature would do so much for anyone, let alone a penniless orphan, but he did.

I closed my eyes. A part of me knew the only way to keep this love alive was to believe him. But I should have known that one lie is always followed by countless more.

The next day, I went to work at the Ashwood Group as usual, only to be stopped outside the elevator by Cindy Bancroft, daughter of board member Robert Bancroft.

Dressed in a sharply tailored Chanel suit, she stood with her arms crossed, looking me up and down with a sneer.

"Well, if it isn't Adrian's little pet. Have you forgotten your place? Just because he lets you live in the manor doesn't make you its lady."

I clutched the documents in my hand, my knuckles turning white. "What's between Adrian and me is none of your business."

Cindy covered her mouth as if she'd heard the funniest joke in the world. Then, she leaned in, her voice a venomous whisper. "I guess he hasn't told you, then."

"Adrian and I are having our engagement party in two weeks. He'll be publicly announcing me as the future matriarch of the Ashwood family."

Two weeks? I looked up, stunned.

Just last night, Adrian was holding me, promising over and over that I would be his only wife. The warmth of his body still seemed to cling to mine.

I refused to be swayed by her taunts, but the sheer certainty in Cindy's eyes was impossible to dismiss.

"What's wrong? Heartbroken?"

She extended a finger tipped with a blood-red nail and contemptuously flicked my work badge. "You're just a nobody from nowhere. So what if you've been with Adrian for six years?"

"Dorthy, you're just a charity project he hasn't tired of yet. And I am the future Mrs. Ashwood."

I wanted to fire back, but my throat was tight and raw. "I'm not," was all I could manage.

"Then what are you?" she sneered, closing in.

"Oh, right. You're just an unwanted orphan. If Adrian's parents hadn't taken pity on you, you'd have died in a ditch somewhere long ago."

Orphan...

Losing my parents was my deepest wound, a subject no one ever dared to mention in my presence.

I snapped, raising my hand and shoving her with all my strength. "Shut up!"

But I was just a girl, and Cindy had a professionally trained bodyguard at her side. He seized my wrist with one hand as Cindy raised her other and slapped me hard.

The force of the slap sent me staggering to the ground, my ears ringing. Cindy stood over me, a mocking sneer in her eyes.

Just then, the elevator dinged open, and Adrian strode out. His eyes landed immediately on me, sprawled on the floor.

"What happened?" he asked.

Cindy stood with her arms crossed, not a hint of panic in her eyes, only triumph.

"Dorthy attacked me. I was just defending myself."

"Enough," he cut her off, then turned to me.

For a heartbeat, I thought he would defend me. But the man staring down at me now was a stranger, nothing like the one who held me last night. He commanded sharply, "Apologize."

My voice trembled, a sharp pain piercing my chest. "You didn't even ask what happened."

"You started it. Now, apologize," he said with a frown.

I stared back at him stubbornly, tears stinging my eyes.

"Don't test my patience, Dorthy." His cold gaze was a tangible pressure.

"I'm sorry," I choked out.

Adrian mistook my silence for submission, while a victorious smile bloomed on Cindy's face. She waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, Adrian, don't be so harsh. She's just a commoner, I won't hold it against her."

Looking at their hypocritical faces, a wave of nausea rolled over me.

Adrian’s tone softened. "Cindy and I have work to discuss. You can see yourself out, Dorthy."

As they walked away, Cindy's stiletto heel ground squarely onto the back of my hand.

I gasped in pain, but Adrian, arm in arm with her, didn't even glance back.

Staring at the angry red mark swelling on my skin, my mind flashed back to a night by the manor's fountain, the year he held my hand and made a vow.

"Dorthy Turner, I swear on my honor to love only you in this life. If I ever betray you, may I lose everything."

Under the moonlight, his eyes had sparkled. I had cried and thrown myself into his arms.

I once clung to that vow like a talisman in this gilded cage, but now I saw it for what it was: a lie I told myself. Since his love was gone, it was time for me to leave.

Late that night, the familiar scent of cedarwood, now tainted with Cindy's cloying perfume, drifted to me.

Adrian was back. He collapsed onto the sofa, his face a mask of exhaustion and regret.

In the past, I would have rushed to him, massaging his temples and kissing his cheek. But this time, I remained motionless on the sofa.

"Dorthy," he murmured, reaching for my hand but hesitating. "About today... I'm sorry you had to go through that, but Cindy is board member Bancroft's daughter. I need her father's support."

His flimsy excuse felt like it was grinding my dignity into the dust.

A bitter smile formed in my heart, but I plastered on a bright one. "I understand, Adrian. You're the heir to the Ashwood Group. Of course, I'll be understanding."

Adrian froze. He stared at me in disbelief, then suddenly pulled me into a fierce embrace. "I knew you'd be strong for me because you love me. That's my Dorthy."

He nuzzled against my neck, then cupped my face, his thumb gently caressing my lips. His gaze was impossibly soft as he whispered, "As long as you behave and don't cause trouble..."

He paused, then continued his promise as if bestowing some grand favor: "I swear to you, you'll always be the only one in my heart."

"Okay," I replied softly, letting my head rest obediently on his chest.

The second I had my new identity documents, I would be gone.

The following days passed in an eerie calm.

Adrian seemed to truly believe my love meant I would endure anything, so he made no effort to hide his intimacy with Cindy from me.

He even had me, his assistant, oversee the arrangements for their engagement party.

Staring at the thick proposal for the party, I felt the utter absurdity of my six years of devotion.