Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1: THE BETRAYAL THAT BROKE ME

Bianca's point of view 

Monte Family Celebration

The atmosphere within the Monte estate was heavy with affluence and status, chandeliers overflowed with crystal, golden candlelight illuminated the ballroom with a celestial radiance, and a string quartet performed a refined tune. I positioned myself by the bar, gripping the stem of a champagne flute firmly, struggling to hide my discomfort.

I didn't wish to be here,but my mom had forced me, that's what she always does.

“I'll be right back darling,I need to speak with a friend.” She said softly beside me, already halfway into the crowd.

It wasn't just a friend,that I know, it's one of her pillow friends and the thought of it was gross.

The annual gala of the Monte family was an event I had participated in for years, yet this evening, there was a sense of change. Or perhaps it was only me,disturbed, overwhelmed, struggling in a tempest I couldn’t fully identify.

After that, he entered.

Louis Monte.

Lanky, sophisticated, strikingly attractive in a fitted black suit that hugged him perfectly. My breath caught as it always did when I laid eyes on him. He made his way into the crowd with ease, radiating strength with each stride. Our gazes locked for an instant, yet there was no affection, no silent understanding as there once was.

Simply chilliness.

Something felt off.

And then, as if a dagger pierced the heart, his deep voice resounded through the hall, magnified by the microphone.

"I want to express my gratitude to everyone for being here tonight," Louis started, his voice steady and rehearsed. "This evening focuses on family, heritage, and what lies ahead.”

Just coldness.

Something was wrong,I felt it deep within me,I knew something was wrong yet I couldn't lay a hold on it.

And then, like a dagger to the heart, his deep voice echoed across the hall, amplified by the microphone.

"I’d like to thank you all for coming tonight," Louis began, his tone calm, practiced. "This evening is about family, legacy, and the future."

He glanced toward his father, then turned to the crowd with a charming smile. "And speaking of the future, I am honored to share some wonderful news. It is with great joy that I announce my engagement to—"

I knew what he was going to say before the words even left his lips.

"Vivienne Carlisle."

The room erupted in applause, gasps of surprise and excitement rippling through the guests. My heart slammed against my ribs. The floor tilted beneath me.

Vivienne.

My step-sister?

I felt the air rush out of my lungs as my fingers went slack around my glass. The champagne flute slipped from my grasp and shattered against the marble floor. Heads turned toward me, whispers spreading like wildfire.

But I couldn’t hear them.

All I could hear was the rush of blood in my ears.

I had known Louis Monte for years. He was powerful, untouchable,an heir to a billion-dollar empire. But behind the cold mask he wore in public, I had seen another side of him.

Late nights stolen in hidden corners. His lips tracing fire against my skin. The whispered promises he made between tangled sheets.

"You’re the only one who makes me feel alive, Bianca."

"I don’t care about expectations. I want you."

"Trust me."

How foolish I had been.

I thought what we had was real. I thought I meant something to him. And yet, here he was, announcing his engagement to another woman,to my own step-sister,without so much as a warning.

I forced myself to look at Vivienne, standing beside him. She was glowing, her delicate fingers wrapped around his arm, her smile wide and triumphant.

She knew.

She had known all along.

And she had won.

I turned on my heel, ignoring the murmurs and the eyes burning into me as I pushed through the crowd. My vision was blurred, my throat tight. I needed air. I needed to escape.

___

I found him in a quiet hallway away from the party, standing near the balcony, his back turned to me.

"Say it to my face," I demanded, my voice trembling with barely restrained rage.

Louis turned slowly, his expression unreadable. "Bianca—"

"Don’t," I cut him off, stepping closer. "You knew how I felt about you. You knew, and yet you still did this, I'm sure you gloried in your act,you loved it.” I whispered.

He sighed, rubbing a hand down his face as if I was exhausting him. "It’s complicated."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Complicated? You mean to tell me that after everything,after all those nights, all those whispered words,you never meant any of it?"

His jaw tensed. "It’s not that simple, Bianca. I never lied to you."

"Then why, Louis? Why her? Why my own sister? You knew the state of my relationship with her yet you couldn't choose a random girl?”

His gaze darkened. "Because it’s what’s expected of me. Because my family needs this alliance, and Vivienne—" He exhaled, looking away. "She’s the right choice."

"She’s the right choice."

The words were a gunshot to my chest.

"And what was I?" I whispered, my voice breaking. "A distraction? A pastime?"

His silence was answer enough.

I felt something inside me shatter.

Tears burned the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall in front of him. Instead, I straightened my spine, forcing my expression into something cold, something unreadable,just like his.

"Thank you," I said, my voice eerily calm.

Louis’s brows furrowed. "For what?"

"For finally showing me the truth," I said. "I was nothing but a shadow to you. A secret. A mistake."

"Bianca—"

I shook my head. "Don’t. Whatever we were, it ends here."

He took a step forward, but I stepped back. "Goodbye, Louis."

Then I turned and walked away, leaving behind the only man I had ever loved.

And this time, I wasn’t looking back.