PROLOGUE

The scent of vanilla candles filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of the chocolate cake Vanya Moon had baked herself. The dining table in her small apartment was decorated with gold balloons and streamers. A carefully wrapped box sat in the center, containing the custom watch she’d spent months saving for.

Tonight, she had everything planned. It wasn’t just Rex Patterson’s birthday—it was the night she was going to tell him their lives were about to change forever.

She glanced at her reflection in the mirror one last time, smoothing down her navy-blue dress. A tiny flutter of nerves tickled her stomach, but she brushed it aside. Rex loved her. She was certain of it.

Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts.

“Are you on your way?” she asked, her voice filled with excitement.

There was a pause. “I’ll see you soon,” Rex said, his tone oddly curt. Before she could ask what was wrong, the line went dead.

*********

THREE HOURS LATER

The candles had burned halfway down, the cake untouched. Vanya’s excitement had given way to confusion, then worry. She dialed Rex’s number again, but it went straight to voicemail.

Her phone chimed. She lunged for it, hoping it was him.

It wasn’t. It was a text.

“Check the kitchen counter.”

Frowning, Vanya walked over to find a single envelope propped against the wall. Her name was scrawled across the front in Rex’s familiar handwriting.

Her fingers shook as she opened it, dread settling in her chest like a stone.

“Vanya, I can’t do this anymore. Please don’t look for me. I’m sorry. —Rex”

She blinked, reading it again, then again, hoping the words would change.

“What…?” she whispered, her breath hitching.

She grabbed her phone, redialing his number. This time, the robotic voice on the other end crushed her hope entirely: “The number you are trying to reach is no longer in service.”

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “No, no, no!”

Her heart pounded as she grabbed her coat and keys, her mind a blur of questions and fears.

*********

The imposing iron gates to Rex's estate were as cold and unyielding as the security guards standing in front of them.

“I need to see Rex,” Vanya said, desperation lacing her voice.

The taller of the two guards shook his head. “Mr. Patterson left strict instructions not to let anyone in.”

“Not anyone! I’m his girlfriend!” she snapped, clutching the bars of the gate.

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the guard replied, his tone firm but not unkind.

Vanya stepped back, tears stinging her eyes. “Please,” she begged. “I need to talk to him. There’s been a mistake.”

“There’s nothing I can do.”

Her knees felt weak, but she refused to let them buckle. She stared at the mansion in the distance, her chest heaving with sobs. The man she loved, the man who had promised her forever, had disappeared without an explanation.

Her trembling hand fell to her stomach as she felt more than the pain of heartbreak.

*********

FIVE YEARS LATER

The sound of clinking glasses filled the conference room as Vanya Moon exchanged firm handshakes with the investors seated around the table. She exuded calm confidence in her tailored black blazer, but beneath her polished exterior, the pressure of the moment weighed heavily.

“Thank you for your time, gentlemen,” she said, her tone crisp.

The investors nodded, but their expressions were hesitant. They’d heard the whispers about MoonTech’s financial troubles, and the doubts in their eyes made it clear that Vanya had a steep hill to climb.

As the room emptied, her younger brother Damon leaned closer to her, his face etched with worry.

“Vanya, you don’t have to do this anymore,” he said, his voice low. “You’ve already sacrificed so much for me—for the company. It’s not your responsibility to fix this.”

She turned to him, her dark eyes blazing with determination. “You think I’m just going to walk away?”

“Vanya—”

She cut him off, gripping his hand tightly. “Listen to me, Damon. I’m not giving up until you’re debt-free, even if it means I have to—”

Her words were interrupted by the sound of the TV in the corner of the room.

“Breaking news,” the anchor announced. The screen cut to a photo of a man with sharp features, perfectly styled hair, and a smirk that made Vanya’s stomach churn.

Rex Patterson.

Her breath hitched as the image flashed across the screen. The voice of the anchor continued, oblivious to the storm raging inside her.

“Billionaire mogul Rex Patterson is making headlines yet again as investors pour billions into Patterson Empire, citing his unmatched vision and leadership. Sources say this deal could mark one of the largest investments in the company’s history.”

Vanya stared at the screen, her pulse pounding in her ears. Rex looked smug and untouchable, his wealth and power on full display for the world to see.

Her grip on the edge of the table tightened as a bitter resolve hardened in her chest.

“Vanya,” Damon said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You’ve done enough. You don’t have to—”

She cut him off, her voice firm and unwavering.

“Even if it means I have to dine with the devil himself.”