Chapter 1

The world was exactly as it should be for Alexis Montgomery. At twenty five, she seemed to have it all, an enviable life wrapped in layers of wealth and luxury, one that sparkled with an untouchable gloss of privilege.

Alexis, the only daughter of Henry Montgomery, was born into a legacy of riches and influence. Her father, a magnate in the real estate business, had built an empire that stretched across continents, and with it, a life for Alexis that most could only dream of.

Her days were filled with the ease of someone who had never had to worry about where the next dollar would come from or how she would pay for anything.

The mansion she lived in, nestled in the most exclusive neighborhood of the city, had been her playground since childhood.

The sprawling gardens were perfectly manicured year round, and inside the house, rooms were filled with priceless art and antique furniture from across the globe.

She had grown up surrounded by elegance, crystal chandeliers, velvet curtains, marble floors, and gold accents on every surface.

Her lifestyle reflected her father’s vast wealth.

Alexis wore only designer clothes, her closets overflowing with couture from Paris and Milan.

The luxury car she drove was a sleek, custom made Mercedes, and her weekends were often spent on private yachts or jet setting to exotic destinations.

She had never known anything but the best, and she liked it that way.

Alexis had been groomed to perfection, in every sense of the word. From an early age, she had attended the finest schools, mingling with the children of politicians, business tycoons, and celebrities.

She had learned to walk with poise, to speak with grace, and to carry herself with an air of effortless superiority. It wasn’t arrogance, at least, not in her eyes.

It was simply the way life had always been. The world was her stage, and Alexis Montgomery played her role to perfection.

And at the heart of her seemingly perfect life was her engagement to Ryan Pierce.

Tall, handsome, and charming, Ryan seemed like the ideal match for Alexis.

He came from a respected family, albeit not as wealthy as the Montgomerys, but still affluent enough to run in the same circles.

Their relationship had been the talk of high society since they had first been seen together at a charity gala two years earlier. It wasn’t long before whispers of marriage filled the air, and just six months ago, Ryan had proposed in a grand, public display at the Montgomery family’s summer estate in the Hamptons.

It had been the picture perfect moment, just like everything in Alexis’s life. They had been on the terrace overlooking the ocean at sunset, surrounded by close friends and family. Ryan had dropped to one knee, pulling out a diamond ring so large it had drawn gasps from the crowd.

Alexis had been radiant in her acceptance, and the applause that followed had felt like the applause of the universe, affirming that her life was indeed as perfect as it seemed.

Now, with the wedding date set for six months from today, Alexis’s mind was filled with thoughts of wedding dresses, floral arrangements, and guest lists.

She was already imagining the wedding as the social event of the year, perhaps even the decade.

The venue would be a historic chateau in the French countryside, with guests flying in from all corners of the globe.

The dress?

A custom creation by a world renowned designer, nothing less would do, of course. Everything had to be flawless, just like the rest of her life.

As she sat at the breakfast table, sunlight streaming through the floor to ceiling windows, Alexis flipped through a luxury bridal magazine, casually circling dresses that caught her eye. Across from her, Ryan was reading the business section of the newspaper, his brow furrowed in concentration.

“Darling,” Alexis began, glancing up from the magazine. “What do you think about a string quartet for the ceremony? Or is that too traditional?”

Ryan looked up, a polite smile forming on his face. “A string quartet sounds perfect, Lexi. Whatever makes you happy.”

His words were smooth, his tone reassuring, but Alexis noticed that his attention quickly returned to the newspaper.

It was a small detail, one she didn’t think much of.

Ryan was always busy, he was an investment banker with long hours and important meetings. Still, he had always made time for her, attending the endless social events, charity dinners, and galas that filled their calendar.

He was a doting fiancé, always thoughtful, always the gentleman.

For Alexis, their life together was something straight out of a fairy tale.

Every now and then, she’d hear faint murmurs from friends about how Ryan wasn’t quite as affectionate as he used to be, or that he seemed distracted at parties. But Alexis brushed off such comments, dismissing them as jealousy or idle gossip.

After all, who wouldn’t be envious of her life?

She had everything, a fiancé who was handsome, successful, and charming, a life of luxury, and a future that promised even more.

As the morning slipped into afternoon, Alexis had a lunch appointment with Sophia, her best friend since childhood.

They met at their favorite upscale café, where the staff knew them by name and the patrons were all equally wealthy and well connected.

Sophia greeted Alexis with a warm hug, her designer bag swinging casually from her arm. “You’re glowing, darling!” she exclaimed, sliding into the plush chair across from her.

Alexis smiled, her hand instinctively reaching up to touch the diamond on her finger. “I think it’s just the excitement of the wedding. There’s so much to do, but it’s all coming together beautifully.”

Sophia leaned forward, her eyes glimmering with excitement. “I can’t wait for the big day. You’re going to be the most beautiful bride.”

Their conversation flowed easily, as it always did, touching on wedding plans, fashion, and the latest gossip.

Alexis felt comfortable in this world of wealth and ease. It was familiar, safe, and reassuring.

The idea that anything could disrupt her perfect life seemed laughable, a distant impossibility. Yet, despite all the luxury and the carefully constructed image of perfection, there were small cracks beneath the surface, cracks that Alexis was too distracted to notice.

Ryan’s frequent absences, his vague excuses about late meetings, and the way his eyes sometimes seemed distant, even when he was with her, none of it registered in her mind as anything more than the normal stresses of life.

She had never known hardship, never had reason to doubt the stability of her world. But even the most beautiful facades can crumble, and Alexis was about to learn just how fragile her perfect life really was.

The engagement ring on her finger sparkled in the afternoon sun, a symbol of the life she believed was hers for the taking.