Chapter 1

The repercussions of crafting an intricate series of lies about my identity were far more severe than expected. The first deception regarding my background created discord within the office, and my fear of being discovered kept me silent. However, truth inevitably comes to light despite how elaborate the secrets and deceptions are. The burden of my concealed realities now bears down on me, as the exposure of my dishonesty triggers a series of events that could alter the course of my entire existence.

"Marry me or get fired!"

His harsh and uncompromising tone pierced through the air, ensnarling me with his gaze. His rebellious grin leaves me bewildered by a choice that could bind my destiny to a man I don't know.

As regret sank within me, I kept asking myself, 'How did I even end up in this situation?'

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Tossing and turning while clenching my mother's keepsake between my hands kept me sleepless as I tried to rest my head on the pillow. I couldn't tell how long I lay awake, wrestling with my racing thoughts, before I managed to get some sleep. I found myself wide awake an hour before the blare of the alarm. The jitters in my chest kept me restless as I silently climbed down from the bed.

In the dimly lit room, Grace Everly, my friend since our orphanage days, was seated on the surplus computer chair, donning an inexpensive headset and an oversized old hoodie that draped her frame. Her short, tousled raven hair carelessly clung at the ends. The dark circles beneath her eyes hint she hadn't taken a nap, typing the manuscript of her new novel, which she had just started a few days ago. The dim glow of her aging laptop screen accentuated her pale complexion and the subtle freckles scattered across her nose.

I carefully laced up my favorite sneakers, trying not to disturb Grace as I arranged my water bottle. As I was about to exit the room, Grace's voice interjected, "Oh, by the way, you got a package from Sam yesterday. It's on the table."

"Really? Thanks!"

The package is a gift Sam sent me as congratulations for successfully achieving a position at a prestigious company such as Ainsley Enterprise. Samiel, whom we call Sam often, is a friend Grace and I met in our tender days in the orphanage. The three of us remained in contact, even after Grace and I left the orphanage upon reaching adulthood.

I tiptoed across the room, not wanting to disrupt Grace's creative sanctuary. The rhythmic tapping of her laptop keys created a tune that seemed to calm my tension, along with Sam's thoughtful gesture.

Unwrapping the gift revealed a sleek, new smartphone—a device I could never afford to buy with my former jobs. With a note wishing me good luck on my first day, the corner of my lips curled up in excitement.

"Grace, look at this!" I exclaimed, holding up the gadget for her to see.

Her small eyes widened as her gaze turned to me. "Oh, my gosh! That's quite expensive!"

"Is it?" I asked, trying to figure out how to use the phone in my hand. "Why would he give me something expensive? Should I return it? I don't think I deserve this."

"No!"

Grace's voice echoed throughout the room as she pointed out, "Isn't it rude to return a thoughtful gift?"

"I know, but..."

"Just enjoy the gift a friend had tirelessly worked on to buy for you," Grace mumbled as she returned to typing her manuscript. "Besides, you'll need that for your job."

"You're right," I whispered as I got the phone to work.

As soon as the phone turned on, it rang loudly, causing me to jolt and be surprised. "Oh, my God—"

"Ily!"

Grace screamed as she turned to me with furrowing brows and sharp, squinting eyes. Her gesture reminded me of the nuns in the orphanage whenever we speak inappropriately.

"Oh, blasphemy!" I muttered as I slapped my mouth before answering the call on the phone and accidentally putting it on speaker.

"Hi, Ily... S-sorry for calling you this early," a gentle and familiar man's voice stammered on the other line.

"Sam! Thank you for the gift, and it's nice hearing your voice, but how'd you know I'm already awake?"

"Because we're fated—"

"Eew, Sam! Would you please stop reading those kinds of novels?" Grace squealed as she turned around, sitting on her rotating computer chair. Her brows furrowed with a subtle grimace on her lips as if a bitter taste remained in her mouth. "I mistakenly typed what you said in my manuscript."

"As the full moon rises painted—"

"Ily, please hang up the call," Grace muttered as she looked at me with dead eyes.

Sam's laughter echoed in the room, followed by a knock on the door. "Would you all please lower your voices? I could hear you all in my room," a neighbor shouted.

"Sorry!" Grace and I responded in panic as I rushed to turn off the speaker, accidentally disconnecting the call.

After the call ended, Sam sent me a message telling me to relax before going to work. He knew I was usually antsy when starting a new job, and I'm guessing he phoned early today to check on me.

I quietly left the room for my morning run as Grace continued focusing on her work. After half an hour of running around the park, I decided to cool down a bit while navigating through the applications on the new phone I got and decided to take some snaps of myself, sweating under the soft glow of the morning sun. However, I accidentally captured behind me a tall and handsome man who had just stopped running to take a breather after a long run. He was seemingly looking at the camera, making it seem like we were running together.

I mistook him for Sam at a glance, but a bookworm like him dislikes morning runs. His luscious dark brown hair, thick brows framing his face with a rugged charm, and piercing blue eyes that held mystery and intensity felt eerily familiar. The strong line of his jaw and the subtle dimples that appeared when he smiled added to his compelling presence.

After capturing the initial shot, I subtly shifted to the side, pretending to snap another photo, creating the illusion of dissatisfaction with the first. Silently, I strolled away, aware of the rudeness of not deleting the initial shot.

As I walked back into the room, I contemplated deleting the image. However, the complexity of navigating the device confused me. Then, my gaze suddenly turned to the time displayed on the screen, making me realize that I had only a brief time to prepare for my first day at work. Swiftly, I stowed my new phone in my bag and hastened to prepare myself for the day ahead.

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My pulse hammered in my chest, intensifying its rhythm as my foot pushed forward gingerly before pressing into the ground. The subtle jitter wavered within me, my anticipation manifesting in the tremble of my cold hands. Huge skyscrapers stood over us, stretching shadows that covered the lively city beneath. Neatly and professionally dressed people walked in and out of the buildings with a hushed chatter, and the clicking sounds of footsteps hummed in the background. The high glass walls of the building reflected an image of me, a stranger in a fascinating yet elegant land. Who would have thought I, Iliana Davis, a twenty-year-old undergraduate orphan, could even step foot at a prestigious place like the Ainsley Enterprise?

The jitters in my chest did not stop as I entered the room of the marketing department. The air was saturated with the rhythmic taps of keyboards and the scent of freshly printed papers, creating an atmosphere where everyone remained engrossed in their tasks, their eyes and hands focused on the work.

A superior voice broke the silent hum of the office: "Please welcome our new hires, Chloe Shant and Iliana Davis."

Instantly, everyone shifted their attention towards us as smiles greeted us from all around—some awkward, some genuine, and a few with a hint of weariness as they approached us. Our colleagues stepped forward one at a time, exchanging handshakes and advice on navigating the workplace.

My first day in the office went smoothly. Most of my colleagues were friendly, offering help to ease our transition into the new environment. It hasn't been long since I juggled multiple jobs to make ends meet after leaving the orphanage, striving to find a place to live and stand on my own two feet. Considering my humble background, being accepted into such an esteemed company is a significant step forward. Moreover, the workload was not as exhausting as when I had to work day and night to afford the rent of a shared room in the city.

The team decided to go out on a Friday night to welcome us, the new hires. Initially, everything went smoothly, but an unexpected turn occurred when one of my colleagues asked about my family's background. The query was triggered when one of them began boasting about her somewhat distant connection to the esteemed Ainsley family—a prominent name in the city renowned for their philanthropy and business empire. As my colleague proudly shared her quite a distant link, the atmosphere subtly shifted, and I could feel the weight of their expectations now resting on me.