Chapter 3

Adeline Carter's POV:

It started months ago at Brock's company's annual gala. That was when Alvin Thompson first took an interest in me.

Brock had insisted I go. He was desperate for me to network, to make a "good impression." He wanted me to stand out.

In the ballroom, Alvin Thompson was the center of gravity. He wore a perfectly tailored suit and a glinting watch that cost more than our rent for a year. He was tall, striking, and radiated a power that was impossible to ignore.

Brock was handsome, too, but his was a more approachable, less aggressive charm. He didn't have Alvin's "Old Money" aura. That night, Alvin's charisma didn't move me. My eyes were only for Brock.

But when Alvin's gaze fell on me, he froze. The noise of the gala seemed to fade around him. His deep, focused eyes locked onto mine as if I were the only person in the crowded room.

The other guests noticed. Someone nudged Alvin's arm, calling his name repeatedly before he snapped out of it, a faint flush creeping up his neck.

The signs of Alvin's "love at first sight" were painfully obvious.

After the party, Brock was smug, convinced my presence had boosted his status. "Addie, you charmed everyone! Even my boss couldn't take his eyes off you!"

"I'll have to hide you away. Someone might steal you," he laughed, pulling me close.

"No one can steal me," I said firmly. "I only love you, Brock."

I meant every word. Back then, my love for him was pure and simple.

How ironic that the encounter that night would become the prologue to the destruction of our lives.