Introduction

I was the Bradford family's charity case, groomed to be Liam Bradford's wife, endlessly cleaning up his messes.

Discreet calls to pharmacies, quiet payoffs – that was my life, a familiar, suffocating routine.

Then, Eleanor Bradford's chilling call: "Ava, the penthouse. Now."

I walked in to find Sophia Hayes, Liam's high school sweetheart, artfully tear-streaked and clutching her stomach.

"It's her, or me and our babies!"

Liam didn't even look at me. "It's Sophia. She's pregnant. Twins."

He casually outlined his plan: Sophia would live in our penthouse, I'd be a godmother, then a sham wedding for appearances.

My antique locket, a treasured gift, was tossed carelessly towards a trash bin.

Later, Liam announced my custom wedding dress would be live-streamed as a charity donation for "good PR."

"You were taken in out of charity," he sneered. "Be eternally grateful."

The final blow: a legal document demanding I sign away any future maternal claims, ensuring Sophia's twins were the undisputed Bradford heirs.

My value, reduced to a barren placeholder.

When I refused, Sophia staged a dramatic fall, screaming I'd tried to harm her babies.

Liam, in a furious rage, threw my suitcase, then shoved me out of the penthouse.

"Go back to the gutter where we found you!" he roared, slamming the door.

Cast out. Alone. But a cold, steel resolve ignited.

My trembling hand dialed a name I hadn't called in years: Jax Cole.

"Is that offer... does it still stand?" I choked out.

"Always, Ava," he replied. "For you, always."

My only way out.

Boston City Hall. Three days. Nine AM. I would be there.