Introduction

For five years, I was Julian Vance' s shadow, known only as his fiercely loyal assistant, but my dedication was a meticulously crafted lie.

My real mission was to avenge my sister, Sarah, an environmental activist Julian' s company silenced after she uncovered their toxic secrets.

Today, I walked out, my resignation a symbol of triumph as I held the USB drive with the evidence that would finally expose him at his grand charity gala.

But then, as I stood ready to unleash the truth, I instinctively shoved him from the path of a falling stage light, shattering my hand, my ribs, and my five-year plan.

Instead of gratitude, I received his cold dismissal, then Julian' s glamorous fiancée, Isabella, ordered his security to drown me, leaving me for dead in a freezing warehouse.

Julian, seeing me struggle, simply watched Isabella whisper in his ear before they turned their backs and walked away, abandoning me without a second thought.

I survived, only to have Julian demand I cover up his complicity, publicly discrediting me as "reckless" while Isabella played the hero and he played the concerned boss.

Why did he abandon me like a broken doll, only to then use my pain for his public image?

I was invisible, disposable, and I knew then that the truth wasn't enough; my revenge would be a personal one, meticulously planned.

I disappeared, only to be dragged back to a horrifying auction where Julian and Isabella sold me like property, but I refused to be his victim any longer.

My carefully built facade of loyalty shattered, not just for him, but for myself; I was done fighting his battles, living in his shadow, and now, finally, I was going to live for me.