Everyone in the city thinks I'm a good-for-nothing playboy, but I secretly earned a dual doctorate in medicine and finance years ago. My grandfather named me his sole heir, but to throw off our rivals, he adopted Chloe Vance and let the world believe she was being groomed for the top spot. Everyone assumed she would marry me and inherit the Thorne fortune. But after twenty years of growing up together, she remained cold, distant. I told myself she was just reserved by nature. Then she started championing a scholarship kid, Brook Miller, time and time again, even publicly declaring, “Anyone who bullies Brook today will pay a hundred times over when I take over Thorne Industries.” Someone in the crowd had the nerve to ask, “What about Steve Thorne?” She paused, then spoke as if granting a charity. “My heart belongs to Brook. Thorne can have the fortune, but he’ll never have my love.” I calmly switched off the video and dialed my grandfather’s number. “Grandfather, I’ve decided on the marriage alliance. I’m choosing the Beaumont family. We can’t afford to lose the northern markets.” His voice was even. “But Celeste Beaumont is cursed. Ruin to her parents, ruin to her husband, ruin to her children. She’s destined to be a lone star. Are you sure about this, Steve?” 1 I traced the face of my watch, a piece worth millions. “Hasn’t every great man who reached the summit been alone?” I said. “I don’t believe in fate. The only thing real is the power you can hold in your hand.” A note of appreciation entered his voice. “Good. Spoken like a true Thorne.” “By the way,” he added, “that Vance girl has been getting a little too ambitious lately. Put her in her place. If she still doesn’t learn, it’s time to send her away.” I lowered my eyes. “Understood.” When Chloe was sixteen, her family went bankrupt. Grandfather took her in, and the world assumed he was training his successor. My own father was a notorious womanizer who had only managed to produce one useless son—me. It was a convenient fiction. Grandfather deliberately spread the rumors of my incompetence, letting me observe the vultures and sharks of the business world from the shadows before I took them all down. But over time, Chloe started to believe the fiction herself. She began to think she was the true master of the Thorne estate. She forgot her name was Vance, not Thorne. Still, I would grant her one last kindness, a final shred of warmth for the boy I used to be. When I opened the library door, Chloe’s face was a thundercloud. “These little games of yours just make you more disgusting to me,” she spat. “I’ve been managing that project for three months. It’s in the final stages. Do you have any idea how much profit you’ve jeopardized with your stunt?” She bit her lip, her voice laced with contempt. “Why are you so damn childish? You’re nothing like…” I knew what she left unsaid. Nothing like Brook. A faint smile played on my lips. “Chloe, if you don’t like it, you’re free to leave the Thorne estate. No one is stopping you.” Fury blazed in her eyes, her hands clenched into tight fists. “Steve Thorne, you’re nothing but a spoiled brat who only knows how to cause trouble from your ivory tower. You look at me like I’m a dog you own. You don’t understand anything…” I turned away, a wave of pity washing over me. What didn’t I understand? Her father had died from a rare, chronic disease. Her life’s dream was to conquer it. What she didn’t know was that the disease was hereditary. Three years ago, while pursuing my medical doctorate, I spent an entire year of sleepless nights developing a growth factor that could inhibit the disease’s progression. And it was during that hellish year, when I was completely buried in my work, that she fell for the scholarship kid, Brook Miller. Love. It really was as fragile and pathetic as a joke. “Chloe, are you alright?” Brook gently took her wrist, his face a mask of concern. I shot him a sidelong glance, and Chloe instinctively moved to shield him. “Brook is just my assistant. Don’t you dare lay a hand on him.” Brook’s eyes reddened. “I-I’m sorry, Mr. Thorne. I was just so worried about Ms. Vance.” My voice was ice. “Is the Thorne estate some kind of monster’s den? What exactly is there to be so worried about?” Brook flinched. “No… I misspoke. If you’re angry, Mr. Thorne, just hit me.” At his words, I raised my hand. Chloe immediately threw herself in front of him. “Steve, that’s enough! Why do you get so much pleasure from bullying the weak?” I suppressed the bitter taste in my mouth and let out a sharp laugh. “Still the righteous hero, aren’t you, Chloe? After all these years.” 2 Her lips parted, then closed. Her face was pale, but she offered no defense. Just as she had saved me when we were kidnapped as children, she was now saving the poor, timid Brook Miller. Chloe only ever wanted to be the hero, protecting one “weak” soul after another. That’s why, when Brook’s scholarship was cut because he failed to meet the academic requirements, she blamed me for being stingy. When Brook, knowing full well I was severely allergic, sent a massive bouquet of roses to my office that landed me in the hospital for a week, she called me paranoid and cruel for thinking he’d done it on purpose. And at the charity gala, when he deliberately slipped the ring she’d given him into my suit pocket, only to look shocked and helpless when she walked over, she grabbed my wrist so tightly her nails dug into my skin. “Have you no shame, Steve?” she’d hissed. “Do you think stealing the gift I gave Brook will change anything? It was a symbol of my feelings for him. You can take everything, but I will never, ever love you.” Brook just shook his head, his face a picture of terror. “Ms. Vance, it was me! I gave the ring to Mr. Thorne. He had nothing to do with it!” Back then, I was still foolish enough to believe she was just being blinded by him. Still stupidly in love. I forced myself to remain calm. “Let’s check the security footage.” When the video played, showing Brook furtively slipping the ring into my pocket, he clutched his jacket, stammering nonsensically. “I-I’ve just never seen such a fine suit before… I couldn’t help but touch it, and the ring must have fallen in. Ms. Vance, I swear, I didn’t mean it! I really need this job…” His explanation was illogical, full of holes. But Chloe’s expression softened. She looked at me. “It was just a misunderstanding, Steve. Let’s just drop it.” She used my first name so intimately, yet a chill spread through my heart. The last time she’d called me that was on the night we escaped our kidnappers. She’d thrown herself in front of me, taking a stray bullet meant for me, her voice desperate as she screamed, “Steve, run!” The softest part of my heart, the part I had reserved only for her, was torn to shreds in that moment. Chloe, who had always disdained manipulation, had abandoned her principles for Brook. And with that, she shattered the last lingering piece of my affection. From that day on, Brook was always by her side. After all these years, Chloe couldn't remember my allergies, but she had every clivia lily, a flower Brook disliked, removed from the corporate offices. She never celebrated holidays, but she spent Valentine’s Day watching fireworks with him over the harbor. And the French-style manor Grandfather had built for me at a cost of a billion dollars—our future home—she took Brook there first. When I arrived at the manor with my security detail, I found Brook placing a crown of roses on her head. My voice was glacial. “Chloe, this manor was a wedding gift to me from my grandfather.” She had dared to rip out my favorite white willows and plant the grounds with roses, the one flower I despised. At the sound of my voice, Brook quickly snatched the crown off her head and dropped to his knees, banging his head on the stone path. “I’m sorry, Mr. Thorne! It’s my fault! Please, punish me!” After a few frantic bows, his forehead was already bleeding. Chloe rushed to help him up, her voice sharp with anger. “Steve, you’ve had everything you could ever want your whole life! Why must you torment Brook over something so trivial? It’s not a big deal! We’ll plant the willows again before the wedding.” She looked at me with an expression of weary obligation. “You’re marrying me anyway. Do these things really matter?” Her forced resignation was almost comical. She seemed to think I was utterly devoted to her, that even though I was the rightful heir to the Thorne fortune, even though countless powerful families were desperate to marry their daughters into our dynasty, I would simply wait for her forever. I couldn’t help but sneer. “Chloe, what makes you so sure I’m going to marry you?” 3 The air hung thick and still for a moment before Chloe laughed, a scornful, biting sound. “Don’t you sound ridiculous, Steve? Who else would you marry? The Thorne empire is tied to you. Do you really think Grandfather would let you marry some nameless nobody?” I was about to tell her I had already chosen my bride when she cut me off impatiently. “Stop being so difficult. At Grandfather’s birthday gala, I’ll tell him we’re ready to set the date. Will that satisfy you?” A flash of jealous hatred crossed Brook’s face, quickly masked by a sigh. “Mr. Thorne is so lucky. To marry a woman as wonderful as Ms. Vance… I wonder if I’ll ever be so fortunate.” Seeing his downcast expression, Chloe’s eyes softened with pity. “The Thorne family saved me,” she said, her voice meant for him alone. “I have a duty to protect their legacy.” She paused, her gaze filled with meaning. “But I know that gratitude isn’t love…” Brook’s eyes filled with a look of profound, romantic understanding. I had lost all patience. “Are you two finished?” Chloe’s expression turned cold and merciless. “No.” She stared directly at me. “Steve, even if I marry you, the one in my heart will always be Brook. You will be nothing more than a figurehead. And don’t you ever let me see you hurt him again.” Brook wrapped his arms around her. “Mr. Thorne,” he pleaded, “just let us be happy.” The last bit of warmth in me died. Did she really think I couldn’t live without her? It seemed that last shred of decency was no longer necessary. “From this moment on,” I said, my voice cutting through the air, “these two are banned from this estate.” Chloe drew a sharp breath, her voice turning venomous. “Fine, Steve. Just don’t you regret this.” Watching her walk away hand-in-hand with Brook, I let out a self-mocking laugh. Regret? For her, I had rebelled against my destiny countless times. A scion of a financial dynasty, I insisted on studying medicine, earning ten lashes from my grandfather’s cane and biting my tongue so I wouldn’t scream that I didn’t regret it. I went to war with a mob boss to win back her family’s heirloom, taking a bullet that missed my heart by less than an inch. I didn’t regret that either. Now, for the first time, I had finally made the right choice. What was there to regret? It takes a lifetime to love someone, but only a moment to let them go. Back at the Thorne residence, the butler bowed his head. “Young Master, your wedding suit has arrived. It is ready for a fitting.” The suit, a masterpiece of design and tailoring, drew gasps of admiration from the nearby staff. “It’s a work of art. A bespoke creation. Young Master, you will be the happiest groom in that.” I twisted my lips into a smile. Since when were value and happiness connected? But at least value, unlike people, would never betray you. When I put on the jacket, however, the buttons wouldn’t close. The designer frowned, pulling up his tablet. “Strange. We followed the measurements sent by the Thorne household precisely. They were only from a month ago; there shouldn’t be such a discrepancy.” My expression didn’t change as I took the tablet from him. The string of numbers was unfamiliar. They didn’t match any measurements I’d ever had. Chloe had been in charge of the suit. It was obvious whose measurements these were. As if on cue, Chloe rushed in. Her eyes darted around nervously, but her voice was defiant. “I must have given them the wrong numbers. Just have them alter it.” She knew this designer’s schedule was packed; he was only in the country for a month as a personal favor to my grandfather. There was only time for minor adjustments, not a complete re-tailoring. She knew how much this wedding meant to me, how I wanted every detail to be perfect. But she did it anyway, just to see a smile on Brook’s face. I calmly took off the jacket. “Thank you for your hard work, Maestro Karl. My best wishes to your next client.” The designer’s initial irritation melted into a look of sympathy. “Steve. I wish you happiness as well.” Chloe took a step forward, her voice uncharacteristically soft. “Steve, a suit from any other designer will be just as good. It’s not like I’ll look down on you for it.” A sarcastic smile curled my lip. The wedding venue was a compromise. The suit was a compromise. With her, my life was destined to be an endless series of compromises. But for Brook, she gave only the best. As she wished, I would marry Celeste Beaumont. There would be no more compromises for me. And she would finally have her heart’s desire. 4 Having severed all ties, I stopped contacting Chloe. But she came looking for me. She held out a single branch of white willow. It was her old way of apologizing. She would bring me something I loved, and I, besotted, would forgive her. But I no longer cared. So I didn’t take it. The frown on her face deepened. “Brook was worried you wouldn’t take things well, so he bought this for you. It cost him half a month’s salary.” I ignored her, rising to pick up my teacup. “It’s cheap.” Her face darkened. “Is money all you know, Steve? You’re disgusting.” As she stormed away, I smiled. The tea she’d been drinking, a rare Snow Mountain Emerald, was worth a hundred thousand a gram, and was nearly impossible to buy. The custom silk trench coat she wore, a delicate piece worth over three hundred thousand, was something she’d casually used to shield Brook from the sun. For the first time, I wondered: had I given her too much? The things others fought and bled for, she had received so easily. She had never learned to value anything. The gala was held on the MSC mega-yacht. Grandfather had announced that he would be revealing the news of my wedding, so everyone who mattered was in attendance. Chloe arrived with Brook at her side. The sharks of high society exchanged knowing glances. Everyone had assumed she would be marrying me; bringing this man was a slap in the face to the Thorne family. But there were always fools eager to curry favor. “Ms. Vance, you’re truly a pillar of Thorne Industries. So young and so accomplished.” Chloe’s expression soured. I chuckled to myself. She saw herself as the future queen, not a mere pillar. Besides, she had never been allowed anywhere near the core operations of the company. On paper, Grandfather was in charge. In reality, I had held the reins for years. Brook approached me, head bowed, to offer a toast. I stared calmly at his duplicitous face. “You’re not worthy to offer me a toast.” He moved closer, his voice a low, vicious hiss. “So what if you’re the Young Master? Her heart belongs to me.” Then, pretending to trip, he grabbed my lapel. We both tumbled backward into a towering pyramid of champagne glasses. Shards of glass bit into my skin as amber liquid soaked my pure white suit. SMACK. Chloe rushed forward and slapped me across the face. A perfect red handprint bloomed on my cheek. “Steve, I warned you. Don’t you touch Brook.” Brook was already on the floor, groaning as if he’d been grievously wounded. The fury in Chloe’s eyes intensified. Her hands closed around my throat. “Apologize.” Security finally reacted, pulling her off me. I coughed, gasping for air. The guests were whispering. “It’s over between them. Is he still going to announce the wedding?” “Looks like Chloe’s inheritance is a sure thing. Who else would dare to assault the heir in public?” Suppressing my rage, I climbed out of the wreckage and walked onto the stage. “Today, I have three announcements to make.” “First, my engagement to Ms. Chloe Vance is hereby terminated.” “Second, I will be formally taking over as CEO of Thorne Industries, and my first act is to fire Ms. Vance.” “Third, I am engaged to Ms. Celeste Beaumont. We will be married next month.”
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