1 It’s been three years since my parents died. My aunt Lynn brought me to New York City to find my fiancé. His name is Jason Kang, the younger son of the Kang family, owners of the tech giant, Sterling Innovations. He’s one of the city’s most eligible bachelors. To win his affection, I studied ballet, ikebana, and oil painting. I was told I was a clumsy imitation, a poor copy of a more refined woman. One afternoon, Aunt Lynn and I were out shopping for the holidays when I ran into Jessica Thorne. We exchanged heated words, which quickly escalated into a full-blown brawl. Just as we were pulling each other’s hair, Jason appeared. Without a word, he slapped me across the face. When my aunt saw the red mark on my cheek, she was furious. She went straight to the old patriarch of the Kang family, Jason’s grandfather. The old man sighed. “I have another grandson. He is a good man, handsome and kind, but he is burdened by a chronic illness. However, he is the one who will inherit Sterling Innovations.” “I wonder, Miss Hayes, if you would consider him instead?” I rushed home, my face burning. Aunt Lynn was in the kitchen, brewing a pear and ginger tea for her cough. Mr. Kang had sent over a crate of expensive imported fruits after hearing she was unwell. “Did you get everything you needed, dear?” she asked. I held back my tears and tried to slip past her into my room. “You should see that Jessica Thorne,” Aunt Lynn said, not noticing my distress. “She’s always knitting sweaters and making little good luck charms for her fiancé. So devoted.” I didn’t want to hear it, but she continued. “You need to learn from her. Learn how to capture a man’s heart.” My own heart felt like a lead weight in my chest, but I just nodded. “I will, Aunt Lynn.” “You’re too reserved, Chloe. A woman needs to have a little charm, a little spark, to keep a man interested. I don’t want you to end up alone…” My heart felt like it was pickling in vinegar. The tears were about to overflow. I fled to my room and locked the door before I finally let myself cry. Out on the street, Jessica and I had only exchanged a few words before she lunged at me. As we scuffled on the cold pavement, she’d sneered, “You’re just some charity case from the countryside. You think because your parents did the Kangs a favor, you can do whatever you want?” “You’ve spent all these years trying to become a lady, but has Jason ever looked at you twice? You’re just a cheap copy. You will never marry into the Kang family.” She had a fistful of my hair, and I had a grip on her coat. That’s when Jason had shown up, on his way back from a business meeting. “Who do you think you are, bullying people like this?” he’d snarled, his words a slap before his hand even connected with my face. Jessica had looked at me with pure triumph. The whispers of the crowd, the sting on my cheek—it was all too much. That slap had shattered what little was left of my pride. My feelings for him, carefully nurtured for years, began to wither. “You’re just an orphan nobody wants,” he’d continued, his voice dripping with contempt. “You’ve been living off my family’s charity, acting like you own the place. And now you’re picking fights in public? You’re pathetic.” Before he could finish, I swung my own hand and sent his head snapping to the side. Acting like I own the place? So that’s what he thought of me. All those years of trying to be worthy of him, wasted. A bitter cold settled in my bones. His friends stared, stunned into silence. I walked away, not looking back, and didn’t let the tears fall until I was blocks away. For the past year, Jason had made his disdain for me clear. He was always comparing me to his assistant, a woman named Sarah Jenkins. He said Sarah was beautiful, and though she came from a poor background, she was accomplished and capable. He called her a rose blooming amongst thorns, captivating and fragrant. I was so desperate that I went to Sarah and asked her what Jason liked. She smiled, her eyes appraising me. “Jason has very particular tastes. He likes a woman who is not just beautiful, but also intelligent.” “Intelligent?” I repeated, my voice small. “The kind of woman who is good at everything.” I stared at the floor. All the things I had learned felt like shallow party tricks. In his eyes, I was just a pretender, a clown showing off my half-baked talents. Through the glass wall of his office, I saw Jason laughing, leaning against a table while Sarah arranged a bouquet of flowers. She was exquisite, her movements graceful. The arrangement was stunning. I felt a familiar pang of inadequacy. Together, they looked like a perfect couple. Jason glanced up and caught my eye, a mocking smile on his lips. I looked away, my cheeks burning. Determined to win his approval, I threw myself into my lessons with a new fervor. I took up ballroom dancing. My body was stiff, but I practiced until my feet bled, believing that persistence would pay off. At a family gala, I waited until the very end to perform. When I finally took the stage, I moved with a grace I didn’t know I possessed. I felt like a bird soaring over the ocean. Jason was the first to applaud. After that, things changed. He started responding to my texts immediately. He listened when I spoke. The effort was paying off, but it came at a price. My feet were in constant pain, and the inside of my thighs were raw from hours of practice. Aunt Lynn tended to my injuries, her eyes shining with pride. “You’re finally getting his attention, Chloe. Mr. Kang may be fond of you, but in a family like that, a woman needs her husband’s love to survive.” I knew she was right. I didn’t have the heart to tell her it felt like a hollow victory. One day, I was leaving the dance studio and saw Jason outside his office building, talking to Sarah. I heard him say, “She’s just a clueless little fool, trying to be something she’s not. She’s not worth a single strand of your hair.” 2 I feigned illness and didn't leave my room for days. Mr. Kang, hearing I was unwell, sent over a host of expensive supplements and remedies. Aunt Lynn hovered over me, convinced I was seriously ill. But no medicine could cure a broken heart. I felt like a beggar who’d had her last ragged coat stripped from her, leaving her naked and exposed. My mother used to say that when you’re sad, you should do something meaningful to distract yourself. I picked up the embroidery I had been working on and lost myself in the rhythm of the needle. After a few days, the handprint on my cheek finally faded. I knew I had to face the world again. The next morning, I woke to a world covered in snow. Through the window, I saw Sarah Jenkins standing outside, a vision in a green wool coat. She smiled when she saw me, her eyes curving into bright crescents. I let her in. After a few pleasantries, she looked down, a guilty expression on her face. “Chloe, I heard about what happened the other day. Please don’t take it to heart.” I managed a weak smile. “It has nothing to do with you, Sarah. You don’t need to apologize for him.” I added, “But thank you for your concern.” “I’ve already told Jason off,” she said, her voice full of indignation. “How could he do that to you, his own fiancée? He’s heartless.” I didn't want to talk about it. But she continued, oblivious. “He’s been under a lot of stress lately with a big deal at work. You have to try to be more understanding.” “It’s strange, though,” she mused, “he’s always so polite and charming to everyone else. It’s only with you that he…” She trailed off, finally noticing the pained look on my face. “Oh, listen to me, making you sad all over again.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small jar of face cream. Her smile was back, dimples appearing in her cheeks. “This is from Jason.” I took it, a flicker of hope in my heart. “Well, Jason gave it to me, and I’m giving a little to you, so it’s like it’s from him,” she clarified. Something felt wrong. Why was she so insistent on emphasizing her closeness with him? My hand, holding the cream, froze. “What’s wrong? Don’t worry, it’s amazing. It gets rid of any scar. Jason is always telling me that a woman’s skin should be flawless.” I shook my head and gently pushed the cream back into her hand. “I’m fine. The mark will be gone in a few days. You should keep it.” She looked disappointed but didn’t press the issue. After chatting for a while longer, she finally left. I watched her go, her words a heavy weight on my chest. As I was about to close the door, Aunt Lynn appeared beside me. She gently touched my face. “What’s wrong, my dear?” 3 After leaving my house, Sarah didn’t go straight back to the office. She wandered for a bit, then finally headed to Sterling Innovations. Jason was in a heated negotiation, fighting for the best terms for his company. When he saw Sarah return, his eyes lit up with anticipation. The moment the meeting ended, he rushed over to her. “What did she say?” Sarah hesitated, a flicker of resentment in her eyes. “She said… she doesn’t need your fake concern, or your charity.” Jason looked like he’d been struck by lightning. He slumped against the wall, his shoulders sagging. “Did she really say that?” Sarah pressed the face cream into his hand. “Why are you doing this to yourself? She doesn’t care about you. You deserve better.” He wasn’t listening. “Was she hurt badly?” Sarah’s heart ached with jealousy. “No. She’ll be fine in a few days.” “Good,” he whispered, relieved. “That’s good.” “I told her you didn’t mean it,” Sarah said, her voice rising in frustration. “I told her this cream was for her, but she refused to take it. She’s not a good person, Jason. She’s just petty and vindictive…” Her voice faded into the background. Jason clenched his fist, his mind replaying the scene on the street. How could he have hit her? How could he have said those things? It had all started at a dinner party a few weeks ago. Someone had brought up my family, the once-great Hayes family, now fallen on hard times. They started talking about me, about my looks. Jason had felt a surge of pride but said nothing. The conversation had quickly turned inappropriate. “Beauty is just skin deep,” Sarah had interjected. “A woman who only cares about landing a rich husband, who uses a man’s affection to get what she wants, can never be truly respectable.” The men at the table had laughed and agreed, praising Sarah for her beauty and her brains. “But the Hayes girl is more than just a pretty face,” another man had said. “She’s an accomplished artist. And her embroidery is exquisite. My sister commissioned a piece from her, and it was a masterpiece.” Jason’s heart had swelled with pride again. But then, someone else had chimed in. “But her character is questionable. I’ve heard she’s arrogant and looks down on everyone.” Jason’s pride had turned to doubt. He had started to wonder. Is Chloe really like that? When he saw me fighting with Jessica, he had assumed the worst. He thought a slap would be a wake-up call, that I would understand he was just trying to help me be a better person. Now, knowing the truth—that Jessica had provoked me—he was drowning in regret. The snow was falling heavily outside. I was lying in bed when I saw a figure approaching through the blizzard. It was Jason, holding an umbrella and carrying a pile of gifts. I turned away, not wanting to see him. The doorbell rang. I ignored it. A few minutes later, it rang again. I finally got up and opened the door. He was gone, but the gifts were piled on the doorstep. On top was a small card with three words written on it: “I was wrong.” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. If apologies could fix everything, there wouldn’t be so many broken hearts in the world. Jason walked aimlessly through the snow-covered streets. He ran into Sarah, who immediately took his arm. “Are you still thinking about her? Jason, she’s not worth it. You’ve been so good to her, and she treats you like dirt.” Her words only made him feel worse. But then she said, “Don’t worry. I’ll help you. I’ll help you win her back.” His eyes lit up. “Sarah, you’re the best.” He felt a glimmer of hope. But the image that haunted him was my face after he’d slapped me, my eyes filled with tears and disbelief. He had to make it right. 4 I finally told Aunt Lynn everything. She listened in silence, her expression grave. When I finished, she reached out and stroked my cheek. “My poor Chloe. You’ve suffered so much.” Her eyes filled with tears. For the first time in days, I felt a sense of relief. “Come on,” she said, her voice firm. “We’re telling Mr. Kang.” “No, Aunt Lynn. This is between me and Jason. We shouldn’t bother his grandfather.” “Why not? It’s his grandson. He needs to take responsibility. Are you just going to let this go?” “I have to marry him,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “If I make a big deal out of this, it will only make things worse. Besides,” I added, forcing a smile, “I slapped him back. We’re even.” She looked at me, her eyes full of worry. “If he treats you this badly now, how will he treat you after you’re married?” Her words were a dagger to my heart. We were at a stalemate when there was a knock at the door. It was one of Mr. Kang’s assistants. “Miss Hayes, Mr. Jason is leaving on a business trip. Mr. Kang would like you to see him off.” Aunt Lynn’s face was a mask of disapproval. We went to the Kang mansion. The old man was giving Jason some last-minute instructions. When he saw me, his face broke into a warm smile. “You two young people have a chat.” Jason looked at me nervously. “Chloe, I’ll be gone for a few months. But you’ll wait for me, right?” He was afraid I’d find someone else. I met his gaze, my own eyes cold. “Why would I wait for you?” He looked down, ashamed. “I know I messed up. It was just… the rumors. I got confused. It was my fault.” Just then, my aunt’s voice, clear and strong, came from the hallway. “We would like to call off the engagement. My niece is too good for your family.” I was stunned. Aunt Lynn, who had been so invested in this marriage, was the one ending it. She had always been my staunchest supporter, my mother’s sister who had raised me as her own. She wanted me to have a good life, a happy marriage. But she had seen that this was not it. When we stepped out of the room, Mr. Kang was furious. He kicked Jason hard in the shin. “You worthless fool!” He then turned to me, his eyes full of sympathy. “My dear child, I am so sorry. This is all Jason’s fault.” Jason was kneeling on the floor. “Father, I was wrong.” Mr. Kang ignored him and turned to my aunt. “Lynn, must you do this? Can we not talk it over?” “My Chloe is not a piece of property,” my aunt said, her voice shaking with emotion. “She is a human being. And your grandson has treated her with nothing but disrespect. That is not how you treat someone you love.” 5 Her words were a revelation. Sarah’s comment about Jason treating me differently than anyone else suddenly made sense. He was always so charming to others, but so cruel to me. It was because he saw me as his possession. When I failed to meet his expectations, he punished me. In that moment, any lingering affection I had for him vanished. I looked at him as if he were a stranger. Mr. Kang was still trying to salvage the situation. “Chloe,” he said, his voice gentle. “Do you still have feelings for Jason?” “I did,” I answered honestly. “But his actions have worn away any affection I had for him. I feel nothing for him now. You can’t force love, Mr. Kang.” Jason looked devastated. He tugged on his grandfather’s sleeve, but the old man ignored him. “If you don’t love him, then I can’t force you.” He sighed, a tired, old man. “But I have another grandson. He is a good man, handsome and kind, but he is burdened by a chronic illness. However, he is the one who will inherit Sterling Innovations.” “I wonder, Chloe, if you would consider him instead?” The engagement to Jason was not officially broken. Mr. Kang’s plea, and my own wavering resolve, left things in limbo. Without the protection of the Kang family, my own family’s business, which was just starting to recover, would be vulnerable. And then there was the matter of a certain wealthy heir who had taken an unwelcome interest in me. He was married, but that didn’t stop him from harassing me. He would follow me, his smile predatory. “You think the Kangs can protect you forever?” One day, I finally snapped and told him to leave me alone. He grabbed me. Just as I was starting to despair, two of the Kang family’s bodyguards appeared and beat him senseless. “How did you know I was here?” I asked them, shaken. “Mr. Kang asked us to keep an eye on you,” one of them replied. I owed the old man. The Kang family had been nothing but kind to me. To refuse his offer now would seem ungrateful. But I knew there was still a chance to break free. “I don’t know,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “Would your other grandson even want to marry me?” Mr. Kang’s eyes twinkled. “You’ll have to ask him that yourself.”
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