Chapter 1 Chapter 1

When Cassidy Lorne told me what she wanted, I was stunned. I could never have imagined something this outrageous. Beneath her flawless makeup, her expression remained calm as she slowly said, "He cheated on me." I felt sorry for her, but I didn't want to get involved in someone else's marriage. I was just about to refuse when Cassidy interrupted, "Samantha, your ex-husband abandoned you and your daughter. Do you hate him?""You ran a background check on me?" Cassidy smiled. "Isn't that normal? I'll pay you 100 thousand dollars a month and 500 thousand more after the job's done. You and your daughter could finally have a stable life. What do you say? "Don't worry. He's perfectly healthy, and you won't actually have to sleep with him." I clenched my teeth but couldn't bring myself to say no. The money she offered was simply too much. Cassidy went on to explain. Jeremy Wyatt, her husband, was an ungrateful man who had built his fortune off her family's support. Now that he was rich, he'd changed and found someone else. "And you still want me to seduce him?" I was confused. "Greed knows no bounds. From now on, you're Aria Shepherd, the daughter of a returning billionaire. That's your new identity." "So, what do I do?" I was nervous. I didn't know anything about the world of the wealthy, and now she wanted me to pretend to be some heiress and lure her husband? Was she out of her mind? Cassidy tossed me a thick stack of documents. "You have three days to memorize this. Also, clean yourself up. Take a bath." "I'm clean enough already!" Ignoring me, she dragged me to a high-end spa, where I finally understood what she meant by "clean up". It was my first time experiencing a beauty treatment, and I couldn't help feeling anxious. All the contents in those fancy jars and bottles left my face glowing in a way I'd never seen before. Lying beside me, Cassidy said, "This is your first lesson. Stop being so curious. Just lie down." I watched her carefully, taking mental notes, even of her subtle gestures. The private spa's service was meticulous. For the first time, I realized just how wonderful money could be. My daughter, Kayla Bowman, and I lived on less than two thousand dollars a year, but Cassidy spent 7,800 dollars here in two hours. And that was the basic package. She said my skin had become rough from all the hard work and suggested I take proper care of myself. She gave me an apartment for Kayla and me to live in and promised to hire a housekeeper, so I wouldn't have to lift a finger. Motivated by her support, I started looking forward to the day I'd meet Jeremy. Three months later, I barely recognized my reflection in the mirror. Tears welled up in my eyes. Was this really me? Cassidy stood behind me and handed me an invitation. "There's a party tonight. I've arranged everything." I knew my moment had come. She gave me a Porsche Panamera and a personal driver. That evening, I wore a light purple strapless mermaid dress. Sitting alone in a corner, I quickly caught a few interested glances but acted as if I hadn't noticed. Then, he appeared. Cassidy, arm in arm with Jeremy, looked genuinely thrilled. "Aria! You're back!" "Cass!" I stood and greeted her warmly, pretending we were old friends. The Hermès bag on my arm completed the illusion. Jeremy watched as we hugged before asking politely, "Honey, who's this?" "Oh, I forgot to introduce you. This is Aria Shepherd, my high school classmate. She went abroad after graduation. Her family runs a multinational company. "Aria, this is my husband, Jeremy Wyatt." I extended my hand for a shake and greeted him with a reserved smile. The understated elegance of the luxury watch on my wrist didn't go unnoticed. Cassidy subtly hinted at my family's wealth and assets. Just then, I caught the flicker of greed and suspicion in Jeremy's eyes. But soon, people gathered around to greet us, one after another, offering flattery and small talk. This made his gaze toward me more intriguing. I left before the party ended. I could sense a pair of eyes following my every move. As I looked at the business card in my hand, I smiled before tossing it aside. After all, heiresses were supposed to have a bit of an edge.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

That night, I received a message from Cassidy. "He took the bait." Jeremy had been asking about me. Although he wasn't too engaged, it was enough to make Cassidy realize his interest in me. I lay in bed, cramming all the information I had gathered over the past few days. Aria's identity was real, but very few knew of her whereabouts. Her family did run a multinational company, but Jeremy's status was far too low to be part of that circle. Cassidy had given me three months to complete the mission. I reviewed the materials and decided to take the initiative. The next day, I went to a golf course. It wasn't a sport I could learn in just a week. Luckily, my scumbag ex-husband, Bradley Miller, had taken me there twice when he was wooing me. I wouldn't say I was a pro, but I could fake it well enough. No longer in a dress, I looked youthful and full of energy in sportswear. Who would guess I had a six-year-old child? Cassidy had told me that Jeremy came to the golf course every Thursday morning. Sure enough, the moment I made a hole-in-one, I heard a voice shout behind me, "Nice shot!" I knew it was him without turning around. When I stopped for a drink of water, Jeremy walked up beside me, looking shocked. "Ms. Shepherd?" I pretended to be confused. Jeremy quickly added, "We met last night. Cassidy...""Oh! Cass' husband! My apologies. Do you also enjoy golf, Mr. Wyatt?" Jeremy, now realizing I recognized him, started showing off. After a few holes, we struck up a conversation. He was even more shallow than I'd expected. Cassidy had been right. Jeremy was all show and no substance. He was nothing but a hollow shell built on money. But in a way, so was I. So, we were similar in that regard. Jeremy seemed interested in me. As we chatted, my assistant, Laila Stout, showed up. "Ms. Shepherd, you have a video conference in 30 minutes." I nodded and gave Jeremy a polite smile. "Sorry, I have other appointments today.""No problem, but may I have your business card, Ms. Shepherd?" Jeremy quickly added, "Our company is expanding, and we'd love to have the chance to work with you." I glanced at Laila. When she handed over my card to Jeremy, I caught the gleam of excitement in his eyes. The plan was moving forward. When I got back and reported to Cassidy, she sipped her coffee and slid a photo across the table. "Who's this?" I asked. "That's his mistress, Yvonne Hudson. She works at TR Jewelry." The woman in the photo was beautiful with bright eyes and a sweet smile. I couldn't understand her actions. "She's so pretty. Why be a mistress? Does she know she's in love with a married man?""Of course. She purposely left her earrings where I could find them." I was taken aback. If Cassidy hadn't told me, I never would have imagined that a pampered socialite like her would face provocation in her marriage. "Didn't you confront her?" I asked. "My scumbag ex had a young mistress too. I went over there and yelled at her, and she cried and left.""And what happened? More mistresses would keep popping up. Yelling would never be enough." She seemed to notice my surprise and calmly continued, "I've already warned her, but the real culprit is Jeremy, isn't it? Removing the source of the problem is the right way to go." The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Bradley had used the fact that I had assaulted his mistress to manipulate the situation. He encouraged her to report me and have me detained, all to control me. That was how I ended up being kicked out. If I'd met Cassidy earlier, maybe things would've been different for me. But it wasn't too late now. "You can count on me, Ms. Lorne. I'll finish the job!"

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Jeremy was surprisingly patient. He didn't contact me for three whole days. On the fourth day, I received a call. He wanted to take me out for dinner. Cassidy was sitting across from me when I took that call. She urged me to reject him. I made up an excuse about a meeting and hung up the phone immediately. "A man's pursuit of a woman is a process of conquest," Cassidy said. "If he gets what he wants too easily, he'll lose interest." I quickly caught on. "Play hard to get, right? I know how to do that!" Jeremy asked me out several more times. It wasn't until the third invitation that I agreed, but on the condition that I chose the location. He immediately agreed. Cassidy picked a high-end, members-only restaurant near a villa. Jeremy didn't doubt a thing, of course. I chose a well-tailored dress paired with a blazer to achieve a sophisticated elegance and finished the look with a pair of pearl earrings from TR Jewelry. When Jeremy saw me, a flash of admiration crossed his face. He noticed my earrings and asked, "Ms. Shepherd, you also like TR Jewelry's pieces?""You could say that," I replied casually. "Their designs are niche, so I won't run into anyone wearing the same thing. I prefer things that are unique, whether it's people or objects." I let the meaning linger in my words. Jeremy, being a sharp man, caught on immediately. We had a great conversation throughout dinner. I let him take the lead while occasionally offering comments that pleased him. At the same time, I subtly raised a few questions. When he answered, I expressed my admiration. It made him feel appreciated. By the end of the evening, our relationship had grown significantly closer, and he had followed me on Instagram. My Instagram posts had been carefully filtered by Cassidy, with my earliest posts from six months ago when I'd first returned to the country. I marveled at how meticulous Cassidy was. But with someone like her, how could Jeremy have had the chance to cheat? I shook my head, and Jeremy immediately asked, "What's wrong? Is the food not to your liking?""No, I just feel that life is really interesting. It's the first time I've met someone so in sync with me, but it's a pity…" I left the sentence hanging and sighed softly. Jeremy understood exactly what I meant. I smiled. "How about a drink later?" He eagerly agreed. He took me to a bar. After a few drinks, we talked a lot. As Jeremy became a little tipsy, he boldly moved closer and took my hand. I smiled. Men like him were really predictable. I didn't resist. When he offered to read my palm, I looked at him and pretended to be interested. Thank goodness Cassidy had given me a beauty treatment, so my hands now matched the delicate look I needed. Otherwise, I might have been caught. Suddenly, a slap came out of nowhere. "You slut! How dare you seduce my man? Jeremy Wyatt, you lied to me!" I was stunned by the slap. I looked at the lady in front of me in a daze and slowly recognized her. It was Yvonne Hudson! I was slightly taken aback. This wasn't part of the plan. She wasn't supposed to show up so soon. But I couldn't just take the slap. I stood up and returned the slap without hesitation. Yvonne exploded. "How dare you slap me?""So what if I slapped you? Do you need me to pick a more appropriate time? Do you know who I am? How dare you lay a hand on me?" Yvonne was fuming. She was about to strike again, but Jeremy stepped in to stop her. "Are you out of your mind?""How could you, Jeremy? Being all affectionate with another woman behind my back! Have you forgotten what you promised me?" Jeremy panicked, but I smirked. "Mr. Wyatt is a business partner of mine, and I'm good friends with his wife. I think you've misunderstood. "I won't blame you for not knowing. But, girl, with your kind of attitude…" I clicked my tongue. I gave her a disdainful smile, then turned and grabbed my bag to leave. Jeremy hurried to catch up. "Aria, let me explain!" However, Yvonne wasn't done. "Stop right there, Jeremy Wyatt!"

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Yvonne clung to Jeremy, refusing to let go. As they tugged at each other, I quickly made my way out. I feared being caught on camera, which could cause everything to blow up and expose the truth. Jeremy didn't chase after me, and I sighed with relief. In the car, I reported the evening's events to Cassidy. When I mentioned that Yvonne had shown up at the bar to confront me, Cassidy immediately clenched her fists. "You went to a bar?" I froze. "I-I'm sorry!""No need to apologize," Cassidy replied. "You were bound to meet eventually. That slap must have felt good, right? Still, you should be careful. True heiresses don't engage with these kinds of people." I had a different perspective. "Actually, when Jeremy sees us fighting over him, his ego gets a huge boost. You don't understand men. They're just pathetic!" Cassidy fell silent for a moment, then burst into laughter. "You're right. Anyway, we need to speed up. Jeremy's transferring his assets." I understood. I was also concerned about things dragging on for too long. Later that day, Jeremy called me, but I didn't answer. He sent me a message apologizing, saying that Yvonne was just a woman who was pursuing him. He explained that their business dealings had led to some interaction, but he never expected her to become so clingy. What a ridiculous lie! I headed straight to the TR Jewelry store and requested Yvonne's assistance. The moment she saw me, her face darkened. I deliberately made things difficult for her, trying on dozens of pieces. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. "Which one do you actually like, miss?""Actually…" I looked at her and continued sarcastically, "I like all of them. But I can't stand receiving anything from your hands. It feels dirty.""You…" Yvonne was furious but quickly suppressed it and started packing up the jewelry. "Well, then. I refuse to serve you.""Oh? Are you sure?""Of course. So what if you're an heiress? I'm one myself," she mumbled, but I still caught it. I was surprised. According to the information Cassidy gave me, Yvonne was just a sales assistant, so why would she say that? Had she changed her identity just like me? "Alright, if you don't want to serve me, then I'll find someone else. Someone who will make you serve willingly!" I pulled out my phone and dialed Jeremy's number. He sounded surprised and pleased when he answered. "Aria!" I switched to speakerphone. "I'm at the TR Jewelry store. You have 15 minutes to get here." I hung up before he could respond. 15 minutes later, Jeremy rushed in, out of breath. Yvonne's expression darkened when she saw him. She bit her lips tightly, clearly furious. "Aria, what are you doing here?" he asked. "I just came by, but she refused to serve me. Since you two seem to know each other, I thought you could help. I don't think you will be refusing this time, will you, Ms. Hudson?" Just as Yvonne was about to speak, Jeremy cut her off, saying, "Know your place, Yvonne. If you don't want to lose your job, you'd better follow orders." His expression turned icy, and Yvonne fumed. By then, the other staff at the store had started to glance over. Yvonne could only grit her teeth and glare at me with resentment etched across her face. But she still went through with it. Smiling, I casually pointed to an expensive necklace. After Yvonne helped me try it on, she quietly remarked, "This is our signature piece.""I think it's just okay. Do you think it looks good?" I turned to look at Jeremy. Jeremy nodded. "It does, but I think this one suits you better." He picked out a less expensive necklace, which was still quite beautiful and matched my outfit perfectly. I had to admit that he had some taste. I nodded. "You've got good taste, though maybe not in everything." My gaze lingered on Yvonne, and her face flushed with anger, but there was nothing she could do. "I'll get this," I said. In front of Yvonne, Jeremy pulled out his credit card. "Consider this a gift. I want to make up for yesterday." I shook my head. "That wasn't your fault. I'll pay for it myself."

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

I declined Jeremy's offer to pay to leave him with the impression that I genuinely didn't care about money. Meanwhile, Yvonne clenched her teeth at my words. After swiping my card, she said, "Ms. Shepherd, I checked our system, and you don't seem to have a membership with us." Her words made my heart skip a beat, but I had prepared for this. "Is that a problem? These earrings were a gift from my ex. I'd never sign up for your membership. It's really annoying with all the promotional spam." Jeremy quickly jumped in. "Why are you even bringing this up? Aria is a VIP of luxury brands. Why would she even step foot in a place like this? Yvonne, do you even know how to serve clients?" Raising his voice, he added, "If you can't do your job, get someone else to do it!" The store manager, who had been watching from a distance, immediately stepped forward. "I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience, Ms. Shepherd. I'll assist you right away." He then turned to Yvonne and barked, "Go to the back and go through the employee handbook again!" Clenching her teeth, Yvonne glared at me and Jeremy in turn. "Liar! You're a liar!" I wasn't sure whether she was referring to me or Jeremy, but I found her frustration amusing. "It seems this employee of yours is truly unwilling to serve me. In that case, I don't want this necklace anymore." I tossed the already-purchased necklace onto the counter and turned to leave. However, Jeremy grabbed my arm and turned to Yvonne. "Apologize right now!" Yvonne's eyes welled up with tears. "You're shouting at me for her?" Smiling, I casually pulled out my phone. At that moment, a notification popped up, showing my bank account balance. Jeremy caught a glimpse and couldn't hide the spark of interest in his eyes. He turned back to Yvonne and growled, "Don't make me file a complaint!" With a dramatic flourish, Yvonne ripped off her name tag. "I quit!" She stormed out, leaving me momentarily stunned. Her reaction reeked of entitlement. It seemed Cassidy might have underestimated her. We needed to dig deeper into her background. Jeremy's expression darkened, and the manager hurried to smooth things over with profuse apologies. I eventually accepted the necklace, and Jeremy insisted on driving me home. On the way, he subtly probed me about my family's business and whether I planned to take over. I revealed that while I had siblings, I was the only daughter in my family. Because I had little interest in the business, I was looking for someone suitable to help me take over. I even sighed at the end. "Who knows if I'll ever find someone?""You will. You definitely will," he comforted me with a reassuring smile. Soon after, he launched a relentless charm offensive. When I reported this to Cassidy, she chuckled and casually handed me a card. "Use it however you want. We'll just bill Jeremy for everything later." We had meticulously set the stage, but unexpectedly, Yvonne entered the picture and took the initiative to ask for a meeting. When Cassidy and I sat down with her, she slammed a stack of documents onto the table. "Cut the act! I know you two are working together!" Her accusation caught me off guard. I shot Cassidy a nervous glance, but she remained calm. Smiling, she sipped her coffee and replied, "We're friends. Why can't we be working together? Is that a problem?" I quickly followed her lead. "Yvonne, you seduced her husband, and now you're accusing us?""And you're no better!" Yvonne sneered. "Cassidy, do you even know that this woman is also—""I know," Cassidy interrupted coolly. "I hired her." Her words shocked both Yvonne and me. "W-Why did you tell her?" I stammered. "What's that supposed to mean? You did it on purpose?" Yvonne was confused.