One ye
Chapter 1
In the bustling city of Hampstone, the upscale Elevate Lounge glittered with its kaleidoscope of lights, an intoxicating blend of neon and elegance. Doris Reed, however, was nursing her champagne in a quiet corner, her mood as bitter as the betrayal shed endured this moning
Her boyfriend or rather, ex–boyfriend–Ryan Watson had shattered her heart, and now her best friend Lola Bates had dragged her here to celebrate life at a friend’s exclusive party
I bought you here to scope out men, not drown in champagne, Lola exclaimed, snatching the delicate tulip glass from Doris’s hand with an air of annoyanc
“This champagne’s good, Dorks murmured, her lips curling into a faint smile as she lazily licked a stray drop of champagne from the corner of her mouth.
Lola narrowed her eyes, sighing dramatically, “Doris, do you know the sacrifices I made to get this invitation from Calvin Hunter–the heir to the Hunter family? Tonight, half of Hampstone’s most eligible heirs are here.
“If you don’t take this opportunity, I swear I’ll scream. Do not let a spineless weasel like Ryan get in the way and ruin your
Lola punctuated her words with a cold laugh. “He had the audacity to get engaged to another woman behind your back! Fine. Find someone better to marry–someone who’ll blow him out of the water. Show him you’re even better off without him. He’ll be so humiliated.
“Look over there. That man in the white suit is Clark Foster, heir to the Foster family. And the one in the khaki suit? That’s Abel Lane, heir to the Lane family….
Lola’s enthusiasm could have lit up the room, but Doris remained unimpressed and retorted, “If we’re aiming high, why not go all the way? What about the heir to the Hartman family? He’s the most sought–after man in the entire city. Compared to him, Ryan is nothing but trash”
For a moment, Lola froze mid–sip and turned to Doris, her eyes glinting with surprise and admiration. But Lola’s expression
soon shifted into one of doubt.
“The Hartman heir? Doris, be serious, He’s not just any man–he’s untouchable, practically a myth,” Lola said, her voice tinged with skepticism. “Maybe pick someone a little more realistic?”
The Hartman family was the crown jewel of Hampstone’s elite–a dynasty with a legacy that stretched back over a century. Their heir was at the very top of the social pyramid. Ryan was nothing compared to him.
The Hartman heir had been living abroad for years, and there wasn’t a single photo of him available online.
Doris’s eyes sparkled with a determination that seemed to cut through the dimly lit lounge. “You’re the one who said I should find someone who could outshine Ryan in every possible way. I’ve made up my mind–it has to be him
Lola stared at her friend in awe and disbelief. After a long pause, she drained the rest of her champagne in one dramatic gulp. “Fine. You’re gorgeous, so I’ll ask around and see if I can dig up anything on him.”
Doris chuckled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Let me know if you find anything. I’m heading to the
With that excuse, she slipped out of the sprawling lounge, her figure cutting an elegant silhouette as she walked away, her thoughts swirling with equal parts heartbreak and an intoxicating sense of defiance.
Under the deepening night sky, the garden lay bathed in silvery moonlight, its soft glow illuminating the delicate blossoms and casting long, dreamy shadows. A smattering of stars twinkled like scattered diamonds across the sky, lending an ethereal serenity to the scene.
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Doris sat on a weathered lends nestled amidst the garden’s quiet beauty. Her head swam faintly, the weight of the day’s emotions settling heavily on her chest. She had barely taken a moment to breathe when she felt a sharp tug at the hem of
her dress
Lanking down, she found the culprit—a spirited corgi with a coat of golden brown and white, its ears perked up like little triangles of mischief. Its adorable face, though undeniably cute, was currently anything but endearing.
“You know what this is called? This is called kicking someone when they’re down, Doris said, momentarily distracted from her gloomy thoughts as she scolded the little troublemaker. “If you let go now, I might just forgive you”
The corgi, however, had no intention of listening. It rugged on her dress with a single–minded determination, oblivious to her growing annoyance.
Doris frowned, fixing the dog with a stern glare. “What, you think I’m an easy target too?”
Her frustration rose like a tide, mingling with the sting of betrayal from earlier. This morning, she had discovered her ex- boyfriend’s affair: now, even a dog was adding insult to injury.
A lump of unspoken hurt lodged in her throat as the unfairness of it all brought a prickling heat to her eyes
Before her very eyes, the lightweight fabric of her dress gave way with a sharp tear. Her breath hitched as she saw the damage. I said let go. Are you deal? You you’re bullying me,” she exclaimed, her voice trembling with helpless indignation.
“Biscuit, let go. The sudden sound of a man’s voice cut through the air like the crisp flow of a mountain stream, clear and cool yet impossibly magnetic. Doris froze, her head snapping up to find its owner.
Standing beneath the stone archway of the garden path was a tall, commanding figure.
Doris stared at the ridiculously handsome newcomer in awe. The man’s striking features were nothing short of breathtaking
His thick, delicate brows framed his sharp, intelligent eyes that seemed to glint even in the low light. His nose was sculpted to perfection, his lips sensual and full, and his chiseled jawline was a testament to both strength and elegance.
He was dressed impeccably in a crisp white shirt, its immaculate fabric pressed with precision, every button done up to the collar. The moonlight spilled over him like liquid silver, accentuating the sharp planes of his face and the taut line of his Adam’s apple.
His whole demeanor exuded a cool aloofness, an untouchable grace that was both intimidating and irresistibly alluring
For a moment, Doris forgot to breathe. How can someone look this good?’ she wondered, her mind fumbling to process the sheer perfection of the man before her.
“Biscuit, come here,” the man, Lewis Hartman, commanded again with a frown, his voice firm yet devoid of harshness.
The corgi, as if cowed by the sheer force of his presence, released Doris’s dress immediately and slunk to its master’s side. It lowered its head and tucked its tail, looking every bit like a child caught red–handed.
“Biscuit?” Doris arched a brow, her gaze flitting between the corgi and the impossibly handsome guy. “This troublemaker is
yours?
Lewis inclined his head in a small nod, his gaze meeting her misty eyes with a calm intensity that made her heartbeat quicken. “Apologies. I should have kept a closer eye on him. I’ll compensate you for the damage.”
Doris glanced down at her torn hem and then back up at him, a faint, almost teasing smile curving her lips. “You’re really offering to compensate me?”
“Yes,” he replied, his tone steady and unwavering-
Gathering the tattered edges of her dress in her hands, Doris took a step closer to Lewis. He remained perfectly still, not
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moving a bich, as though rooted in place by an undakable confidence.
Up close, Lewis was even more striking His posture was effortlessly upright, his bearing regal yet natural. There was an undeniable air of authority about him, a quiet power that seemed to radiate from his very presence
Doric stared into his eyes, their starry depths shimmering under the moonlight. Tm not bad–looking, am I?”
Lewis remained silent, his expression unreadable. What does this have to do with me? he thought.
Doris tilted her delicate face upward, her beauty captivating yet understated, like a dewy rose just kissed by dawn.
Her long white gown was both elegant and youthful, with its puffed sleeves and graceful U–shaped neckline. The open back revealed her smooth, flawless skin and the curve of her shoulder blades, an alluring balance of innocence and temptation,
my the waist up to the skirt’s flowing hem, the fabric was adorned with scattered five–petaled flowers, tiny crystal beads, and iridescent sespins that shimmered like stardust in the moonlight. She looked like a vision from a fairytale–ethereal and heartbreakingly beautiful.
“You’re decent,” he finally offered, though the understated compliment couldn’t mask the flicker of admiration in his gaze.
“I wanna settle down now. Will you marry me?” Doris said boldly, the words tumbling out without hesitation.
Doris’s thoughts were a swirl of bitterness and courage fueled by the night’s turmoil. She’d spent three years with Ryan, the man she’d thought was her future, only to realize she’d been nothing more than a passing amusement in his privileged life as he’d never proposed to her.
She was twenty–five years and three months old, and her parents had made no secret of their expectations, pressuring her to secure à marriage with Ryan, a wealthy heir they’d deemed the ideal son–in–law. Their fixation on appearances had turned her relationship into a transactional obligation.
But when Doris witnessed Ryan hosting a private engagement party at the hotel where she worked, the truth shattered her. His family had deliberately invited her, their cruel intent clear–to show her she wasn’t worthy. Doris finally understood that his parents had always looked down on her.
Ryan’s parents had made it clear that the only bride–to–be they acknowledged was the heiress of an influential family whom they were friends with, and that Doris was nothing more than a diversion to their son, an unremarkable footnote in Ryan’s life.
And then, with a final sting, they’d told her that Ryan’s fiancée was already pregnant and Doris was just a fool to even entertain the thought of a future with him.
When Doris’s parents found out about the breakup, they didn’t console her. Instead, they scolded her for failing to “secure” such an eligible bachelor, accusing her of wasting three years without using the opportunity to get pregnant and “clinch the deal“.
To her parents, losing Ryan meant she’d lost her one chance at an ideal future. They truly believed that she had missed her shot with Ryan, and that there would never be another man of his caliber who would consider marrying her.
The weight of their words still hung heavy on her heart, a mix of grief and defiance swelling in her chest.
Fueled by liquid courage, Doris stepped closer to Lewis and spoke again, “Didn’t you just say you’d compensate me? Are you going back on your word?”
Lewis’s ample lips curved into the faintest smirk, his expression both amused and intrigued. “And you’re certain this is the compensation you want?”
“Absolutely certain. Her eyes, glassy with intoxication, still held a fierce resolve. “Tomorrow morning. Nine a.m. at the city hall in Cornton Heights. Whoever doesn’t show up is a coward”
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Wach chat, Devris horned and walked off. Her retreat hastened by Lola’s injpent phone call.
The garden fell quirt again, save for the soft rustling of leaves. Lewis stood under the moonlight, his tall frame radiating an wnruffled calm as he watched her disappear into the night
A soh chime from his phone broke the silence. Glancing down, he found a message waiting for him. The attached photo showed Doris her delicate features Muminated by the soft glow of the garden lights
Then came a voice meuge. Tewis, meet this girl tomorrone”
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