Margaret Blackwood was on the verge of losing her foothold in Blackwood Enterprises. With her back against the wall, she made a desperate play—securing her position through marriage.

But luck wasn’t on her side. Within a few short years, Charlotte’s father met a tragic end in a car crash.

What followed was a brutal war over his inheritance, with Margaret pitted against her in-laws in a high-profile feud that dominated Newhaven’s gossip columns.

In the end, Margaret lost.

Charlotte’s grandparents had never warmed to her, simply because she wasn’t a boy. After Margaret’s schemes, they went as far as cutting Charlotte out of the family entirely.

Furious, Margaret changed Charlotte’s last name to her own.

Alexander Blackwood, ever the strategist, delivered exactly what Margaret demanded. In just twelve months, he climbed to the upper echelons of Blackwood Enterprises—not just securing his place, but making it unshakable.

Soon, Alexander became a household name in Newhaven, renowned for his ruthless business tactics and striking looks. Heiresses from elite families vied for his attention, their mothers scheming to secure his favor.

Margaret had already begun screening potential brides from equally powerful dynasties.

But to her horror, Alexander fell for Amy Sinclair—an ordinary woman with no pedigree, no connections, nothing to offer.

Margaret was incensed. She pulled every string, twisted every arm, and eventually succeeded in tearing them apart.

After the breakup, Alexander remained single. No matter how many women Margaret threw at him, he barely glanced their way, burying himself in work instead.

Margaret wasn’t overly concerned. Alexander was still young. She was certain that once his influence grew, he’d have his pick of the finest women in society.

What she didn’t anticipate was Victoria Langley suddenly reappearing—and worse, pregnant.

The moment Margaret found out, she was determined to force Victoria into terminating the pregnancy. She deployed every weapon in her arsenal—threats, bribes, blackmail.

At that point, Victoria and Alexander barely knew each other. Their relationship had been nothing more than a fleeting encounter.

Since Margaret was so vehemently opposed, Victoria didn’t resist. She agreed to the procedure.

But on the day of the operation, Alexander stormed into the clinic and stopped everything. He swore to Victoria, with unwavering conviction, that he would take responsibility.

True to his word, Alexander shielded Victoria from Margaret’s relentless attacks. Months passed in quiet solidarity, then something deeper. It was during this time that Victoria fell for him.

Staring into his intense, unreadable gaze, a realization struck her.

She said softly, "You risked everything to protect me—even defying your own family. It wasn’t just about the baby, was it? You were trying to fix something, weren’t you?"

Alexander’s expression darkened, his silence speaking volumes.

Victoria knew she was right.

A bitter smile touched her lips. "When you were with Amy, you couldn’t protect her. You had to watch as your mother tore her away, threatened her, until you had no choice but to let her go."

"And now here I am—another woman your mother disapproves of."

"So you fought so hard, not just for me and the baby. You saw me as a second chance, a way to make up for what you lost with Amy, didn’t you?"

Victoria held his gaze, her clear eyes cutting through the shadows in his, exposing the truth he couldn’t deny.