Chapter 1She Looked Like My Dead First Love Until I Learned Why

Stella Watson hurt Liam Sheridan ninety-nine times before he finally decided to leave.

As the eldest heir of the Sheridan family, he was mocked by the city’s elite as Stella’s lapdog.

Only Liam knew he stayed because she looked like Suzy York, the woman he loved and lost.

Stella loved Liam’s half-brother, just as Liam loved Stella’s half-sister.

Liam let Stella hurt him ninety-nine times in the hope that he could finally let go of Suzy.

But when a chandelier fell, Stella, who had always treated him like a weed, threw herself over him to protect him.

Liam froze.

Then he remembered Stella’s friend saying the beauty mark by her eye had appeared only recently.

He thought of the suspicious ruling after the car accident years ago and finally realized that the woman living as Stella was an impostor the Watson family had put in her place.

* * *

"I'll trade Liam Sheridan for Skyler Lawson. Let Skyler go."

Liam was Stella Watson's personal secretary. He stayed by her side for three years, took a knife wound for her, and tested poison for her. He was her most loyal weapon.

But she didn't love him. She only had eyes for Skyler, Liam's half-brother.

Even now, she pushed Liam toward the kidnapper without a hint of concern.

Liam did as she wanted. He took two steps forward and said, "I'm the eldest heir of the Sheridan family. You'll get more ransom if you take me."

The kidnapper grinned and shoved Skyler toward Stella.

Then he pressed his knife against Liam's throat without the slightest care.

"Stella."

Skyler threw himself into her arms, his voice full of hurt.

Stella kept her eyes on him. Only when she held him did the worry in her eyes fade.

"Don't be afraid, Skyler. I told you I wouldn't let anyone hurt you!"

Skyler sniffled. "I knew you'd come save me, Stella..."

Their tender exchange made the kidnapper realize he'd been tricked. He pressed the knife harder, breaking the skin on Liam's neck, and shouted, "Hey! What are you two doing?

"Tell the Sheridans to come here. I want two hundred thousand dollars... No, a million! Or I'll kill him!"

Only then did Stella spare Liam a glance.

He frowned but showed no fear.

If blood hadn't been running down his neck, he would have looked almost like a machine. His eyes stayed fixed on the small beauty mark beside hers.

"Kill him."

Stella gave a signal without another thought. The sniper behind her shot the kidnapper in the head, with no concern that he might lash out and hurt Liam as he died.

She covered Skyler's eyes and led him away.

Liam saw everything. His eyes widened. Even though he tried to prepare himself, the bloody sight still shocked him.

As the kidnapper's body fell, Liam clenched the hand at his side.

Would she have ordered the shot if Skyler had been the hostage?

He bit down hard on his lower lip.

Then Skyler asked innocently, "Stella, why did you cover my eyes? What was that sound? My brother isn't in danger, is he?"

Stella's eyes passed over Liam without a flicker of emotion. She held Skyler's face so he couldn't turn around.

"Want to know? Give me a kiss, and I'll tell you."

She never let Skyler see any of the blood, and she didn't answer his second question.

Skyler blushed bright red but still pecked her on the right cheek. "You're teasing me, Stella!"

Liam watched them.

He couldn't stop himself from asking hoarsely, "Why did you shoot?"

"Are you scared?" Stella glanced at him. "You had plenty of nerve when you tried to get into my bed.”

The mocking looks from the people around them drained what little color remained in Liam's face.

A rival once drugged Stella.

Liam took off his clothes, hoping to help her through it, but she pushed him away.

The drug acted quickly, yet she endured it under a cold shower until the ambulance arrived.

That was all in the past.

Stella broke his heart for the ninety-ninth time today.

He was leaving.

When Liam said nothing, Stella finally said, "Fine. I can see it frightened you. Take the day off."

Then she drove away with the others, leaving Liam alone.

He waited in the cold wind for half an hour before a kind stranger called him a cab. He gave the driver an address, but it wasn't Stella's villa. It was a cemetery.

There was only one headstone, with a small portrait set into it.

The woman in the portrait bore a striking resemblance to Stella.

Liam gently touched the faded portrait and laid the flowers he’d picked by the roadside at the foot of the grave.

Stella loved his half-brother. Liam loved her half-sister, Suzy York.

"I told you I'd leave after you broke my heart for the hundredth time.

"Your death was the first. Stella took care of the other ninety-nine.

"Suzy, I'm leaving."