My ex-husband's wedding to Karen happened so quickly that the only possible explanation was that they had been planning it for a long time. They had simply waited until the last possible moment to tell everyone.

Three months later, Karen got married in a huge celebration, exactly the kind of wedding I had always dreamed of having myself.

When I married Carl, we were struggling financially. We had a civil ceremony, and the "reception" was nothing more than lunch at a restaurant. The plan had always been to renew our vows later and finally have the wedding I wanted.

The entire family attended Karen's wedding, even my aunt, who believed in forgiveness.

Only Camille stayed by my side.

The friends I had while I was married disappeared. Every single one of them took my ex-husband's side.

Every single one of them attended his wedding.

I had nothing left.

The money was gone, and I needed a job. Since I barely slept anymore, I couldn't focus properly, and the only work I managed to find was as a cleaner at Lush, the nightclub where my cousin worked as a bartender.

It wasn't that bad. At least I didn't have to talk to anyone or think too much.

I stayed in the women's bathroom trying to keep the place clean.

That night, I focused on scrubbing the floor. The later it got, the higher the chances someone would throw up or pass out.

The club was packed, but even so, I saw him.

Bathed in flashing lights, I would have recognized that face anywhere.

He walked in with his arms around two gorgeous women and headed straight to the dance floor.

August Salvatore.

Playboy. Womanizer. Scoundrel.

Rumors said his father had mafia connections, that money and power flowed freely around their family, not always legally.

I didn't know what was true and what was gossip.

I only remembered that August had studied with me during our final year of high school and had taken the virginity of nearly all my classmates, except mine, because I had never given him the chance.

He was handsome and charming, but back then, teenage me wanted magic, fairy tales, and true love.

More than ten years had passed since the last time I saw him, but from what I could tell, he hadn't changed at all.

He was still single, and still a womanizer.

I ignored him and kept working with my head down.

Just a few more hours, and my shift would be over.

"Isabelle, someone spilled drinks in the VIP section. Can you go clean it up?" Joseph, one of the security guards, asked.

Normally, I didn't clean anything in the main club area, but the VIP room was always a priority.

I grabbed the bucket and mop and prepared myself to cross through the crowd. It was difficult, but people usually moved aside.

Inside the VIP room, a group of women laughed loudly, all drunk and carefree.

They had shattered a bottle of whiskey, one of the most expensive brands in the club.

No one paid attention to me.

I had to be extra careful sweeping up the broken glass so no one would get hurt.

I didn't notice when he approached.

There was too much noise, too many people.

But then our eyes met.

I was wearing a uniform, my hair was a mess, and I probably looked exhausted, but August recognized me immediately.

I saw it in his eyes.

There was nothing more humiliating than running into someone from school while your life was falling apart.

"Isabelle? Isabelle Fairmont?" he asked as he stepped closer, probably wanting to confirm it was really me.

"I already cleaned everything. There's no more broken glass," I said before walking away without answering his question.

The girl he had known in school had been a spoiled rich girl, sweet and naïve, someone who believed in fairy tales and true love.

I didn't want to see pity in anyone's eyes.

Especially not August's.

I went back to the bathroom and stayed there until the end of my shift.

But I had a feeling August wouldn't give up that easily.

And I was right.

He was waiting for me outside, leaning against his luxury car.

"What do you want?" I asked when he flashed me a shameless grin.

"To give you a ride."

"No thanks. I'll call a car."

"I'm not letting you get into a stranger's car."

I wanted to argue, but I didn't have the energy.

I was exhausted, so I accepted the ride.

August seemed thoughtful as he drove.

I probably looked terrible. Disheveled, pale, thinner than ever, with dark circles under my eyes.

"My husband left me to marry my sister, who's pregnant with his child. He also took the house, the company, and the car. Then he told everyone I'm crazy and made his life miserable. I'm broke and sleeping in a tiny storage room at my cousin's house. Does that answer the question you haven't asked yet?" I blurted out before he could start making assumptions.

"Looks like your sister hasn't changed at all," he said, not sounding surprised in the slightest.

"If you mean she's still the same slut, then yes," I answered bitterly.

August didn't say another word until we stopped in front of my aunt's house.

I texted Camille to let her know I had arrived home. Not in the mood for conversation, I thanked him and opened the car door to get out.

"I have a proposal for you," he suddenly said.

"A proposal?" I asked, confused about what kind of proposal August could possibly have for someone like me.

"I'll be direct. The moment I saw you, I knew it was a sign. I need a wife."

"What?" I stared at him, unable to understand what he meant.

"For several reasons that I'll explain later, I need a wife. And I think you'd be perfect."

"Are you proposing marriage to me? Have you lost your mind?" I asked incredulously.

"More or less. I need to convince my father that I'm responsible. He believes the company should only be handed over to a married man with a family. Old-fashioned thinking. And I think you're perfect for this. You just got divorced, we've known each other since school, and right now… your life's a mess."

I stared at August in disbelief.

Yes, my life was a mess, but he didn't have to throw it in my face.

"And you think your father's going to believe you suddenly showed up with a random woman and decided to get married? A woman you haven't seen in ten years?"

"That's exactly why you're perfect. We knew each other in school. You were the sweet, proper rich girl. We can say we reunited, I helped you during a difficult time, and we discovered there was always hidden chemistry between us. Remember when we kissed in the chemistry lab?"

"You kissed me in the chemistry lab, August. There's never been any hidden chemistry between us."

"I can pay you well," he interrupted. "Much more than you had with your husband."

"I'm not for sale!" I snapped, offended, even though I obviously needed money.

"Really? Do you really want to stay like this? Cleaning vomit?" he asked. "Fine, don't look at me like that. But let's be honest, everyone has a price, Isabelle. If yours isn't money, then what is it?"

I hesitated.

I could have gotten out of the car right then, but I paused.

Everyone has a price?

What was mine?

One thought haunted me day after day.

I wanted to destroy Carl, his family, and my sister.

I never said it out loud, but it consumed my mind while my life continued to fall apart.

"Revenge," I answered.

"I can help you get your revenge, and you help me. One hand washes the other. Think about it."

August said it so casually, as if I hadn't just admitted something terrible.

I couldn't tell whether he was serious or simply mocking me.

I said nothing.

I got out of the car still unable to believe that conversation had actually happened.

But the next day, August called me.

"How did you even get this number? I don't remember giving it to you yesterday."

"I have my ways. Did you think about my proposal?"

"I thought it was a nightmare."

"Isabelle, I can give you exactly what you want. So, what do you say? What do you want?"

"I think you're desperate for a wife."

"Desperate enough to negotiate whatever you want."

I looked around me.

At that moment, my life consisted of cleaning drunk people's vomit and taking sleeping pills at night.

"I'm in," I said.

I had already lost everything.

There was nothing left for me to lose.

August ended the call after arranging a meeting for the next day so we could discuss the details.

I didn't tell anyone.

If things actually moved forward, I knew Camille would be the only one suspicious enough to question it.

It would be difficult to make her believe there was suddenly a love story between me and August.