Chapter 1

"Life is unfair," is the single piece of wisdom that has lingered with me since I was 13 years old, and looking back, it couldn't be more accurate given what I now deal with.

Adella and Julian, two devoted parents, were the beginning of my existence. We had a pleasant, prosperous existence. I didn't realise until much later that my mum had taught me to value the little things in life.

My mother was involved in an automobile accident when I was five years old, and she paid the price for that tragedy with her life. For the next eight years, my father had to struggle with sadness and the loss of his wife and mother. My father was attempting to raise me while also managing his own real estate business.

When my father chose to remarry around the time I reached 13, a new mother and two stepsisters entered our lives, and everything began to change. Everyone in my family got along at first, and while things at home were going well, my father's business began to boom and attract a lot of investors. As my father's company prospered, my family relocated into a big estate home. Although I was thrilled for my father, saying goodbye to our older house was like saying it a second time to my mother.

My father's expanding career caused him to start coming home less often at the age of 14. At this point, my stepmother used the occasion to delegate to me the duties of managing the home. She and my step-siblings came out in full force at this point. I would be responsible for providing for their necessities, cooking, and cleaning. At this time, I considered skipping school and enrolling in online courses, but I decided that leaving home would be a better option since I knew my stepmother wouldn't be able to intervene.

As I grew older, I added becoming their personal cook and maid to my list of services. In contrast, my father didn't pay much attention to us and was more focused on his job. My father would dismiss my complaints about my stepfamily or defend their behaviour whenever I brought them up. His justifications constantly infuriated me, and right before I left, Dad decided to financially isolate me if I went to college. He reasoned that by setting money aside for his other daughters, he would be able to save more money. This justification gave me even more motivation to permanently leave this household.

I developed the ability to balance my home life, my academic life, and my little life outside of both during my time in high school. I was working as a part-time tutor and librarian to pay for my relocation while also covertly accumulating money for education. I was now living a life like that of Cinderella, but without a magical godmother or a prince to rescue me.

I was able to finish my senior year before everyone else in my class by the time I was 17 and I received honours for my graduation. Despite the challenges my family constantly put in my way, it was the largest accomplishment I had made. Nevertheless, during the many late hours of studying and college prep programmes, I was content to ignore the flaws in my life. I received acceptance into Standford's business programme the same year. I ultimately left that home with the help of my scholarships and saved money.

Since I wasn't dealing with my family, college life was much easier than high school. I just worked and attended classes throughout my time at Stanford, but ultimately I developed a tiny social life that I lacked in high school. Trina, who would subsequently become my current flatmate, and I became close.

Trina and I decide to stay in the Bay Area for employment three years later when we have both graduated. I was given a job at this prominent real estate firm called "Reed's Real Estate" around that time as a fully compensated intern. I was able to get an internship with the firm since I had some real estate knowledge thanks to my father's business.

I gained more knowledge about the real estate industry during my time working as an intern. This company dealt with both conventional real estate and corporate business real estate. I was eventually brought on as a permanent employee in the firm as the CEO of "Reed's Real Estate"'s assistant thanks to the job I did there. Ethan Reed is the name of the CEO.

His side-swept sandy brown hair, piercing hazel green eyes and strong yet trim figure made him appear like a supermodel for Vogue when I first met him. I had no idea he was the company's CEO. I saw myself as being ordinary in comparison to him; I had brown eyes and hair that was usually wavy and unmanageable dark chestnut. I was always self-conscious about how I looked anytime I made comparisons to other people. Ethan was just 3 years older than me when we first met, and by the time he was 20, he had already been named the CEO of his firm. He got married at the same time. When I found out he was married, I was a bit bummed, but I mentally smacked myself for thinking I may have a shot with him.

I gained a lot of business management knowledge and discovered more about his personality during the next three years that I worked as his assistant. I wish I could claim that I was always fascinated by him.

I discovered that Ethan was wed to Olivia Castelle, a wealthy real estate CEO's daughter. Olivia herself has blue eyes, a slender build with little curves, and long blonde hair. As attractive as she is, I wish I could say the same about her character. The times I've talked with her she is either hungover or is 5 drinks deep and whenever I get the chance to converse with her she always finds a way to put me down. I learned early on to be nice and ignore her rude comments. After all, she is my boss's wife.

Getting to know her I've learned she is the complete opposite of Ethan. Ethan is always giving and kind towards anyone whereas Olivia is insulting. I remember my first year of working for Ethan I learned that he was relentless at whatever his company was involved in but outside of the company he was different. His marriage to Olivia went worse with time, at the beginning, they realised they were different from one another. She didn't want to settle down but Ethan wanted to settle down. A few months after their marriage Olivia started drinking and eventually put less effort into her marriage. In their 2nd year of marriage, they were expecting a child which gave Ethan optimism that Olivia may alter her ways. That wasn't the case, Olivia being the drinker she is quickly lost their kid within three months. Soon after, Ethan sank into his sadness. Time after that it was tougher to tolerate Olivia and her addiction. Ethan attempted getting her to rehab numerous times but when she did go for a few months she would go back to her old habits. I sincerely hoped he divorced her but sadly being in his position he wouldn't be able to. It was reported that his family wouldn't allow it since it would damage his image in the public light and wreck their corporate empire.

It was also reported that his marriage to Olivia was organised by his parents to combine with Olivia's father's firm to remain afloat. I wish there was a way to break out of his marriage but then again what can I do? Since I'm only his assistant, I assumed that he would seldom glance at me.