Prologue I

Desiree's Perspective

Brielle Desiree Wu Götz—the name I was given at birth. That girl died a long time ago. In fact, I don't even know if she was ever alive in the first place. For as long as I can remember, I hated existing. I hated everything about my life. Existing in this world was exhausting and expensive. My parents had me at a young age and it wasn't a secret that I wasn't wanted. Another factor in my awful life is the horrible path my parents took. They were never prepared to have me, nor were they trying to change things. If they did, it was never good enough. I grew up believing that my grandmother was the only person capable of loving me. God, was I wrong about that…

I have a lot of psychological trauma. Abuse is no stranger to me. I was manipulated, taken for granted, and used all my life. I didn't have money. I was tossed around most of my life. It's pathetic. I hate the people who victimize themselves so I try my best not to tell my story. But it is what it is.

At eighteen, I packed my bags and freed myself from the shackles of my "family." I grew up in foreign soil and I know my own country isn't kind to people like me. A girl who didn't complete her studies—there's no future for me there. So, I moved South and decided to become a teacher. It wasn't so bad. I'm happy and healthy.

Everything went smoothly until I met him again—Aizen Nara, the first person I ever had feelings for. I didn't know much about him. I haven't seen him in almost a decade. However, he knew a lot about me. No. He knew everything he needed. 

Aizen Nara, son of Takeshi Nara, the owner of Nara Empire Holdings, a vast multibillion-dollar business empire that spans various industries, including luxury hotels and resorts. Aizen is revered as one of the most coveted men in the business world, possessing not only stunning good looks but also a strong physical exterior, intelligence, and natural charm. 

So what would a man like that want with a woman like me? Simple. His father, Takeshi Nara, had one condition for Aizen to inherit the family empire: securing the continuity of their lineage. Takeshi's health has been in decline, and he's adamant about seeing his legacy carried forward. So, Aizen, facing the pressure of succession, made a pragmatic decision. He needed a wife capable of bearing children, someone who could ensure the future of the Nara dynasty. And in that pursuit, he chose me. 

At the age of twenty-one, I never imagined my life unfolding this way. Aizen ensured that I couldn't refuse his proposition. With limited options, I reluctantly consented. Our marriage, therefore, is nothing more than a strategic alliance, a means to an end. Five years, that's the duration we've agreed upon. Aizen assured me he would maintain his distance. My role is to masquerade as his devoted wife, concealing the true nature of our union from the prying eyes of the world.

And so today, I walked across the carpeted floor in a white dress, portraying the role of the blushing bride before a sea of unfamiliar faces. Each step weighed heavily upon me, as though I marched towards my own execution rather than a wedding. After the exchange of vows, the promises made, and the kiss that seemed surreal... I now bear the name Brielle Desiree Nara, wife of Aizen Nara.