Chapter 1

When I took the breakup money and fled all those years ago, I never imagined I would see Nathan Reynolds again.

Now, he had inherited the family empire and was worth hundreds of millions, while I was still scraping by.

He hated my guts and openly mocked my shortsightedness.

I honestly thought that after nine years, he would have grown up a bit.

Who knew that this idiot, after being swindled out of his heart and his cash nine years ago, would end up in my bed once again?

Nathan’s brow furrowed into deep crevices, his face dark as a thundercloud.

I considered greeting him, but ended up swallowing the words. Instead, I focused entirely on examining the Samoyed in my arms.

"Well?" The notoriously tight-lipped CEO finally spoke.

I handed him the chart.

"Nothing serious. He just overate. I’ll prescribe some digestive meds, but you need to monitor his portions."

The big white fluffball beamed an innocent, dopey smile. It was genuinely hard to believe that such an adorable dog belonged to the cold, brooding man standing in front of me.

"Looks like Dr. Miller is doing quite well for herself." He raised his eyes, lazily looking around the clinic, his voice dripping with dry indifference.

Right on cue. Here came the settling of old scores.

I plastered on a professional smile. "Oh, absolutely. Thanks entirely to your family’s generous support back then."

"And yet, here you are," he scoffed, his sharp, handsome features twisting into a mocking smirk. "All those years of grinding, just to open this tiny, run-down clinic. Giving up a fortune of hundreds of millions for pennies on the dollar... and you actually look proud of yourself."

I paused, lifting my chin to look straight at him, my smile remaining utterly polite.

"Mr. Reynolds makes a great point. My little vet clinic is practically dirt compared to your grand billionaire dynasty. But every cent I make is earned through my own hard work. It's clean."

I kept my expression sweet as I drove the knife in.

"And best of all, I don't have to tolerate someone’s spoiled, rich-boy tantrums, nor do I have to look down at their condescending scowl."

"Take right now, for instance. I'd love it if you took your dog and hauled your miserable self out of my clinic. A powerful, high-society man like you surely wouldn't want to lower yourself to staying here. Parking lot is out the door to the right. After you, Mr. Reynolds."

Nathan turned pale with fury, his composure hanging by a thread. But I had zero intention of humoring him. I shoved the dog and the meds into his arms and turned on my heel.

Years ago, when I was completely destitute, I never put up with his wild, arrogant temper. I certainly wasn't going to start now.

I had originally planned to be polite, considering I was the one who unceremoniously dumped him back then. Clearly, that courtesy was wasted.

"Wait."

I froze and glanced back over my shoulder.

Seeing the stormy look on his face, it hit me that he wasn't the boy he used to be.

Dressed in a bespoke suit, radiating cold authority and arrogance, he was a world away from the rebellious delinquent of our youth.

He was far harder to read now.

I took half a step back.

He lowered his head, casting his face in shadow.

"Let's... exchange contacts."