Chapter 1

My heart lurched, freezing me in place.

"Hahaha! Franklin's busy playing corporate chess with Emmett, completely unaware that the guy’s already raided his home turf!" one voice crowed.

"Our Emmett even staged that shipwreck rescue—made Franklin's precious niece fall for him right then and there!"

"They’ve dated for years now—how many photos of her has he snapped? When’s Emmett ending this game?

“I’d kill to see her meltdown... but God, Franklin’s face when he finds out his treasure got snatched by Emmett."

Emmett and his friends roared with laughter, oblivious to my presence just beyond the elevator doors.

Their words echoed in my mind, pounding against my sanity.

Emmett Meyer…

Had his heroic rescue been a calculated trap?

Had our entire relationship just been a move in his vendetta against Uncle Franklin?

"Cat got your tongue?" someone jeered at Emmett.

"You only chased Claire because Franklin stole that prime piece of real estate in Brighton Reach, didn’t you? Don’t tell us you’ve actually fallen for this girl?"

"Fallen for her?"

The man who’d murmured "Babe" only moments before now stood silhouetted against the window, his silence louder than any confession.

He flicked the lighter open and shut with careless precision, a mocking smile on his lips.

"Franklin has been my sworn enemy since we were kids. You all know how much he treasures his niece, right?

“So, when do you think would be the best time to release those photos? Maybe... the day of Claire’s graduation ceremony?

“I’d pay to see the look on Franklin’s face when he discovers his treasured girl’s... performances."

"Brilliant as always, Emmett!"

Then they all burst into laughter, voices thick with excitement and anticipation.

My palms turned clammy, and I felt my heart jump to my throat.

I turned and fled, tears streaking silent trails under the neon lights.

So this so-called act of saving my life had been nothing more than a carefully staged performance from the very beginning.

I didn’t know how long I wandered the streets before the cold night wind dried the tear tracks on my face.

That was when Uncle Franklin called.

“Hi Claire! The estate in Montverre I gifted to you for your birthday last year has finally been renovated.

“I’ve also selected a suitable candidate to call your fiancé. Please end things with that boy you're dating, okay?

“You know, everyone in the family was worried about you being alone in Silverbridge. It was already a stretch for you to go to university so far from home, but marriage? Forget it!”

The moment I heard his familiar voice, the tears I’d tried to hold back surged forth once more.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and nodded quietly.

“I’m sorry, Uncle Franklin. I know I’ve made you all worry these past few years. But now you won’t have to!

“I’ve decided to return to Brighton Reach after my graduation…and meet your candidate.”

I could hear Uncle Franklin exhale in relief.

“Are you really returning to Brighton Reach? You’re even willing to meet the guy I picked?

“What about that little boyfriend you claimed to love so much that you’d marry no one else?” he teased.

I shook my head and whispered, “It’s over.”

Uncle Franklin clicked his tongue.

“So you’re finally willing to break up with him? After all these years, every time I visited the Silverbridge, he never once dared to meet me.

“I knew from the start you two wouldn’t last.”

At the certainty in his voice, I lowered my eyes and murmured a quiet reply.

We chatted a little while longer before he reluctantly ended the call.

Back in my apartment, I drew a bath, letting the scalding water strip away the day’s exhaustion.

After getting dressed, I took the calendar down from the wall and began to make a plan.

First, sort my belongings. Next, pack my luggage, collect my diploma, say goodbye to my classmates, and delete the photos we had accumulated over the years.

These were all the things I needed to take care of before leaving Silverbridge.

My eyes lingered on the last line. The tip of my pen trembled slightly.

With the graduation ceremony approaching, I had to tie up every loose end before I left.

Especially that one.

At the thought, I circled the date on the calendar with a black pen.

Then a voice asked menacingly, “You marked it on purpose, didn’t you? Think I’m going to forget?”