Chapter 1

My blood ran cold the moment I ended the call with my fiancee, Annabelle Sterling.

Meanwhile, the wedding band on my left ring finger burned against my skin.

I'd been engaged to Annabelle for two years. Yet, she was so cold and reserved that I had to gauge her mood before I even reached for her hand. Acting out of line with her was unthinkable.

I thought things between us would finally get better once we were married. I never expected that she was already carrying someone else's child.

But whose was it?

I stared at my ring, my thoughts in turmoil. Was everything it told me true?

Right then, my childhood friend, Christopher Larson, tapped me on the shoulder.

"Come on. Don't look so down. You're getting married tomorrow. After that, you'll have your wife all to yourself," he said.

Christopher smiled warmly, though his face was pale. Ever since he'd pulled me out of that river when we were kids, he'd been left frail, and the injury to his left leg gave him a limp.

Because he had saved me, his life meant more to me than mine. His family struggled financially, so I worked part-time jobs and saved every penny I could to help him pay for his tuition.

When his business failed, I used my scholarship money and savings to help cover his losses. When he wanted to join Sterling Group, I personally vouched for him and begged Annabelle's father to give him a cushy job.

The ring on my finger seemed to burn even hotter. I couldn't believe Christopher—the man I'd always considered my best friend—was setting me up.

Christopher held the pill out again, but I made no move to take it.

Then, our friends immediately started egging me on.

"Come on, Marvin. Are you waiting for Chris to feed it to you? We all took one already. It's just something to sober us up. We promise we won't drop the ball as groomsmen tomorrow."

Someone else added, "The Sterlings care about appearances more than anything. If you show up drunk tomorrow, your father-in-law won't be happy."

I looked down and took the pill from Christopher.

"Don't listen to them," my ring warned. "Everyone here is in cahoots with Christopher. Every last one of them envies and hates you."

The loudest voice belonged to Jack Walker—the same guy I'd rescued back when he was being bullied in school.

Beside him was Oliver Rhodes, who'd once cried and begged me to tutor him. I'd stayed up night after night for an entire month until his grades finally improved.

And Matthew Cross, who had an arm slung around Christopher's shoulders, was someone I'd personally mentored at work until he'd earned his promotion.

My hand shook as I washed the pill down with a swig of liquor. When I met their gazes again, they looked at me with undisguised hatred.

I said, "I'm going to the restroom."

"I'll come with you," said Christopher.

He was just about to help me when several revealing photos of a woman in sleepwear lit up his phone screen.

His attention shifted to his phone, and I seized the opportunity to slip out.

As I passed a trash can, I dropped the pill I'd hidden in my sleeve into it.

I didn't know who was telling the truth anymore, but I needed to get out of there first.

…

At the entrance, a few coworkers were smoking.

One of them sneered and said, "Mr. High-and-Mighty. He's just some poor country bumpkin who made it here on scholarship. And now, he thinks he's better than everyone. That smug look on his face makes me sick!"

"If he hadn't saved Mr. Sterling's life, there's no way he'd ever let him marry his daughter. She looks disgusted every time she sees him, and the idiot still keeps throwing himself at her. It's pathetic."

Another laughed. "Let him enjoy one last night. Tomorrow's going to be fun."

My mind went blank. I fumbled for my phone, but my thoughts turned sluggish, and the world around me began to blur.

Just as I was about to collapse, Christopher rushed over and caught me. "Easy there. The hotel where the wedding's being held is right across the street. I'll get you back to your room."

I shook my head, yet my eyelids were impossibly heavy.

Something was wrong. I hadn't taken the pill, so how could I still be drugged?

"Marvin? Marvin?"

Right before I lost consciousness, I saw the sinister grin spreading across Christopher's face.