CHAPTER 1

The music from the business party at Derek's million dollar penthouse, echoes over the dark, rushing river behind the estate. Derek, Violet's fiancé, is celebrating with everyone else, except his soon-to-be wife. Violet stands on the edge of the stone terrace, worriedly telling herself, "There's nothing going on between them." She caught her fiancé and stepsister holding each other in the bedroom. But they didn't see her. Violet tries to catch her breath when Chloe, her stepsister, corners her from behind, revealing she saw Violet watching.

Chloe crosses her arms, a mocking smile on her lips. "Still standing out here in the dark, Violet? I saw you peeking through the bedroom door earlier."

Violet turns around, her hands trembling as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "Chloe... So what if I was peeking? That's my fiancé. Why were you holding my Derek?"

Chloe's eyes gleam with malice as she reveals the truth. "Because Derek doesn't love you, you naive fool. He only wants the share under your name."

Violet clutches her chest, shaking her head violently. "No! That’s a lie! You’re lying to me!" She yells, provoking Chloe.

"A lie?" Chloe sneers, stepping closer with a dangerous look in her eyes. "He never wanted you. He only wants me and your mother's wealth. And once we get it, you’re nothing."

Before Violet can say a word, Chloe lunges forward and violently pushes Violet into the freezing deep river. Violet screams for help. She can't swim. Chloe is pleased and steps back, preparing to leave. But she loses her balance. With a sharp gasp, she falls into the river, struggling and shouting beside Violet. Their screams are heard by the guests and Derek. He comes running and immediately dives into the river for the save.

Violet splashes frantically, reaching her hand out through the freezing water. "Derek! Derek, over here! Save me, please! I can’t swim!" She happily calls out to Derek to save her, but she's crushed when Derek swims pass her and goes to save Chloe instead. Derek takes Chloe out from the river, leaving a shocked and paralyzed Violet to watch.

On the muddy riverbank, Chloe fakes concern, clinging tightly to Derek's wet shirt. She looks toward the water and whimpers, "Oh goodness, Derek... go and save Violet quickly! Please, she’s drowning!"

But Derek throws Violet one glance and says, "Nothing is wrong with her legs. She can save herself." Then he leaves with Chloe in his arms. Chloe looks at Violet one last time with a victorious smirk, while Violet cries out to Derek to come back, as the violent current drags and pulls her further into the river.

"Derek! Don't leave me! Please, come back!" Violet screams, her voice cracking before a wave slaps over her face.

The guests watching are scared to go in and save Violet. A broken Violet recalls all the times she caught Derek and Chloe together, and how she kept telling herself there's nothing going on between them.

After witnessing this hurtful betrayal, Violet stops fighting the current. Her body has gone weak from the struggle and she began sinking into the river. As she awaits for death to take her away, a powerful force grips her tightly from the waist, pulling her out from the river.

Violet blacks out, only to feel herself waking up on the muddy riverbank, feeling air pumping into her lungs. She sees someone forcing air into her, giving her mouth to mouth CPR. Violet opens her eyes clearly, expecting a paramedics. But she's stunned when she locks eyes with a devastatingly handsome man. Violet recognizes him. This is Soren Ashwood, the most dangerous and wealthiest business man in the country. He's the VIP guest Derek has been desperately waiting for. He saved her from the jaws of death.

Soren pulls back slightly, his dark, intense eyes scanning her pale face. His deep voice echoes through the night. "Breathe. I've got you. You're safe now."