Chapter 1

Old Man Kent, the king of Kent Corporation, laid down the law.

A quiet challenge, really.

The woman who could make his playboy son, William, settle down, publicly commit, and act like a decent human for six months straight – she'd be the next Mrs. Kent.

I was Emily Rose. Smart, they said. Top of my class at law school, an intern in their legal department. From the wrong side of the tracks, but I had a shine William noticed.

He pursued me. I fell.

I thought I was the one.

The news spread like wildfire through the office towers – William Kent was finally serious.

I pictured a ring, a future.

Then Sophia Vanderbilt, his society-approved match, staged a very public, very bloody suicide attempt. A desperate letter blaming me, the home-wrecker, the gold-digger.

William, to save his family's alliance with the Vanderbilts, to protect his own ascent, turned on me.

He called me a calculating bitch. Said I'd drugged him, trapped him.

The Kents made sure I was a pariah. My scholarship vanished. My reputation, shredded.

They didn't stop there.

My mom, a nurse, was fired, accused of stealing medication. My kid brother, David, suddenly faced drug possession charges, his bright future dimming.

I was alone, watching my world burn, when their lawyers offered a "solution." Sign a confession, disappear, and maybe, just maybe, they'd let my family off the hook.

I refused.

The next day, a black SUV ran a red light.

Pain. Darkness.

Then, nothing.

Until now.

My eyes snapped open.

The glint of a champagne flute. The murmur of voices at a Kent gala. The one where William first cornered me, his eyes full of a predatory charm I'd mistaken for interest.

The night it all began.

I was back.

My heart hammered against my ribs, a wild bird trapped.

This time, I wouldn't be the lamb.

I saw Sophia across the room, glittering in a silver dress, her eyes already fixed on William like a hawk.

Perfect.

I needed a drink. Strong.

I turned, heading for the bar, and bumped straight into William.

"Watch it," he said, not unkindly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Or are you trying to get my attention, Ms. Rose?"

Last time, I'd blushed. Stammered.

This time, I met his gaze, cold and flat.

"Not yours, Mr. Kent. Excuse me."

I pushed past him.

Let Sophia have him. Let her win this poisoned chalice.

I saw her glide towards him, a vision of sweet innocence. He turned, his attention caught.

Good.

The air in the grand ballroom felt thick, suffocating. I needed out.

As I neared the exit, a hand grasped my arm.

Old Man Kent. His eyes, like chips of ice.

"Leaving so soon, Ms. Rose? The party's just started."

His voice was soft, but the grip on my arm was steel.

"I'm not feeling well, Mr. Kent."

"A pity. William was just telling me about the promising new intern in legal."

A test. A warning.

He knew. Or suspected.

He let go. "Don't disappoint us."

William was now laughing with Sophia, his arm around her waist. She looked up at him, adoration in her eyes.

A perfect picture.

I remembered the first life. William, after weeks of secret meetings, whispered promises. He'd told me he was falling for me, that I was different.

Lies. All lies.

It was never about me. It was about his father's game, about securing the Vanderbilt alliance when the time was right. I was just a pawn, a temporary distraction.

Now, watching him with Sophia, a bitter certainty settled in my gut.

He would choose her. He always would.

Let them have their spectacle.

I just needed to survive it.