Chapter 1

It was my twenty-first birthday.

My parents, Charles and Elizabeth King, stood beside me.

They looked proud, happy.

They didn't know the horror that coiled in my stomach.

In another life, this day, my choice of fiancé, Ethan Vanderbilt III, had destroyed us.

King Holdings, our Texas oil and real estate empire, crumbled.

Our family died in a private jet crash. They called it an accident. I knew better.

Ethan's charm was a lie. His love was a weapon.

This time, I would not choose him.

"Honey, the bachelors are waiting for your decision," Mom said softly.

Her smile was gentle, unaware of the abyss I'd crawled out of.

Dad put a hand on my shoulder. "Take your time, Savannah. This is for life."

If only he knew.

I looked at the curated list of influential young men.

Ethan's name was there, a venomous bloom.

My hand trembled.

"I'm not choosing from the top of the list, Dad," I said. My voice was surprisingly steady.

"What do you mean, sweetheart?" he asked.

"I mean, I'm going to pick randomly."

My parents exchanged a look. Concern flickered in Mom's eyes.

"Savannah, this isn't a lottery," Dad said, his tone firm but kind.

"I know," I said. "But my judgment... it was flawed before. Terribly flawed."

The memory of the crash, the fire, their screams, seared my mind.

I closed my eyes, pointed at the list. My finger landed.

I opened them.

Caleb Hayes.

Heir to Hayes Innovations, a Silicon Valley tech fortune. Known for philanthropy, not parties.

A world away from Ethan.

"Caleb Hayes?" Mom sounded surprised. "He's... quiet, isn't he? From California."

"Yes," I said. "He's my choice."

Ethan, if he heard this, would be furious. He always believed I was his.

"Are you sure, Savannah?" Dad asked, his brow furrowed. "You barely know him. You and Ethan... you've known each other since childhood."

That was the problem. I knew Ethan too well now, across lifetimes.

"I'm sure, Dad," I said, meeting his gaze. "Ethan is not the one for me. He never was."

The words felt like a shield forming around me.

My parents saw the steel in my spine. They knew this wasn't a whim.

"Alright, Savannah," Dad said slowly. "If this is your decision, we'll support it. We'll arrange a meeting with the Hayes family."

Mom nodded, still looking a little worried, but she squeezed my hand. "We just want you to be happy, darling. And safe."

Safe. That was all I wanted for them. This time, I would keep them safe.

The choice was made. A new path.

But the ghost of Ethan Vanderbilt still loomed.