Chapter 2

Mia felt a chill settle deep in her bones, a chill that had nothing to do with the lingering autumn air.

She was staying in a small, impersonal guest room on the vast Ashford estate in New York.

Eleanor had insisted, a veiled command Mia couldn't refuse without causing a scene she wasn't strong enough for.

A few days after Eleanor' s visit to her cabin, a formal invitation had arrived. A pre-wedding charity gala.

Ethan had called. His voice was different. Distant. The voice of Ethan Ashford, not Alex.

"Mia, I' d like you to come to New York. There' s a charity gala. It would mean a lot to... well, it' s important."

A flicker of something foolish, a tiny, stupid spark of hope, ignited in Mia' s chest.

Maybe he wanted to explain. Maybe he missed her.

The hope died the moment she arrived.

She was driven to the estate, a place so grand it felt like a museum.

Ethan greeted her politely, formally. Victoria Sterling was by his side, dripping in jewels, her smile perfectly practiced.

"Mia, so glad you could make it," Victoria said, her voice syrupy sweet, but her eyes held a glint of something else.

Mia realized with a sickening lurch: she wasn' t a guest. She was an exhibit. Or perhaps a chaperone of sorts, a reminder of Ethan' s brief, unfortunate detour.

The gala was a blur of glittering chandeliers, champagne, and people whose clothes cost more than Mia' s yearly salary.

Ethan and Victoria were the golden couple, laughing, touching, posing for photographers.

He' d put his arm around Victoria, his hand resting possessively on her waist.

Mia remembered how Alex' s hand used to find hers, his fingers lacing through hers, a simple, comforting gesture.

He would pull her close, his chin resting on her head, murmuring about their future.

Now, he barely looked at Mia.

She wore her only good dress, a simple navy blue one she' d bought for a ranger' s award ceremony years ago.

At one point, standing near a buffet table laden with exotic foods, she heard a snicker.

Victoria and a group of her friends were looking at Mia.

"Is that... her?" one of them whispered, not quite quietly enough.

"The little park ranger? Darling, what is she wearing?" another said, her voice dripping with condescension.

Victoria smiled, a cat-like expression. "Ethan has such a kind heart. He felt... obligated."

Mia' s face burned.

Ethan stood nearby. He heard them.

He shifted uncomfortably. "Ladies, please."

It was a weak defense. Too weak.

Alex would have been furious. Alex would have pulled her away, his eyes blazing, defending her honor fiercely.

Ethan just looked pained, then turned his attention back to Victoria, who was now clinging to his arm, pouting prettily about the "rudeness" of her friends.

Mia felt utterly alone, a small, drab bird in a cage full of peacocks.

Later in the evening, Ethan made a grand speech. He spoke of charity, of family, of his love for Victoria.

Then, he presented Victoria with another gift. A stunning sapphire bracelet.

"To match your beautiful eyes, my love," he said, his voice carrying through the ballroom.

Mia' s breath caught.

Alex had said the same thing to her, his voice husky with emotion, when he' d given her the small, carved bluebird.

"For your eyes, Mia. The color of the mountain sky."

The pain was a fresh wave, sharp and deep.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, fighting back tears. She would not cry here. She would not give them the satisfaction.

The gala eventually ended. Mia was exhausted, her spirit bruised.

A few days later, there was an engagement party on the Ashford family yacht.

The weather was turning, the sky growing dark, but the party went on.

Mia stood by the railing, watching the churning water, feeling as turbulent as the sea.

A sudden squall hit the yacht. Wind howled. Rain lashed down.

The boat lurched violently.

People screamed.

Mia lost her footing. She felt herself tipping, then a horrifying sensation of falling.

Cold water enveloped her.

She surfaced, gasping, the waves crashing over her head.

She saw another figure in the water nearby. Victoria. Screaming, flailing.

Ethan was at the railing, his face a mask of panic.

He looked from Victoria to Mia.

Just for a second, their eyes met. Mia saw a flicker of something – recognition? Alex?

Then, his gaze fixed on Victoria.

He dove in, but he swam towards Victoria.

He reached Victoria, pulling her towards a life preserver thrown by a crew member.

Mia struggled, the cold seeping into her, her limbs growing heavy.

She was a strong swimmer, but the waves were relentless, and her simple dress was dragging her down.

She saw Ethan helping Victoria back onto the yacht.

He didn' t look back for her.

She was alone in the churning, dark water.

Just as her strength gave out, as the cold began to numb her, a crew member finally reached her, pulling her from the waves.