Chapter 1

I woke up.

The morning sun hit my face.

It was the day of my debutante ball.

But my head hurt.

Memories flooded in, sharp and cruel.

My past life.

Daisy Mae, my companion, my shadow.

She wore my heirloom gown that night, the one meant for me.

I screamed at her. Publicly.

Years later, Father had a stroke.

Randy, my brother, took over everything.

He and Beau, my fiancé, they wanted revenge for Daisy.

For that stupid gown.

They married me off to a monster, a brute tied to criminals.

Far away. No money, no help.

He abused me.

I died there, alone and broken.

Just before the end, I learned the truth.

Randy and Beau did it all.

For Daisy.

My eyes snapped open fully.

This time, things would be different.

The heirloom gown.

I called my head maid, Martha.

"Martha, the heirloom gown Father had custom-made for me, it seems to be missing from my closet."

Martha looked confused. "Miss Savannah, it was laid out just last night."

"Check again," I said, my voice calm. "And bring me the modern haute couture gown Father also bought. The silver one."

She hurried off, bewildered.

Daisy Mae. Orphaned daughter of Father' s old campaign manager.

He took her in. Guilt, mostly.

She was sweet on the outside.

Inside, a snake.

Beau Carter. New money. Ambitious.

He' d do anything to climb, and Daisy had him wrapped around her little finger.

Randy King Jr. My older brother. The heir.

Arrogant. He hated that Father loved me more.

Daisy played him too, he wanted her.

Father. Senator Randolph King. Powerful. Rich.

He adored me. He was my safety net.

Mother. Eleanor King. Elegant, protective. But society' s rules tied her hands sometimes.

And Jax Riley. Son of Father's head of security.

Former Marine. Now our family' s top guard.

Quiet. Observant. Honorable.

He would be my ally. My future.

But first, the ball.