Chapter 2

"Drink something warm to heat yourself up."

I was sitting in a warm car, the heater blasting. A man named Mark Davis handed me a steaming cup of hot milk. I took it with numb fingers and drank it all in one go, not stopping until the cup was empty. I licked my chapped lips and looked at him.

"Lend me your phone."

Mark Davis didn't hesitate. He handed over his phone.

"The password is your birthday."

Mark Davis was the bodyguard Grandpa had hired for me. He was a shadow, rarely seen in public, but always there, protecting me. The whistle wasn't just a whistle; it had a precise positioning system and sensors. As long as I blew it, he would appear. He always did.

I dialed my grandfather's number. The cup in my hand still held a faint warmth from the milk.

"Grandpa, I don't want Ethan Vance anymore. I want to change heirs."

I heard my grandfather' s surprised voice on the other end of the line. He asked who I wanted to replace Ethan with. I looked up from the phone and met Mark Davis's steady gaze in the rearview mirror.

"I want Mark Davis."

There was a stunned silence on the other end.

"Sarah, this isn't a joke," Grandpa finally said, his voice serious. "Although Mark Davis has excellent qualifications, he's just a bodyguard, after all."

"My mind is made up, Grandpa. Don't try to persuade me."

After a long pause, he gave me the answer I wanted. I hung up and handed the phone back to Mark.

Before I got out of the car, I took off his heavy jacket and handed it back to him. I turned to look at him, my expression serious.

"Mark Davis, do you have the courage to stand on the Miller family's high platform with me?"

Mark paused for a moment. I saw his Adam's apple bob slightly as he swallowed.

"Yes."

A bodyguard and a girl from a small town. A very fresh pairing indeed.

I felt a surge of satisfaction. I got out of the car and walked back toward the Snowpeak Estate.

The moment I pushed open the grand doors, I ran straight into Ethan Vance. He was rushing out, his face a storm of anger and frustration. When he saw me, his expression darkened even more.

"Sarah!" he yelled, his voice echoing in the large foyer. "Who told you to run off? Do you know how long everyone has been looking for you?"

He grabbed my arm, his grip tight.

"Just because I left with Chloe first, you decided to disappear? Are you trying to alarm Grandpa so he punishes us? If you're going to have a princess tantrum, go back to the city and stop playing these stupid games here!"

His barrage of accusations was so ridiculous it left me momentarily bewildered.

"Ethan Vance," I said, my voice dripping with ice. "You locked me in the ski lodge to teach me a lesson. What kind of act is this now?"

Ethan frowned, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. He actually looked puzzled.

"Ethan, don't blame Sarah."

Chloe appeared from behind him, swaying slightly. She took Ethan's arm, her voice soft and placating.

"Sarah just got lost because the ski resort is so big and she hasn't been here before, right, Sarah?"

She feigned gentleness, offering me an out, a way to save face. I watched the two of them, the concerned fiancé and the kind, forgiving friend. A bitter sneer formed on my lips. I understood instantly. This whole charade, the frantic search, it was all Chloe's idea. She was trying to look like the bigger person.

"Idiot."

I stared directly at Ethan, spat out the single word, and then turned and walked back toward my room.

It was the first time I had ever treated Ethan with such open contempt. He was clearly not prepared for it. For three years, I had poured all of my attention, all of my heart, into trying to build something with him. I knew he liked Chloe, but I thought a man in his position would understand that a family alliance was more important than a crush.

I was wrong. For three years, the only gifts I received were boxes of used condoms, a mountain of them. For three years, Ethan had insulted me, trampled on my feelings, and humiliated me. My tolerance, my patience, had become the very weapon he used to hurt me.

But this time, I wouldn't tolerate it. This blade, I was going to return it to him. Precisely.

The next day, everyone gathered at the ski resort again. I mingled with the crowd, keeping my mouth shut, just watching.

When Ethan first proposed having a birthday party for me, I was so happy I couldn't sleep for a week. I thought he was finally starting to warm up to me, that he was finally seeing me. He chose the Aspen ski resort, saying it was for some trendy winter activities. I couldn't even ski, but I agreed immediately, desperate for any sign of affection.

Then, a few days later, he told me he was bringing Chloe.

That's when I realized why he had chosen a ski resort.

Chloe loved to ski.

"Chloe's ski outfit is so pretty! It matches Ethan's perfectly!" someone shouted from the crowd.

"They're already a snow couple, no need for you to point it out!" another person laughed.

"Kiss, kiss, kiss!"

The chant started, and the group of their friends cheered them on.

The next second, Chloe stood on her tiptoes, pulled Ethan's head down, and kissed him right on the lips.

Ethan didn't pull away. Through the cheering crowd, his gaze passed over everyone and landed directly on me. He was watching for my reaction.