ents, celebrated humanitarian aid workers, had instilled in her a deep sense of compassion, but their tragic death in a natural disaster left a void that the community r

sh, a tragedy that shattered her. Ten years later, while on a charity mission in a remote village, she saw him. Liam, alive and well, living a simple, picturesque life with her best friend, Sophia Chen. The "death" was a lie, a calculated escape from a life he didn't w

is face etched with kind concern, stood before her. On the table between them sat three boxes, each a different color, each holding a sym

, not as a plea, but as a command. This time, there would be no mistake. Her hand trembl

You look pale," her grandfather

clearing. "I'm fine, Grandpa

n her hand. Inside, she knew, was a single, intricately carved raven's feather, a nod to Ethan Stone' s reputation as a rebellious, d

, her voice firm. "I

. "Ethan? Chloe, are you sure? He's... unpredictable. L

red the fierce loyalty hidden beneath his rebellious exterior, the way he' d silently defended her from bullies in sc

stairs. She knew she had to face them. As she descended the grand staircase with her gr

of champagne, looking every bit the man who knew he was about to get everything he wanted. Beside

loe," he began, his voice smooth and commanding. "But before any

und Sophia' s, and he gave her a look of profound affection.

ng to beat her to the punch, to frame this as his rejection of her, not the other

ess performance of shock and innocence. "Liam, what ar

Liam declared, pulling

ng again, but this time, she wasn't the grieving wid

le. "It's a good thing, then," she said, her voice cutting t

black box. "I ch

' s feigned innocence morphed into something ugly. "Chloe! How could you be so cruel?" she cried, tears we

fore he said a word,

ed forward, her nails aimed at Ch

m, reacting instantly, moved to defend Sophia. He

her head hitting the marble floor with a sickening crack. The world went dark, but not before she saw a figure pushing t