Chapter 1

I was a director at the National Wetland Preserve when an intern was dropped into my lap. She was my fiancé's "foster sister," hired through a blatant abuse of power.

On her first day, she demanded to release hundreds of invasive catfish into the lake.

She called it "building a diverse ecosystem."

I shut her down immediately.

"You're just a glorified employee," she sneered. "Do you have any idea who's backing me?"

Right in front of me, she dumped the fish into the water. The clear lake turned into a murky black mess in an instant.

"This little swamp is nothing," she laughed. "If I say the word, the entire Graham Group belongs to me."

It turned out she wasn't his sister. She was his mistress.

I stripped off my gear and sent a text to my fiancé: "The wedding is off."

Then, I called the EPA. "The preserve has a new person in charge. Don't contact me for the hand-off anymore."

This time, no one was going to save Gideon Graham.

1

Before I could even finish my sentence, Chloe Calloway snatched my phone and threw it into the mud.

"Tattling won't help you now," she said, tilting her head. "If you want to keep your job, you'll do exactly as I say."

I looked at the ecosystem I had spent years protecting. It was now a disaster.

The veins on my hands bulged, and cold sweat dripped down my forehead.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" I hissed. "It took us three years to restore this habitat. Releasing those catfish will wipe out every endangered species in this lake!"

She let out a mocking laugh. Then, she picked up her water bottle and splashed the contents right onto my face.

"Who do you think you're talking to? Look at your own status before you open your mouth."

"It's just a pathetic swamp. I'm an Ivy League graduate personally recruited by the CEO. You think I can't handle a little lake?"

I looked at the water, my heart breaking. But before I could move, two other interns grabbed my arms and dragged me inside.

"You're just a low-level director, Yara. You work like a dog for a paycheck," one of them sneered. "Why are you acting like this place is a holy temple?"

"Open your eyes. Chloe is the future Mrs. Graham. If you get on your knees and apologize now, maybe she'll forgive you."

I looked at their young, arrogant faces. It was almost funny. This wetland was worth far more than any sum of money.

They took my silence for fear. Chloe stepped closer, flaunting a diamond bracelet on her wrist.

"Look at this," she bragged. "It's worth five million dollars. You mess with me, and you're dead in this town."

I smiled coldly. "The future Mrs. Graham? Why don't you have Gideon come here and tell me that himself?"

I couldn't believe it. The man who FaceTimed me every night had been living a double life.

His so-called foster sister was actually his side piece.

I had helped him build his empire from nothing. Now, he was handing the keys over to a brat.

Chloe shoved her wrist in my face again.

I touched the simple silver ring on my finger. A chill ran through my heart.

When we first started dating, Gideon was broke. To protect his pride, I never told him about my family's wealth.

I lived in a cramped basement with him. We ate instant ramen and cheap coffee every single day.

On the day we got our marriage license, he bought me this silver ring. He promised he would never betray me.

I believed him. I wore that ring every day, even after we became rich.

Now, he was giving diamonds to another woman. He was letting her destroy everything I worked for.

"What makes you think you're worthy of talking to my man?" Chloe snapped.

"I'm giving you two choices. Bow your head and apologize, or get the hell out of this preserve."

I pulled myself together. "This is a federally protected area, Chloe. It's a habitat for dozens of endangered species. Do you have any idea what the legal consequences are?"

The room went silent for a second. Then Chloe stepped forward.

"Stop trying to scare me with the government, Yara," she scoffed.

"Everyone knows the Grahams own this city. A tiny preserve means nothing to Gideon."

"You're just jealous. You're making up stories because you hate me."

Suddenly, the heavy doors swung open.

Gideon Graham walked in, looking sharp in a tailored Italian suit.