Chapter 1

I was kidnapped.

For two months, I was tortured inhumanly.

I called the man I had loved for ten years, the man I was about to walk down the aisle with.

I called my fiancé for help.

But all he said were three cold words.

"Stop pretending."

But when I was marrying another man, he came to me, crying, saying he regretted everything.

When they found me, my face and body were a bloody mess. You could hardly tell what I used to look like.

I was covered in filth, reeking of sweat and grime.

At first, they thought I was a corpse.

My kidnappers thought so, too.

That's why they dumped me deep in the mountains, leaving me for the wolves and vultures.

I was lying in a hospital bed, thankful to be alive, when the police found me.

The moment they saw me, their faces were filled with disbelief.

"Are you... Liana Thorne?"

I gave a weak nod.

I guess this broken version of me was a world away from the concert pianist they knew.

That's why they were so shocked.

One of the officers cleared his throat.

"We've been looking for you."

My throat was so dry it felt like sandpaper. It was too painful to speak, so I just nodded again.

The police had just left when someone else walked in.

It was Caleb Vance, my fiancé Julian Ford's friend.

He never missed a chance to tease me or make a joke at my expense.

But my prideful nature meant I rarely let him get the last word.

Now, though, that pride had been beaten out of me by my captors.

Caleb stood in front of me, his pupils shrinking. He was clearly surprised.

He looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

I knew he wanted to ask what happened to me.

What happened?

I got what I deserved. I deserved it for loving Julian Ford for ten years.

When the kidnappers gave me one phone call, I chose him.

But his only reply was three detached words.

"Stop pretending."

Just like that, my only lifeline was crushed to dust.