Chapter 1

1.

The crystal chandeliers of the Mandarin Oriental in Midtown Manhattan were blinding.

I had just come from an eighteen-hour bypass surgery at Mount Sinai, utterly exhausted.

I wanted to go straight home, but this was my twelve-year high school reunion.

So, I grabbed a spare black knit sweater and dark slacks from my locker at the hospital, tidied myself up, and headed out.

This was the reunion for Saint Jude Preparatory School.

When I arrived in the hotel lobby, a concierge politely guided me, "Are you here for Ms. Thompson's private party?"

"Yes."

"Right this way, the ballroom is on the third floor."

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped into a brilliantly lit hall.

The men were in dark suits, the women in cocktail dresses, and champagne flutes glittered with an amber glow under the dim lights.

The air was a mix of Jo Malone perfume and expensive red wine.

I glanced down at my own outfit―clean, but definitely too casual.

"Sarah?"

A familiar voice called out. I looked up and saw Melissa, my high school roommate.

"Oh my god, it really is you!" She gave me a hug. "You look so tired. Pulling another all-nighter at the hospital?"

"Just finished a surgery," I said with a smile.

"Still a workaholic," Melissa sighed. "Come on, let me get you something to eat. The lobster at the buffet is amazing."

Just then, a commotion rippled through the crowd.

"Shawn! Tell us about that last deal you closed!"

I followed the sound of the voice.

Shawn―my husband in my past life, a stranger in this one―stood at the center of a crowd, his arm around Chloe's waist, soaking in the admiration.