Chapter 1

Everyone in the city knew Gideon Garrison was a madman, and I, Lyra Linden, was his only cure.

He once set half the city on fire for me. He even quit the underworld to start a legitimate business just because I said I didn't like the sight of blood.

I fell for his devotion and married for love without looking back.

For five years after our wedding, he treated me like a priceless treasure.

A man who made everyone else tremble in fear would wait in line for five hours just because I wanted a specific pastry.

Even when my brother, Lucas, was framed in a financial scandal, Gideon promised he would hire the best legal team.

The night before the trial, he whispered in my ear, "Relax. No one touches the brother-in-law of Gideon Garrison."

But the next day, the legal team never showed up. My brother was sentenced to ten years.

I burst into Gideon's office like a madwoman, only to find him laughing with his first love, Susannah Sterling.

Susannah pointed at me with a smirk. "Gideon, her brother sent my father to jail. You have to make it right for me."

Gideon looked up at me, his eyes filled with nothing but cold disgust.

"You heard her? You're going to pay for your brother's sins."

He threw a document right in my face.

"Sign it and take the fall for Susannah's father. He's old and can't handle prison."

"You're still young. Spending a few years in a cell to pay back his debt is the least you can do."

1

"You're still young. Spending a few years in a cell to pay back his debt is the least you can do."

Gideon's voice was like a shard of ice stabbing my heart.

I couldn't believe those words were coming from the man who had pampered me for five years.

The Voluntary Confession Agreement felt like a blade cutting into my skin.

My brother, Lucas Linden, was the whistleblower who exposed Susannah's father's corruption. Now he was a prisoner.

And Gideon wanted me to take the place of the actual criminal.

My hands shook as I gripped the papers.

"Gideon, have you lost your mind? That's my brother!"

"You promised me last night that you would save him!"

Gideon sat behind his desk with Susannah draped over him.

He gently wiped a non-existent tear from her eye before looking at me.

His gaze was foreign, cold, and filled with impatience.

"Lyra, don't make a scene."

He spoke as if he were discussing the weather. "Susannah's father has a weak heart. He won't survive the harsh conditions of prison."

"My father had a heart attack because your brother sent him away!" Susannah chirped in. Her voice was sweet, but her eyes were pure venom.

Gideon patted her back to soothe her and locked his eyes on mine again.

"Lyra, you're healthy and young. Consider a few years inside as a life experience."

"When you get out, you'll still be Mrs. Garrison."

Life experience?

I laughed through my tears. This was a nightmare.

"Gideon, that's prison! It's a criminal record! My entire life will be ruined!"

"My brother is innocent!"

Gideon's brow furrowed.

"Enough. Lyra, grow up."

"Susannah's family has suffered enough. Her father can't stay in there. Why can't you be more understanding?"

Understanding?

He wanted me to show mercy to a criminal while my brother and I rotted in jail?

"For her, you don't even care about right or wrong anymore?"

Susannah peeked out from Gideon's arms, looking like a victim.

"Lyra, you're making Gideon sound like a villain. He's just worried about my dad."

"Your brother was disloyal for reporting my father. It's only fair that you take the consequences. Why are you being so selfish?"

Selfish?

I looked at the two of them in pure disbelief.

Gideon stood up and walked toward me.

He grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.

"Lyra, be a good girl. Sign it."

His voice returned to that old, gentle tone, but it was sharper than any knife.

"If you sign, I can make sure your brother is safe inside. If you don't…"

He smiled coldly. "You know that accidents happen in prison all the time."

The blood in my veins turned to ice.

He was threatening me.

He was using my brother's life as a bargaining chip.

"Gideon… you bastard!" I raised my hand to slap him.

He caught my wrist effortlessly.

With a hard shove, he sent me stumbling back onto the sofa.

"Don't test my patience." His voice was dead.

"I'm running out of it."

Susannah walked over and looked down at me with a triumphant grin.

"Lyra, don't be ungrateful. Gideon is giving you a chance to prove your worth."

"An orphan like you marrying into the Garrison family was a miracle anyway. Now it's time to pay him back."

I used the sofa to pull myself up and stared Gideon in the eyes.

"You once told me I was your light. You said I was your salvation."

Gideon let out a harsh laugh.

"I did. And that's why I gave you five years of luxury."

"But I'm bored now."

"Light fades, and salvation has an expiration date."

"Sign it. Don't make me get ugly."

I gripped the pen until my knuckles turned white.

I had lost.

I had no choice at all.

I gritted my teeth and began to sign.

Suddenly, Susannah pressed her hand over mine.

"Wait."

She tilted her head toward Gideon. "Gideon, signing it like this is too easy for her."

"My father went through so much trauma. She needs to show some real sincerity, right?"

Gideon looked at her, his eyes softening. "What do you have in mind?"

Susannah pointed toward the busy street below the office window.

"I want her to walk from here to the City Square. She has to kneel and bow every three steps."

"She needs to apologize to my father and the whole city for her brother's crimes."

I snapped my head up. "In your dreams!"

Gideon lit a cigarette and spoke slowly.

"That sounds like a good idea."

He blew out a cloud of smoke, hiding his expression.

"Lyra, do the walk, or your brother dies."

"Choose one."