Chapter 1
Grayson Whitaker’s sugar baby had a nasty habit of disappearing.
And every time she got dragged back, that woman would immediately pin the blame on Savannah Langley.
The ninth time she went missing, Grayson locked Savannah inside the steam room.
As the glass door clicked shut, the scalding air hit like a thousand tiny needles piercing her skin.
The temperature needle kept climbing.
140°F…
160°F…
180°F.
Savannah’s face flushed crimson, her breath snagging in her throat.
Grayson stood outside the glass, slowly turning the ring on his finger. His voice was low, deadly calm. “Last chance. Tell me where
the hell is Maddie?”
Savannah threw herself against the glass, pounding with everything she had. The heat seared her palms, leaving bloody imprints that dried instantly on contact.
“I don’t know! I swear, I don’t know!”
Her throat felt like it was tearing open. “Grayson, please… let me out… I can’t take much more…”
She had a congenital heart condition. Surviving into her twenties had already been a miracle–trapped in that kind of heat, she could die at any moment.
But Grayson acted like he didn’t hear a word. He tapped the temperature control with his finger. “It’s just a steam session. You won’t die. Compared to how you bullied Maddie, this is nothing.”
“Still won’t talk?” The moment his finger pressed the button, Savannah felt her heartbeat go berserk. “Fine. Let’s crank it up some more.”
Her mind blurred, but suddenly she remembered something–two days ago, Madeline had posted a location on her story.
She summoned her last ounce of strength. “I’ll talk! Northcrest Amusement Park… the utility room!”
Grayson turned on his heel and rushed out the door. But not before tossing an order to his men, “Don’t let her out until I say so.”
Half an hour later, the call finally came.
He’d found Madeline. Only then did they let Savannah out.
She was drenched in sweat, burning up with fever, and collapsed into unconsciousness for the rest of the night.
All through that feverish haze, memories of Grayson flickered through her mind like a reel on fast–forward.
He’d been her father’s old friend, always hanging around when she was just a timid little girl.
She’d always been frail, barely able to eat. Grayson would show up like some magician, bringing fresh fruit and vegetables from all over the world.
Pineberries from South America. Horned melons from Africa. Picked at dawn and served at noon, straight to her plate,
Those high–fashion couture gowns celebrities fought tooth and nail over–easily worth hundreds of thousands–he’d send them over like casual gifts, all because she once said, “That’s pretty.”
Her father would ruffle her hair and joke, “I swear, this boy’s gonna snatch you up and marry you one day.”
Chapter 1
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She’d always protest, “No way,” but her face would flush as red as a tomato.
On her eighteenth birthday, Grayson made a scene the entire city would never forget.
He covered the streets in her favorite white roses. Drones spelled out “Savannah, marry me” across the skies of Crestmoor Heights. The message stayed up there for three whole days and nights.
On a luxurious yacht, he wrapped her in his arms from behind, burying his chin in her shoulder.
“Baby, say yes. This life, the next, and the one after that–I’ll love you forever.”
Under a sky exploding with fireworks, Savannah said yes through her tears.
But less than six months later, everything fell apart. The Langley family went bankrupt. Her father died from the strain. On his deathbed, he grabbed Grayson’s hand, barely breathing.
“Take care of Savannah… don’t ever hurt her…”
Grayson gave him a solemn nod. “I promise.”
After that, Savannah moved into the Whitaker estate.
Everyone in Crestmoor Heights knew–Grayson gave Savannah everything.
Until Madeline Rhodes came along.
The new assistant–clumsy as hell, couldn’t even peel shrimp without help.
“She’s just a little dumb. Can’t even peel shrimp,” Grayson chuckled.
“She always forgets her paperwork too.”
That was the first time he mentioned Madeline in front of her. His tone was gentle, indulgent. It burned. Right through her chest.
Madeline swapped out his imported oolong for instant coffee, tanked a billion–dollar deal, and Grayson just ruffled her hair and laughed, “She’s just naive. Innocent and a little headstrong that’s all.”
She ruined a limited–edition dress from Savannah’s closet by spilling ink on it. Grayson didn’t even blink–he had a new one delivered
to Madeline the same day.
1
Even on Savannah’s twenty–first birthday, while cutting her cake, Grayson suddenly paused mid–slice.
“Maddie loves blueberry cake…”
“If she were here, she’d throw a fit just to eat the whole thing.”
In that moment, something inside Savannah shattered completely.
That woman—Madeline Rhodes–had already taken up permanent residence in Grayson’s heart. There was no room left for her.
Madeline moved in, playing every petty game she could think of. Savannah swallowed her pride and pretended not to care.
Then Madeline started her deliberate little vanishing acts. Each time, she’d drop a clue just for Savannah, tilt her head, and smile.
“Wanna guess? Will Grayson tear you apart just to get me back?”
She played this game eight times. Savannah lost all eight.
In her dreams, Grayson’s cold, accusing face got closer and closer until she jolted awake, drenched in sweat.
Staring out the window, Savannah suddenly felt so, so tired.
The man she once clung to like salvation–he was long gone.
She pulled out the acceptance letter buried at the bottom of her trunk and dialed a number.
Chapter 1
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“Professor Grant? I’m coming. I’ll be Montclair in time for the new term.”
Chapter 1
