Lucia froze. "How did he get trapped in the mountain?"

Through her sobs, Alice spilled it.

They'd spotted a white fox. Jared ignored the rain, chased it alone, and the mountain gave out. He got buried in a landslide.

"This is insane." Lucia's eyes narrowed. "This mountain's notorious for landslides. Wolves come out at night too. Is he trying to get himself killed?"

One of Jared's friends snapped, "Why are you yelling? Got a better plan? We already talked to staff—the fastest rescue team's at least six hours out... Lucia, what are you—!"

Gasps rippled through the group.

Lucia had already swung onto a horse like she was born in the saddle.

"I'm going to get him," she said, voice like ice.

Then she was gone—riding off without a glance back.

"Lucia can RIDE... like that?" someone whispered.

Alice went pale, her fists clenched tight.

***

Lucia knew the terrain like the back of her hand. She found a safe trail and pushed into the mountains without hesitation.

She wasn't doing this just for show.

First—this land was under her name. If someone died out here, she'd be the one held liable. Walking away clean from Khelmark? Not gonna happen.

Second—she owed Jared her life.

Back when she'd just returned to the Lynch family, she and Alice were kidnapped. The kidnappers made the family choose.

Michael and Joanne chose Alice.

The daughter they weren't related to.

Lucia had been left to die.

Jared was the one who'd come for her—alone. Took three stab wounds and nearly bled out that night.

That debt... she'd never forgotten.

And today, she was here to settle it.

Lucia rode through the storm for five brutal hours before she found him.

He was out cold in a cave, clutching the white fox like it was treasure. Whispering under his breath—

"Alice... for you... this is for you..."

Her face darkened.

So he nearly died—for a fox? A gift for Alice?

She gave a bitter smile and reached for him.

Then her eyes caught something—dozens of glowing green dots in the dark.

Wolves.

She hadn't planned for this, but she didn't hesitate. Raised her rifle and stood her ground.

An hour later, the cave was silent. Every wolf—dead.

She'd been bitten three times.

'Three... same as the number of wounds Jared took for me back then.'

Bleeding and shaking, she dragged him onto the horse and took off.

When they reached the lodge, everyone went pale.

Lucia—soaked in blood—barely held herself up. She slid off the horse and shoved Jared into Alice's arms.

"Tell Jared Dawson—he's repaid," she muttered.

Then everything went dark.

***

Lucia woke up in a hospital bed, her wounds bandaged.

She turned to the nurse. "Where's the man who came in with me?"

After getting Jared's room number, she headed down the hall.

Just as her hand touched the door, she froze.

From inside, she heard one of Jared's buddies say,

"Jared, it was ALICE who braved the storm to save you. She really does love you!"

Lucia's hand tightened on the handle.

She had saved him. How did Alice steal that too?

Then came Alice's soft, shy voice.

"Jared only went after the white fox because of me. Saving you was the least I could do, but..."

Her tone shifted—just a little darker.

"You didn't have to bring me a white fox to cheer me up. I know the truth... You've always loved Lucia. That's why you risked everything to save her from the kidnappers back then..."

"That's not true!" one of Jared's friends snapped, voice sharp. "That whole kidnapping? Jared planned it!"

"What?" Alice gasped.

But Jared's buddies kept going.

"Yeah, Jared set the whole thing up to make the Lynches realize which of their daughters they love more. He paid people to stage the kidnapping, grabbed both you and Lucia."

"That rescue stunt? Totally planned. He saved Lucia on purpose—played the hero so she'd fall for him and say yes to the marriage."

"But don't stress, Alice. Jared only married her for the family deal—and to get revenge for you. He's already got the divorce lined up. Right, Jared?"

Silence. Heavy.

Then Jared's voice came through, flat and sure.

"That's right."

Outside the door, Lucia staggered back.

Even the kidnapping—one of the only things she thought was real—had been a setup.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of the spiral.

She answered. Francesca's voice came through.

"Sweetheart, the jet I arranged takes off tomorrow at noon. Make sure you're at the airport on time."

"Got it, Mom."

She hung up and glanced back at the hospital room door, lips twisting into a bitter smile.

Maybe this was how it was always meant to end.

She didn't owe Jared a thing. Not after this.

Nothing between them but a useless piece of paper.

There never had been.

And there never would be.

***

Lucia had stuff to wrap up before she bounced.

First stop? Her lawyer—divorce papers signed, sealed, done.

Next, she hit a downtown club to meet Cole Carter, an old classmate. Italvian guy, but he'd been killing it in Khelmark's asset game for years.

Back when Lucia first moved there, Giovanni and Francesca had low-key freaked out she'd get screwed over. So they stashed a bunch of assets under her name—like that massive hunting estate. And yeah, turns out the biggest clients of Lynch Corp and Dawson Corp were actually hers. She just never said anything.

Now that she was peacing out, someone had to take the wheel. Cole was it.

Catching up with old friends meant drinks, obviously.

Cole got a little buzzed before he finally leaned in. "You seriously cutting off Lynch Corp and Dawson Corp? They're still big names, but let's be real—they've been sinking. If you pull out, they'll bleed."

Lucia didn't hesitate. "I'm sure."

He let out a low whistle. "Then let 'em bleed. Should've known what they had."

She had a flight to catch, so they wrapped things up early. But on their way down the stairs, Lucia suddenly stumbled. Cole caught her.

"Sorry," she muttered.

They were standing close—like, really close—when she looked up and froze. Jared and his crew were walking out of a nearby private room.

His friends spotted her and immediately started mouthing off.

"Yo, what's this? Jared, your girl's got a new guy?"

"No way! And a guy like him? Lucia, really? Didn't know you were into that."

Jared's face darkened, but his buddies were too busy running their mouths to notice.

"C'mon, Jared's the full package—no way Lucia's not satisfied."

"Nah, man, she's clearly not getting any at home. Gotta get her fix somewhere! Hahaha!"

Their laughter cut sharp through the air.

Jared didn't flinch. He just walked straight up to her.

"Lucia." His voice was cold. "Who is he?"

Lucia stayed cool. "Not your business."

Jared's eyes lit up with rage. He grabbed her chin, leaning in way too close.

"Lucia." His voice dripped with venom. "Can't survive without a man, huh?"

The insult should've burned—but she felt nothing.

Cole jumped in, trying to defuse it. "No, it's not like that. Lucia and I—"

She shut him down fast. "Yeah." Her smile was ice. "What can I say? My own husband couldn't get the job done. What was I supposed to do—die frustrated?"

The whole hallway froze.

Jared's crew just gawked.

Everyone knew Jared had never touched her. Lucia had been hopelessly loyal, and the jokes were just that—jabs to humiliate, not actual suspicion. No one thought she'd ever cross the line.

But now?

Jared's face went ice-cold. "What did you just say?"

Lucia's smile only sharpened. "Did I lie? If you can't satisfy me, what's wrong with grabbing a little something on the side—ah!"

She didn't get to finish.

Jared suddenly threw her over his shoulder like it was nothing and stormed off.

Next thing she knew, she was tossed into a car.

The chauffeur sensed the tension and bolted from the car.

The door slammed. Inside, it was just the two of them.

Jared dropped his weight on her, pinning her down.

Lucia's calm cracked. "Jared, what the hell?!"

He sneered, ripping off his tie. "Didn't you say I couldn't satisfy you? Let's fix that."

Then he kissed her—hard. Outta nowhere.

Wasn't their first. They'd kissed before the wedding. Not once since.

His lips froze. He forgot her taste—soft, a little sweet. Threw him off.

He flipped her, bent her back like he couldn't help it.

"Ah..." She almost screamed, almost shoved him off—

Then his phone buzzed.

He froze, glanced at the screen, answered quick. "What?"

His face changed.

"Alice is in the ER?"