Chapter 1

The day Luther Sanchez and I were supposed to get engaged, the man who was never late didn't show up all day.

His secretary made it official on her social media feed.

"Thank you, Mr. Sanchez, for the Valentine's ring. I love it."

In the photo, a man and a woman wore matching rings, fingers laced together, and the edge of his cuff still carried a smear of the purple berry cake topping I'd made that morning.

I quietly hit like and left a comment: "That's nice. You suit him well."

A minute later Luther called and snapped that I was making a scene over nothing. It was just an incentive bonus for an employee, and could I please stop letting my nasty imagination run wild.

There was a sneer in his voice.

"Joyce Dickerson, I've already agreed to get engaged to you. This is the last time I indulge you. There won't be a next."

Once, I would have gone hysterical, made such a scene that the whole company knew.

But now, I truly didn't care.

I bowed and apologized to the crowd of guests who'd come for the engagement, then returned every gift they'd brought.

Outside the hotel, I made the call myself, to the research institute.

"Captain, that mission you mentioned last time. I accept."

1

By the time I'd canceled everything I'd booked for the engagement, it was past one in the morning when I got home.

I tried my key in the door.

But the door had been bolted shut from the inside.

I went to the window beside it, and there, under the lights, I saw two people holding each other tight.

This was the wedding home Luther and I had bought together, and now it framed the shape of him wrapped around another woman.

If I'd seen this before, it truly would have hurt.

But now I only felt tired.

I'd spent the whole day canceling the hotel and all the arrangements we'd prepared early for the engagement, and I was worn out.

The blisters on my feet gave off a tight, faint ache.

I leaned against the cold wall and crouched down, and dialed that familiar number again.

"Captain, I've made up my mind. I'll join the research team on this mission."

The line was quiet for a long while. "Joyce, you were the finest talent our science institute had back then. When we first invited you, you kept saying you needed time to think."

"It was only later I found out you gave up everything for that Sanchez boy. But you have to understand, this time the team is going to the Arctic. Ice and snow, weather that turns in an instant. The mission runs for years, with no contact with the outside world. Please think this through carefully."

I answered with a choked sound, and heard a sigh come from the other end.

"Captain, I only have one request. Erase my identity. Tell the world I was lost at sea."

"All right. Time is short. Seven days from now you have to be at the rendezvous point. I'll let you know the exact location."

When I hung up, I let out a breath like a weight had lifted, lighter inside than I'd ever felt.

Once, I'd believed Luther was different.

Ten years ago, Luther had gone down on one knee and promised I was his whole world.

Because of those words, I built the company at his side for ten years.

From having nothing, to Sanchez Corp, now surging at its peak.

Until the car accident five years ago changed everything, and I watched him hire Rose Pruitt as his private secretary on the spot.

For the first time, I fought with him, loud and furious.

He called me unreasonable, small-minded.

And in the end it was me, unable to let go of that love, who lowered my head and admitted I'd been wrong.

But I never imagined that giving Luther chance after chance would earn me this: Luther bringing Rose home himself, today.

In that moment, deep down, I truly gave up on this man for good.

After I hung up, I braced myself against the wall and stood.

And came face to face with Rose, on her way out with the trash.

The second she saw me, she looked a little surprised. "Joyce. I didn't think you'd come back."

Luther walked out too, a robe thrown over him.

The sight of his face.

All that came to mind was the two of them a moment ago, wrapped around each other inside, tender and close, in the very wedding home Luther and I had bought together.

In that moment, I only wanted to push past him and get my things out of this place as soon as I could.

Rose's sugary voice came from behind me.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Sanchez. I think I was the one who bolted the door earlier, and that's why poor Joyce was left out in the cold all this time."

"It's fine. You didn't mean to. No need to be so hard on yourself."

Luther gently patted her head.

I pretended I hadn't seen any of it and walked into my own room to start packing.

The break from my usual behavior caught Luther's attention.

He followed me, which he rarely did, and explained to my back.

"Rose has a roach problem at her place lately. She's staying with us for a few days. Don't get the wrong idea."

I answered coldly and kept packing.

Luther assumed I was upset.

"Joyce Dickerson, stop giving me that face over and over. I've already agreed to get engaged to you. If you keep up this attitude, don't think I won't call and cancel every booking."

He thought the threat would make me back down like always, that I'd sincerely come and admit I'd been wrong.

But this time, I turned my head and looked at him quietly, holding his gaze.

"No need to trouble yourself. I've already canceled it all."

Luther froze, staring at me in disbelief.