Chapter 1

Halfway through the yacht party, someone fell overboard.

When Julian Sterling jumped in without a second thought, I honestly believed he was just trying to save a life.

That was until I saw him clearly through the water, wrapping his arm around the girl’s waist, pressing his lips to hers, kissing her for a full three minutes.

The crowded deck fell into a dead silence. Everyone’s eyes secretly darted back and forth between them and me.

When the two of them finally climbed back onto the deck, I recognized the girl.

I looked at him and asked, "You knew she could swim, right?"

Julian wrung the water out of his white shirt. When he looked up at me, his eyes were filled with nothing but cold impatience.

"I was saving a life, Nora. Can you stop being so jealous all the time, especially in front of everyone?"

The girl huddled behind him, wrapped tightly in a beach towel, her eyes red and tearful.

I took off my engagement ring and placed it gently on the table.

"Fine. You save lives, and I’m in the way. I’m leaving."

I was twenty-two that year. He thought I was just throwing a temper tantrum, that I’d crawl back to him in a few days.

Five years later, I had my wedding on a tropical island.

Julian crashed the venue. In front of hundreds of guests, his voice was hoarse as he begged me:

"Nora, can’t you just listen to my explanation for once?"

I lifted my veil, looked at him, and smiled.

"Explain what? Explain how you gave her mouth-to-mouth underwater for three minutes?"

I raised my hand and pointed to the ocean behind me.

"This sea is much cleaner than your yacht, Mr. Sterling. Don't dirty my wedding dress."