Chapter 1

My dead mother's necklace showed up as the grand prize at tonight's street race.

Marcus promised he'd win first place and get it back for me.

He broke his promise.

He deliberately slowed down before the finish line to let Cole Montgomery win, just so he could take second place—and that Valentino gown.

Charlotte had been eyeing it for months.

Marcus looked at me, helpless but indulgent.

"Charlotte's twenty-first birthday is coming up. She only wants this gown. I promised I'd get it for her."

Charlotte twirled in the Valentino, smug and sweet.

"Ophelia, isn't it bad luck to keep a dead woman's things?"

Marcus tried to smooth things over.

"When I propose, I'll have a custom necklace made for you at Cartier. Better than your mother's. How about that?"

Too late.

Because I'd sworn—whoever won back that necklace for me, I'd marry him.

Three days from now, I'll be Cole Montgomery's wife.

......

"Second place—Marcus Ashford. Prize: one Valentino limited-edition gown."

The crowd roared. Engines still rumbling. Tire smoke hung in the night air.

I stood behind the crowd, watching someone hand Marcus the Valentino gown. My hands went cold.

He'd actually done it. Broken his word.

The scene before the race kept replaying in my head.

Charlotte had cornered Marcus by his car at the starting line, dressed in a tight crop top and short skirt.

Her eyes were wet, pleading.

"Marcus, my birthday's in three days. Could you win me that Valentino?"

"Ophelia's the legitimate heir—she got this huge party for her twenty-first. I'm just the stepdaughter. I can't compete with her. But I want something beautiful too."

"My mom's just her father's mistress. Everyone looks down on us. But if I wear a beautiful gown won by you, people will finally respect me."

"I'm only asking this once. Please, Marcus."

Tears slid down her cheeks, landing on Marcus's hand as he reached to brush them away.

"Don't cry, Charlotte. I'll do it."

"But I promised Ophelia I'd win back the necklace. She said it was her mother's."

Charlotte wiped her eyes fast, smiling.

"It's fine. The other racers all know you. We can buy it back for her."

"I'll use all my savings to buy it for Ophelia."

She looked so small and careful it made Marcus ache. "Alright. I'll win you that gown."

I closed my eyes. Hands in fists.

I'd heard them talking before the race but couldn't stop it.

I'd held onto hope.

Marcus and I grew up together. Our families had a verbal agreement about marriage.

Three days from now, the Ashford Family were supposed to come propose.

I thought—being his fiancée—he'd do this one thing for me.

I was wrong.

He threw the race to Cole Montgomery for Charlotte's gown.

"Oh no, Ophelia. Marcus lost. Cole Montgomery got your necklace."

"Wasn't that your mom's? What are you going to do? Cole hates Marcus—he'll never sell it back."

So she knew.

She'd suggested buying it back, already knowing Cole would refuse.

I looked at her. "Charlotte, does Marcus know how vicious you are?"

Her face changed. Before she could speak, Marcus walked up with people carrying the gown.

Charlotte threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Marcus."