Chapter 1
Chapter 1
When my stepsister Jade and I both got caught in an avalanche, the rescue team finally reached us.
But there was only one stretcher. Only room for one person to make it down.
My father grabbed my hand, his grip tight.
“Vivian, sweetheart, you know Jade’s always been delicate. Be a good girl and let her go first. Just wait here–the next team will be here soon p>
In my past life, I believed him. I gave Jade my chance to survive.
But then the storm picked back up. The rescue was called off. And I froze to death on that mountain.
Meanwhile, Jade inherited everything I owned.
She and my fiancé–who she’d been sleeping with behind my back all along–lived happily ever after on my fortune.
My spirit hovered above my own memorial service, and I heard my father tell the guests:
“That girl was always so difficult. At least dying to save Jade gave her life some meaning p>
When I woke up again, I was back at that exact moment–my father’s hand gripping mine on the frozen slope.
This time, I nodded through my tears and gently helped Jade onto the stretcher myself.
They want a sacrifice? Well. I’ll get them one. Just not the one they planned.
The storm was picking up fast. Within seconds, the rescue team vanished into a wall of white.
I dragged my ass through the snow, every muscle screaming in protest.
Finally, I found a slope sheltered from the wind and carved out a makeshift snow cave, cramming myself inside and curling into a ball.
Cut off from the howling wind, my body temperature slowly started climbing back up.
I fished the satellite phone out of my inner jacket pocket and powered it on.
The screen lit up, casting an eerie glow on my ghostly white face.
Full bars.
I dialed. He picked up on the first ring.
“Well, look who it is. Finally grace me with a call, your highness? Thought you were off conquering Everest without us peasants cramping your style p>
Zeke. My ride–or–die from back in my extreme sports days.
An absolute maniac who’d choose life over a paycheck any day–and who didn’t give a damn about anyone except me.
“ Zeke,” I said quietly. “I’m stuck in an avalanche zone p>
Dead silence.
Then–CRASH–a chair hitting the floor, followed by his voice exploding through the speaker.
“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?! Viv, where are you p>
“Chill.” I rattled off my coordinates, my voice flat and cold. “I’m okay for now. But I need you to pull me out p>
“ What about search and rescue?” Follow current novᴇls on.net
“They airlifted Jade out.” I might as well have been reading off a grocery list. “Dad told me to wait my turn p>
Beat.
Zeke knew exactly what kind of circus my family was.
“Wait your turn? Wait your fucking turn?! Like hell you will p>
He was losing it now.
“I checked the forecast–there’s a monster blizzard rolling in within twelve hours. They’ll ground everything. No flights, no rescues, nothing!
“He’s basically signing your death warrant p>
“Yeah,” I said flatly. “I know p>
“Sit tight, Viv. I don’t care if I have to steal a goddamn helicopter–I’m getting you off that mountain p>
Call ended.
I slumped against the icy wall and closed my eyes, rationing what little energy I had left.
Meanwhile, down in civilization? Oh, I knew what was happening.
My devoted father was probably standing in front of a news crew right now, playing the heartbroken dad forced to be brave after “losing” his belove daughter.
And my sweet, fragile stepsister?
Definitely tucked into some luxury hospital suite, soaking up five–star medical treatment while everyone fawned over her with sympathy.
Oh, and my fiancé?
Yeah. He was probably right there at her bedside, holding her delicate little hand, murmuring that none of this was her fault.
Because that’s EXACTLY how it played out last time.
Bored out of my mind, I opened the satellite phone’s browser.
The signal crawled, but it was just enough to load a few headlines.
“Heroic sister: Heiress Missing After Avalanche While Saving Stepsister”
“Sisterly Love Moves Nation: Vivian Montgomery Sacrifices Herself to Save Stepsister”
“Devastated Father Vows: ‘We Won’t Stop Searching p>
I almost laughed.
“Heroic sister.” “Sisterly love. ”
Whoever wrote this garbage deserved an award for creative fiction.
I clicked on one article. The photo made my stomach turn.
There was Dad–red–rimmed eyes, looking like death warmed over, practically collapsing into his assistant’s arms.
Jade was propped up in a hospital bed, pale as a ghost, IV in her arm.
And my darling fiancé? Perched on the edge of her bed, carefully peeling an apple for her.
What a touching tableau. Father and daughter. Star crossed lovers.
I saved the photo. Then shut the damn thing off.
Time dragged.
I wrapped myself tighter in the emergency blanket, curling into the smallest ball possible.
Even with the cave blocking the wind, the cold burrowed deep into my bones.
I lost track of how long I’d been sitting there when the satellite phone finally buzzed again.
Zeke.
“ Viv, you there? We’re in the mountain range now. Can’t land the chopper–we’re hiking up. Just hold on a little longer, okay p>
“Relax. I’m not dying yet.” I licked my cracked lips. “Do me a favor though p>
“Shoot p>
“Check flight records in and out of Manhattan over the past week. See if there’s a passenger named Julian Bradford p>
Julian Bradford. My CHARMING fiancé.
In my past life, I didn’t find out until after I was dead–he’d been screwing Jade the entire time.
This whole “arranged engagement” thing? Just a scam. The three of them plotting together to swallow up everything my mother left me.
He played the perfect fiancé to my face. Behind my back? He and Jade were inseparable.
Zeke went quiet for a second. Then I heard furious typing.
“Got it. He flew back from Paris three days ago. First class p>
Three days ago.
The day before the avalanche.
My heart dropped into my stomach.
So that’s how it is.
Couldn’t even wait, huh?
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.