Guiding Light to Rebirth

The bodyguard grabbed me and hurled me into the water.

The winter water bit me like knives. I shivered hard on contact, scrambling to get out, but he shoved my shoulder back down.

"No ring, no getting out." His voice was flat. "Want less pain? Find it fast."

I bit my lip and gave in, bobbing in the filthy water. My fingers groped through the icy mud.

Dirty water seeped up my sleeves, numbing my fingertips.

From dawn to dusk, till Ethan's parents were due back, I finally snagged the ring.

Gripping it, I dragged myself to Ethan's door and knocked.

He opened the door, his eyes dark. "I'll let it slide this time. Just stay away from Hanna."

He flipped his hand, and the ring sailed out of the window.

"Hanna doesn't like the style. I'll redesign one for her," he said.

I watched the ring I'd fought for vanish into darkness and forced a smile.

It made sense. He saw our past as baggage and naturally didn't want the ring that bore reminiscences.

...

Even though Ethan's parents never warmed to Hanna, they couldn't fight his stubbornness.

They swallowed it and threw a lavish engagement party.

Guests kept glancing my way.

"Debbie has got it rough—busts her ass finding her guy, and now he's marrying someone else."

"They were childhood sweethearts, made for each other. Everyone thought they'd tie the knot. Who saw this twist coming?"

"If I were her, I'd slap that jerk and his side piece. No way I'd show up here."

Hanna glided to the center in a high-end gown. Ethan held her hand, his eyes overflowing with tenderness.

He cleared his throat, dropping his usual chill for something polished. "Folks. Let me introduce you properly to..."

Before he could finish, the lights flickered and went out.

In the dark, chairs crashed, and screams erupted.

I backed into a corner, but someone grabbed my wrist, slapping a rag reeking of chemicals over my mouth.

The world spun. I fought hard but eventually blacked out, screams filling my ears.

Sometime later, Hanna's hushed yell cut through. "Dammit! Who told you to do it at the engagement party? I said kidnap me and pin it on Debbie. Why did you bring her too? You idiots! Even if you played it straight, you're not getting the rest of the cash. You wrecked my whole plan!"

My mind cleared, piecing it together.

It was another setup by Hanna, but this went off-script.

In the struggle, I'd felt a gun holster on one of them. These weren't her hired thugs.

Worse, the leader's voice rang familiar.