Chapter 1
After Landon Carter’s childhood sweetheart Savannah Blake caused a drunk driving accident, he begged me to go to prison for her.
“Savannah’s father once saved my life, Sierra. Can’t you just do this one thing for me? I swear, the moment you’re out, I’ll marry you.”
I nodded through my tears, but what was supposed to be a two-month sentence turned into six years.
When I tried to recant my confession, I was met with brutal beatings.
“Someone out there told us to keep you on a fucking leash. Who the hell do you think you are? Take a hard look in the mirror before you even think about laying your filthy hands on Mr. Carter!”
They beat me until my eyes were bloodshot. As I lost consciousness, the last thing I saw was the TV screen showing Landon Carter embracing his childhood sweetheart Savannah Blake at their engagement party.
My heart turned to ash. After six grueling years that felt like a lifetime, I was finally released.
But as I quietly boarded the train with my luggage, Landon Carter’s assistant appeared before me with a respectful bow.
“Miss Jameson, Mr. Carter would like to see you.”
—
I sat in the car watching the city rush past in reverse. Six years had transformed New York City beyond recognition. The car drove past a towering skyscraper with a giant billboard broadcasting the news: “NYC’s wealthiest bachelor Landon Carter purchases nine figures on a necklace for his new girlfriend as the couple enters their luxury mansion together.”
Nine figures. I counted slowly in my dulled mind.
I looked down at the beaded bracelet on my wrist that he’d bought me six years ago. Two dollars, though the cord had long since faded and frayed.
I gently untied it and tossed it out the window without a second thought..
We’d arrived at a mansion, before I knew it. And Lost in thought, I barely noticed the assistant handing me a phone.
Landon Carter’s deep, pleasant voice came through the line.
“Sierra, I’m tied up with something right now. Wait for me at the house, okay?”
I listened quietly, waiting three seconds after he finished before slowly responding with a soft “mm-hmm.”
Landon paused, seemingly puzzled by my response.
Six years had made me much quieter. I was no longer the girl who used to chatter away at him endlessly.
After he hung up, I sat in the mansion waiting. The housekeeping staff exchanged glances and whispered behind my back.
“Looks like Mr. Carter brought home another one. This one’s all bones and not even that cute.”
“I heard she just got out of prison.”
“Oh my God, what a disaster. Mr. Carter’s taste is getting weird. At least before it was actresses, models, socialites… but this one is just…”
They sighed dramatically, as if feeling sorry for Landon Carter.
I didn’t really care, but I couldn’t stop checking my watch. It had been seven hours since Landon said he’d be “a while.”
I hadn’t eaten since leaving prison, and with the air conditioning blasting, I was both cold and starving.
Finally, I asked the butler where Landon was. After just two questions, he gave me this annoyed look—like I was just one of those girls constantly throwing themselves at Landon.
“Mr. Carter is with Miss Blake right now. They’re watching fireworks on his yacht. He doesn’t have time for you.”
Savannah Blake. Her name flashed through my mind.
Six years ago, she drove drunk and seriously injured two pedestrians.
I was the one who went to prison in her place.
That’s how I went from being Sierra Jameson, the beloved daughter of the Jameson family, to a despised criminal.
