CHAPTER 1

"So, he died, huh?" Manda Rider remarked, sliding out of the treadmill and plopped on the green worn sofa in exhaustion.

"Sorry. What did you say?" Dr. Sands looked up from the newspaper, Apple Point Times. The woman was leaning against the medicine cabinet on one shoulder.

"That." Manda pointed to the headline: MILLIONAIRE HASBROUGH DIES.

Dr. Sands turned to the front page to glance through the article. "Died of heart attack last night. The poor guy. He was only fifty-five. His funeral is a week from now," she reported.

James Hasbrough was the local millionaire in Apple Point, but that wasn't the only reputation he was known for. His company, Strom-Hasbrough Enterprise, which he had inherited from his father, and co-owned with his partner, Mr. Strom, was one of the outstanding import-export companies in New York City. Besides that, Mr. Hasbrough had brought development in Apple Point by donating money to hospitals, and funding the commercial and education sectors.

"Who's going to replace him at Strom-Hasbrough? Don't tell me it's the son, Roy. Oh, wait... I think Roy already did."

Dr. Sands nodded. "He replaced his father six months ago. Can you imagine? He's almost thirty, and he's going to inherit all that money."

Manda shook her head. Before Roy Hasbrough had left Apple Point to move to New York City, he had been known as a womanizer, and from the media that she had heard lately, he still retained the same reputation. She couldn't keep track how often he changed girlfriends each week. Now that he would inherit that money, she didn't think she wanted to know what he would do with it.

"So, what else is new?"

"The mayor will be holding a charity dinner in two weeks. How's that for a surprise?" Dr. Sands folded the newspaper and placed it down on her desk.

Manda snorted. Ellis Summers, the mayor of Apple Point, had been the town mayor for almost a year. It had been a great choice at first. However, there had been rumors that she had been receiving financial help from an underworld group. Manda wasn't sure if it was true, and she knew that she shouldn't believe these rumors, but as of late, there had been reports of infamous crime lords being seen in town, and the authorities had done nothing to investigate it. It made her wonder if there was an element of truth in those rumors.

"Okay, Manda. Looks like you're ready to go. In no time, you won't be needing that cane anymore," Dr. Sands told her, examining Manda's medical chart on a clipboard. "So, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Right." Manda exhaled long and slow, relieved that her physical therapy session had ended. The exercise had been a killer, and she was more than happy to be getting rid of her cane soon. Her right leg was injured from a shooting incident not too long ago while she was confronting a criminal. She had been stuck with a wheelchair for a few weeks, and at the same time she had to go through a physical therapy to improve her leg muscles.

She hobbled down the hallway of the hospital, and immediately caught sight of a familiar tall figure, leaning against the nurse counter. He turned and saw her, and smiled. She smiled back. Her good friend, Michael Mackenzie, had been helping her a lot since her leg was injured. He fetched her in his Land Rover whenever she needed to go somewhere. She hated to burden him like this, and had voiced out her concern, but he had waved it off and told her that he didn't mind.

"How did the therapy go this time?" he asked when she reached him.

"I won't be needing this cane soon," she replied in happiness.

"That's good news." He nodded. "Do you want to visit your father?"

Manda grew grim at the thought of her father, who was still lying in coma in the hospital. There had been no change in his condition at all since he had been admitted here. Blake Rider, who was an FBI agent, had been kidnapped on his last case, and Thorn, who also happened to be Michael's enemy, had tortured her father to extract information out of him. Manda, too, had been taken captive and was locked in the same place as her father's.

It was during that moment she had spent her time with her father, trying to keep him alive. It was also the time she had found out a shocking revelation from her father. She had a brother. An older brother that she never had met and known. His name was Logan. She knew she would never meet him again. Her brother had been murdered by a serial killer. Logan was only five years old, while Manda was only one when it had happened; she was too young to remember anything. The thought that she had a brother was too dumbfounding. It felt as if she was thrown into some form of alternate universe one way or the other, unable to differentiate if it was a reality or a dream.

"I've visited my dad during the therapy," she told Michael, recalling his question earlier.

"Still no change?"

She shook her head. "I don't know how long he's going to be like this, or if - if he'll..."

"He'll make it, Manda," he told her gently, patting her shoulder comfortingly.

She gave a small smile. "I hope so. It's just... I don't want to get my hopes too high, you know."

"I know. Don't dwell too much on it. Come on, I'm sending you back home," he told her.

They walked toward the exit, and just as they were about to head to the parking garage, Manda stopped her tracks. Michael, noticing that she wasn't following him, stopped and turned around.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, looking concerned.

She shook her head. "Nothing. I... I don't feel like going home. Can we go somewhere else? I hate to be cooped up all alone in the house."

"Manda, you'll get rid of that cane any day by now. Besides, it's summer. Classes won't start in another three months. There'll be plenty of time for you to go out. But right now, you need to rest."

Manda frowned. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate his concern, but sometimes he tended to be too protective of her that she felt her movement became constricted.

"No, I've already planned to find a summer job after I get rid of this cane. You know I need to find my own cash now that my dad can't support me anymore. And no, I don't need your money," she said when she noticed he was about to speak up his opinion. They had been through this argument countless times before, and she felt they were running in circles.

He finally let out a resigned sigh. "I'm sorry. I don't want you getting hurt again. But you're right, let's go somewhere else." A playful smile crept across his face as he reached out and tucked a strand of her long hair behind her ear.

"What do you have in mind?" she asked, feeling her cheeks grew warm where his fingers brushed lightly against her skin. She glanced up into his piercing blue eyes, noticing a mischievous glint in them. "Don't you dare suggest some inappropriate places!"

He looked amused. "Come now. Do you think I'm that low to think up something like that?"

"I know you, Mackenzie. Sometimes you have such a one-track mind."

"We've been friends for almost a year. There's still a lot about me you don't know, yet."

Her eyes narrowed. "Such as?"

He gave an enigmatic smile. "If I tell you, it wouldn't be appropriate."

"Figures." Manda grumbled some unintelligible words, and brushed past him to the front passenger side of his Land Rover.

Michael was already inside the driver's seat while Manda struggled to get in with her cane. It had been her choice not to let him help her getting into his Land Rover. She hated to appear weak and dependent in front of him. He turned on the ignition and waited patiently for her to climb inside. When she finally slammed the door close, he pulled out of the parking space.

Michael took a route that led out of Apple Point toward Greenwood, his hometown.

"You're not taking us back to the university, are you?" She scowled at him. She didn't want to see the same old campus. She needed a change of scenery.

"Why would I do that?" He grinned at her before turning back to the road.

She folded her arms. "Okay, if it isn't the university, then you'll probably taking me to Mackenzie's mansion. I've already told you I'm not stepping there anymore."

She grimaced inwardly at the recollection of meeting Michael's father, who had forbid her from stepping into his home, and seeing Michael. She wasn't sure why Mr. Mackenzie seemed to have a grudge against her, but Manda had a vague idea that it had to do with her social status. That was the difference between Michael and her. Normally, she would avoid the upper class society. They were snotty, and self-aggrandizing. But Michael... well, he was different. When she first met him, she had actually stamped his character the same as the rest of his clan. Somehow he was peeved by it, and told her not to make assumptions based on appearance, but she was so used to it that it was hard to shed off her bad habit.

She glanced at him; he was speaking to her about something. She couldn't believe they had been friends for almost a year. Her fingers instinctively traced the silver bracelet around her other wrist; Michael had given it as a gift on her nineteenth birthday. She thumbed the inscription on it. Friends forever. She hoped it was true. To find a real friend was difficult for her. Ever since her best friend, whom she had known since they were kids, had betrayed her, she was careful not to give her trust to anyone.

The sudden jolt from the Land Rover brought her back down to earth.

"What was that?" she asked. Her stomach knotted in alarm.

"We just ran over a bump, that's all."

"Oh." And then she noticed her surroundings. Deep green pines. They were now driving through a small road, away from the town. "Where are we going?"

"Didn't you hear what I said a few minutes ago?" His attractive dark brows lifted at her.

Her cheeks flamed in embarrassment. "I guess not."

"That must have been some pretty heavy duty stuff on your mind," he remarked, turning back to the road.

"It's nothing really. So, where are we going?"

"You'll see," he replied mysteriously.

The road now went through a valley between two rolling hills. Ahead of them, looming darkly like a giant, was Hunter Mountain, one of the tallest peaks in this county.

Then she gave Michael a worried look. "You're not taking us mountain-climbing, are you? Because if you do, I want to let you know that I hate heights."

"Don't worry. I'm taking you to some place a little more down-to-earth."

"Very funny," she muttered, rolling her eyes at his pun.

Michael took a left turn toward an unpaved road. Tall grass lined along the small path as the vehicle swayed from side to side.

"Are you sure you know where you're going?" she asked him, clutching tight against the dashboard.

"I've been here before. There's a lakeside restaurant, and a camping ground not too far from the lake, but we are not going there. How about we make a plan to go fishing tomorrow?" He turned the landrover to a green clearing, before rolling to a stop. He turned off the ignition.

"Sounds good. My dad used to take me and my mom fishing on my birthday," she told him, suddenly feeling wistful. "After Mom died, he stopped doing that."

He patted her hand, before giving it a reassurance squeeze. "I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe your mom's death is still painful for him. It's very hard to let go of someone you love if she's being taken from you so suddenly."

Manda gave him a curious look, noticing a change of tone in his voice. She didn't have a chance to ask him what he meant when he had climbed out of the vehicle. She followed suit, steadying herself with the cane before she closed the door behind her. A soft breeze blew her way, rustling the tall grass and leaves in the trees. The sound of singing birds added to the serene atmosphere.

Michael walked around his jeep and came toward her. The wind had turned his wavy hair into a mass of untamed mane, but then, his hair had always been unruly, curling around the collar, and sticking out in every direction. She had to admit, she liked his hair this way. Despite the midday sun, his hair remained dark, like the color of rich bitter chocolate. And speaking of chocolate... Her stomach gave a growl. Oh, how she longed for a box of chocolate right now.

"Are you ready for a walk?" he asked, hooking an arm through hers.

She nodded.

One her left side was a stretch of land, thickly sprinkled with groves, and spreading gracefully into wide grassy depression before dissolving at the horizon into lines of lush green woods. She took a deep blissful breath.

"It's a beautiful place," she remarked.

"I know," he agreed, as he led her to another narrow path through the tall grass on her right. "It's quite hilly around here, so watch your step. The lake is just down this hill."

From the top, she could see a couple of trailers parked just opposite of the lake. The summer sun beamed down, casting glittering diamonds across the surface of the blue water. Michael guided her down the gentle slope. Placing her cane on the earth, Manda gingerly used her uninjured leg for anchorage before moving down.

"The slope is a bit steep from here," he announced. He was standing just a few feet in front of her. "I'll help you, if you find it difficult."

"I can manage," she told him.

"Okay." He shrugged, and walked down the steep slope easily. He looked up at her, and waited.

The slope didn't look too hard, but she wished he looked the other way. It was a little unnerving the way he stared at her. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.

"Stop looking at me like that!"

His brows lifted, between surprise and amusement. "Like what?" Even from this distance, his blue eyes were striking against his sun-bronzed skin.

She mumbled something that she couldn't even comprehend. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to ignore him. She stood before the slope and stared down, suddenly having second thoughts. Her leg felt unsteady as she tried to get a foothold, and her injured leg stung slightly from the movement.

"Do you need help?" he asked, obviously noticing her difficulty.

"No!"

"Manda..."

"I said no."

Manda took another step and another, carefully placing firm footholds against the earth. Just a few more steps... It took her another few minutes, and when she finally reached the flat earth, she almost jumped with joy. She headed toward him, failing to notice an outcropping rock, until it was too late. Her foot caught against it, sending her arms flailing for something to hold. Just when she already imagined herself falling flat on her face, strong arms caught her around the waist, gathering her up against a warm solid body.

"Oh, my. T-Thanks," she told him, too conscious by his proximity to overcome her embarrassment. "You can let go of me now."

He feigned a hurt look on his face. "Is it so wrong to hold you like this?" he asked, deliberately putting on his Irish brogue. His arms tightened around her.

"Michael!" Her face grew warmer. She tried to push him away, but he stayed firm. "Someone might see us."

His blue eyes gleamed mischievously. "Oh? So, you prefer if I do this privately?"

"Yes - I mean, no!" She was appalled by her blunder, feeling her face turned a shade darker. "You're trying to twist the words! You sneak. I'll get you for that!"

"With what? Your karate moves?" he teased.

"Oh, you'll get it, don't you worry. Come on, Michael. Let's start walking. It's going to be lunch time soon."

"All right."

He released her, and Manda found herself strangely disappointed when he complied. Nonetheless, her mood brightened up when he held her hand and soon, they were strolling beside the lake in peaceful silence. Sometimes, she couldn't understand why she felt comfortable being with him one minute, and cautious the next. It's not as if he's going to do something harmful to you, she chided herself. Even if he's got a past. That reminded her of something she needed to talk to him about.

"By the way, I've got news for you, Mackenzie," she spoke up. "From Uncle Connor."

His face grew pensive. "Has he read my report? What did he say?"

"He's coming over this Friday, and wants to meet you. He's prepared to file a case for you."

"That's great. I'll be there on Friday."

Manda's uncle, Connor Rider, was an attorney, and he had agreed to represent Michael to seal off his juvenile record. Her uncle had told her it wouldn't be easy to seal off a record; it also depended on the crime Michael had been charged with. Manda couldn't help feeling sorry for Michael to be framed for a murder he didn't commit. Michael's father, who also was an attorney, had treated Michael like a plague since then. She couldn't imagine how Michael must have felt when his father refused to acknowledge his presence.

"It'll be all right, Michael," she assured him, giving his hand a squeeze.

He stopped walking and turned to give her a hug. "Thanks," he murmured into her hair.

"Don't thank me till it's over," she replied, taken surprise by his actions.

"I realize that, but I can't help it." He surprised her again by planting a kiss on her cheek.

She could feel her face flushed.

"So, this is what my fiancé does when I'm not around - by behaving amorously with another woman?"

Manda and Michael sprang apart, turning toward the newcomer. A vaguely familiar girl with long red hair was standing a few feet away from them, arms crossed.

"Angela," Michael stated flatly.