The Girl Who Claimed My Engagement

Seraphina Vance returns from Paris with a fashion degree, only for her grandfather Arthur Vance to drag her to the Sterling estate to settle a family alliance agreement. Wandering the garden, she is slapped by Nadia Thorne, who claims the pigeon's blood ruby ring on Seraphina's finger is a gift from Julian Sterling and that she is his future wife. When Seraphina messages Julian, she finds he has blocked her; his icy reply brands her a trespasser and he orders the police called, while he soothes Nadia.

Nadia demands the ring, and when Seraphina refuses, maids and bodyguards pin her down. Julian, holding Nadia tenderly, orders the ring drilled off and Seraphina tied to an old rowboat in the lake. Seraphina warns that their grandfathers are discussing the alliance, but Julian denies ever agreeing to it, and Nadia gloats that the two are soulmates.

Seraphina, trained in kickboxing, fights back but is overpowered. As Julian watches with a cruel smirk, she wonders whether he knows what he is truly doing.