The Butlers held twenty-five percent of Wade stock. By combining the Butler and McGrath stock, the founding family could once again fend off attacks from Big Pharma. It was my father’s constant belief that a coup was in the works. He believed that the giants in the industry were picking up shares here, with another there, to swoop in and swallow up Wade.

With my family’s thirty-nine percent and the Butlers’ twenty-five, Wade would be secure.

The evening after my last bridal shower and a week before Christmas, Skylar and I were to attend a charity event at the Chicago Philharmonic. Before the performance, we drove out to our new estate, west of the city on a sprawling ten-acre plot of land—our future home.

Skylar had laid his phone on the kitchen counter before going out back to check on some last-minute construction changes. Our wedding was only two weeks away, and the house needed to be ready upon our return from our honeymoon.

When I saw my best friend’s name flash on the screen of his phone, I envisioned a planned pre-wedding surprise. I justified that she’d call Skylar; after all, we’d all known one another for years and also, she was the maid of honor in our wedding.

Opening the text message, I was without a doubt surprised.

“Oh no.” My scream echoed as the rental car lost its traction and began to spin, flinging me from the thoughts of the recent past to the here and now.

Still a ways from my destination, my life flashed before my eyes as the white ribbon appeared to be replaced by trees and then back to the ribbon. Like a child’s top, I continued around and around.

In those visions, I saw Skylar and myself as we were growing children. I recalled my desire to pursue literature and journalism, an unacceptable major for the future owner of a pharmaceutical company. Double majoring in business and literature, I squeezed in a minor in journalism from Northwestern. The academic road took me an additional semester, allowing me to complete my degree in time for the grand engagement.

The car came to a stop, bringing me back to the present.

Letting out my held breath, I laid my forehead on the steering wheel and closed my eyes. Opening them, I saw that I was no longer on the white ribbon of road. The hood of the car was mostly buried in a snowbank and from my vantage, it looked like the bumper must have stopped inches from a tall pine tree.

I reached for my cell phone. There was no signal.

Glancing into the rearview mirror, I saw my own blue eyes. “Happy holidays, Julia. You had a fiancé, a family, a company, and a brand-new home. Maybe you should have stayed.”

Swallowing, I stared out at the white surrounding me.

With each passing minute, determination surged through my veins.