Lauren sat propped up in her hospital bed, the sterile hum of machines a faint backdrop to the storm in her heart. Her body ached—broken ribs, bandaged feet, a swollen face—but the pain of Alex’s betrayal seared deeper into her nerves. The memory of Melissa, naked in his bed, smirking like she had won a game, was a wound that she knew will never heal.
Alex had chosen her half-sister, shattering every vow. She clutched the thin blanket, tears drying into resolve. I’ll make them pay.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Tom Devon, the stranger who’d found her collapsed outside Alex’s mansion, days ago, walked in.
Lauren noticed as his tailored suit and sharp jawline screamed wealth, but his eyes held a warmth that disarmed her. “You’re awake,” he said, voice low, steady. “I’m sorry for barging in but I thought I’d check on you before I head out.”
Lauren glanced at him, wary. “Why do you care? You don’t even know me.” Her tone was sharp, but exhaustion softened the edges. She turned away
