I thought my life was finally turning around. Hope was just within my reach. But when my dad's life hung in the balance, fate dragged me back to the edge. To save the person I love the most, I agreed to marry my cold-hearted, arrogant boss-a man who made one thing painfully clear: this is just a contract. There's no room for love. After a childhood filled with the pain and loss of my mom, my dad was my anchor, I couldn't afford to lose him. So I entered into a loveless marriage, bound to a man who buried his pain beneath a hardened shell. But as the days passed, I saw glimpses of his loneliness, his hidden vulnerability. Against my will, I started to fall for him, breaking the one rule he'd made: Never fall in love. Now, I face an impossible choice. If I give in to these forbidden feelings, I risk not only my heart but everything—my dad, my freedom, and the fragile connection we've begun to build. Can love survive when breaking the rules could shatter us both?
View MoreRoselyn Moore POV
I ran into the hospital, my heart racing with fear and worry. The call I’d received an hour ago felt like a bad dream I couldn’t escape. I stumbled to the registration desk, struggling to catch my breath.
“I got a call that my dad has been admitted here,” I said, my voice shaking with anxiety.
The nurse looked at me kindly. “His name?” she asked, already typing on her computer.
“Kelvin Moore,” I replied, my voice trembling as I tried to calm my racing heart.
“He's in the ICU, room 15. Please take the elevator or stairs to the second floor and turn right." she said, and a cold shiver ran down my spine at the word 'ICU'.
I didn't have the patience to wait for the elevator, so I raced up the stairs, driven by a growing sense of anxiousness, praying he was alright and everything was going to be fine with him.
The hospital’s sterile corridors felt like they stretched on forever, my footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. The smell of antiseptic was overpowering, and my stomach churned with unease.
When I finally reached the ICU, I froze, gazing through the glass at a sight that made my heart skip a beat. My dad lay lifelessly on the bed, surrounded by tubes and wires, the steady beeping of the monitor the only indication that he was still breathing.
“Hi, are you the patient's family?" A gentle voice spoke beside me, and I turned to see a nurse staring at me.
"Yes, I'm his daughter.” I whispered, my voice cracking as my eyes welled up with unshed tears. A lump forming in my throat as I tried to stay composed.
“Please come with me to meet the doctor assigned to your father's case." The nurse said, her voice soft and sympathetic, leading me down the hall.
My legs felt heavy as I walked, each step heavier than the last. My hands were quivering as I trailed behind her, my heart pounding with fear of what news I was about to receive concerning my dad.
We stopped in front of a door. The nurse knocked softly, entering the room and I follow suit.
Inside the office, a middle-aged man in a white coat looked up from a file.
“Dr. Richard, the family of patient 15 is here to see you” the nurse announced before existing the room.
"Good afternoon, I’m Dr. Richard, you must be Miss Moore?“ I nod. "Please, have a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.
I sat down slowly, my heart in my throat. I looked at him with desperation, hoping for some assurance that my dad was going to be fine.
The doctor scanned through a file before meeting my gaze, with a grave expression.
"Honestly, Miss Moore, things are not looking good here." His words felt like a stab in my heart, leaving me numb.
"What…do you mean doctor?" I asked, my voice shaking at the possibility of losing my dad.
“Your father’s condition is extremely critical," he began, his voice low and serious.
"The accident caused seven broken ribs and a head injury. Although the head injury wasn’t severe, there’s still uncertainty about the extent of the damage. We’ve stabilized him for now, but there’s a significant chance he could slip into a coma; the next 72 hours are crucial."
My breath hitched as if I'd been punched in the gut by his words. 'Seven broken rips and coma'. The room spun as my mind kept repeating the words like a broken track record. I felt breathless as the thought of losing my dad was too much to bear. He was my anchor, the one person who had always been there for me.
“Miss Moore..." The doctor called out, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"We’re doing everything we can. I assure you, we’ll monitor him closely," he said with a comforting smile.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice sounding shallow to my own ears.
He nodded. "Please head down to the admissions department to finalize the paperwork."
I left the doctor's office in a daze, his words echoing in my mind. My dad, my hero, was fighting for his life, and there was nothing I could do.
My heart aches even at the thought of losing him. I can't imagine my life without him by my side, he has been my anchor even since mom died from cancer.
At the admissions department, I stood at the counter, clutching the clipboard with my dad’s forms. My hands shaky as I filled in the information, the fluorescent lights overhead casting an unforgiving sight. I couldn't get the image of my dad lying so helplessly in that bed from my mind.
The clerk, a woman with a kind smile, reviewed the forms on her computer. "Your father's insurance covers most of the initial costs, but there's still a required deposit for his immediate care." She said, her voice professional yet kind.
“How much?“ I whispered my voice soft but yet audible.
She glanced at the screen. "The total cost is $300,000. We’ll need a $50,000 deposit to start."
The clipboard almost slipped from my fingers as I heard the staggering amount of money needed for the deposit. I looked at her, my eyes widening in shock and my mind reeling. "Fifty thousand..." The words barely made it out of my lips. Where on earth was I supposed to get such an amount of money?
The clerk's face softened. "We can discuss payment plans, but time is critical. The sooner we receive the deposit, the sooner we can proceed with the necessary treatment."
I felt the unshed tears stream down my face, I can't afford to lose my dad. But how was I supposed to pay such an enormous amount?
I left the hospital feeling mentally drained, my surroundings felt distant around me. I reeled to the side, hailing a cab, my mind numb as I told the driver my office address.
How am I going to raise $50,000 in such a short time? I barely had $7,000 in my account, nowhere near what I needed. As the car sped through the busy streets, my heart thud in my chest and tears continue to stream down my face. The driver cast concerned glances my way, but I didn't care; I was too consumed by my desperate mental calculations. I could try selling some of my designs, but I doubted they'd fetch enough to cover the amount.
The cab stopped abruptly in front of Harrison Clothing Collection, my thoughts scattered and my head throbbing with the impossibility of my situation. I got out of the cab and approached the sleek glass doors, and a wave of fear washed over me.
I hadn’t notified anyone before rushing out, and my boss would undoubtedly be furious. I was dreading the confrontation I was sure to have with my boss, Mr. Harrison, who wasn't known for his kindness. I could already imagine his cold, disapproving gaze as I explained my situation.
I made my way into the building, silently praying that he wasn't in his office, maybe out for a meeting or lunch. As I quietly approached my desk, a cold voice stopped me on my track.
"And where do you think you’re coming from?" His chilly tone made me shudder.
Liam's POVI raced through red lights, my heart pounding like a drum, desperate to reach the location Detective Chase had given me. Every second felt like an eternity, my mind racing with possibilities. But when I finally arrived, breathless and on edge, I was hit with the news I least wanted to hear—she had already checked out of the hotel. The weight of disappointment settled over me like a heavy fog. How could I have missed her? Frustrated, I drove straight home, the tension in my chest tightening with every passing mile. I didn’t have the strength or patience to deal with paperwork today; my mind was too clouded with unanswered questions and unresolved feelings. Maria greeted me at the door, mentioning that Roselyn was already home and settling in. I made my way to my room, hoping for a moment of solitude, but froze in the doorway at the sight before me. Roselyn—holding the picture frame of Patricia and me. The one I had deliberately hidden away in my desk drawer, far from pryin
Roselyn's POVThose dark, angry eyes bore into me like daggers, and all I wanted was for the ground to open up and swallow me whole. Not only did I invade his privacy by digging through his things, but I had to break it too. From the way he’s staring at the shattered piece, I can tell it was important—important enough that I’m about to face the consequences. My heart pounds as I brace myself, wondering just how bad the fallout will be."I'm so sorry! I... I didn't mean to drop it," I stammer, scrambling for words. But one look at his face tells me my apology won’t help me now.His eyes narrow, darkening as he stares at the broken pieces. His nostrils flare, and his jaw clenches tight.“You didn’t mean to drop it?” His voice was a low, dangerous growl that sent a chill down my spine. “Then tell me—why was it even in your hands?”I swallowed hard, bracing myself for the storm I knew was coming.“What gave you the right to go through my things?” he roared, stepping closer. Each word lash
Liam's POVAfter dropping Roselyn off at her house, I instructed Mr. James to drive to the office as fast as possible. Thankfully, with minimal traffic, we made it there in just fifteen minutes. I’d asked Jeffery if Patricia had left her contact information, but he said she hadn’t. She’d left as soon as she realized I wasn’t there, and that was it—no message, no reason for her visit. Frustration boiled over, and without a second thought, I booked a flight back to New York, wasting no time. As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, I found Jeffery waiting for me, looking a bit tense. "Are you absolutely certain it was her, Jeffery? Because if this turns out to be some twisted joke, you might want to start packing up your desk."Jeffery's eyes widened, and he nodded frantically. "I swear, sir, it was her. She’s look more mature, but I’d never forget that face." His voice held a firm certainty, leaving no room for doubt.I sighed, my heart pounding against my chest, my mind spiraling
Roselyn's POVI sighed, already feeling the emptiness of leaving my comfort zone. I bet if anyone saw me, they’d think I was gearing up for combat, not just stepping out of my comfort zone.Two hours ticked by in silence, each passing moment amplifying my anxiety as my mind racing with thoughts of how my life was about to drastically change, now that I'd be living with the one person I desperately wanted to be far away from. Spending nine hours a day with him at the office was already unbearable, and now I’d be sharing every second with him in the same space. But this was what I signed up for, and there was no going back, so I had no choice but to put on my big-girl pants and tough it out for a year. Hopefully, I could tolerate him and just get this over with.My eyes drift out the window as we glided through a tall, ornate gate of wrought iron and gold leaf, which swung open to reveal a winding driveway lined with towering oak and pine trees. The mansion stood majestically on a sprawl
Roselyn’s POVThe warm, golden light cast a gentle glow on my face as I breathed in the hazy, smoggy air of New York.Finally, home sweet home.I was stunned when Liam knocked on my door last night and told me to pack my things, saying we’d be leaving for the airport first thing in the morning. Though I was sad I didn’t get to explore Dubai, I was more than happy to be back home. I missed Sophie, and most of all, I missed my dad. I’ll definitely visit him one of these days. As we stood outside the airport, a sleek, matte gray Lamborghini Urus pulled up, sleek and imposing. I gawked as a middle-aged man with a dignified air stepped out of the driver’s seat, bowing slightly. “Good morning, Mr. Harrison. Good morning, Mrs. Harrison. Welcome back.”My jaw dropped as Liam strode past me toward the car without missing a beat. Damn. I knew he was rich, but this? This was something else.Inside the car, I couldn’t help but marvel at the luxurious leather seats and the hum of the engine as we
Liam POVAs I reflected on my wedding day, my grandfather's scornful words resonated in my mind. "I must say, Liam, I'm surprised, you're finally listening to your old man. I thought you would have put up a fight, like you always do." he'd said with a sneer during the receptionMy grandfather has always taken great interest in frustrating me and getting under my skin. Nothing I do seems to impress him, and he never misses an opportunity to remind me of how deeply I disappoint him. If it weren't for his unreasonable demand that I should get married before he transfers the company to me, I wouldn't be in this predicament.I took a sip from my glass of brandy as the horrible memories of the night he forced me into getting married flooded back, and my body tensed with frustration. Just the thought of it made my blood boil, and I clenched the glass tightly as the events replayed like a broken record in my mind. ___________________flashback___________________Get married? He can't be seriou
Roselyn POVI squinted my eyes as the sun's blinding light assaulted my vision as I stepped out of the jet and took in my surroundings. “We are in Dubai,” Liam said, striding past me towards a shiny black Audi A8.“Are you coming, or you're planning on standing there all day?“ He shouted over his shoulder, making me jolt. I scurried towards him.Two hefty-looking bodyguards bowed to him, and Liam nodded in response. He stepped into the car, and I followed suit. The ride was silent and awkward. Liam's attention was fixed on his phone, his fingers swiftly moving across the screen as he typed rapidly. The bulky men's intimidating presence made the air feel thick and oppressive, their silence more unsettling than any words.I rolled down the window, breathing in the city's fresh air as I drank in the moving scenery before me. The city awakens under the golden desert sun. Its skyscrapers, tall enough to pierce the sky, had their reflective glass facades glinting. The streets bustle, fil
Roselyn POVWe walked out of the church with the crowd throwing flower petals, applauding us. I accepted their congratulations with a faux smile tugging on my face, feeling nothing but a shell of myself.The reception was being held at the Golden Royals, one of Mr. Harrison's notable investments. The hall was decorated in creamy white and gold accents with dimmable chandeliers creating an intimate ambiance, the fresh flower arrangement adorning the tables. A spacious dance floor for guests to enjoy, its breathtaking elegance and luxury exude refinement and sophistication. The hall was filled, properly hosting close to 200 plus guests, most I could recognize were Mr. Harrison's family, colleagues from the office, and some business associates of the company. Mr. Harrison mingled with the guests, I sat uncomfortably fidgeting in my seat, an awkward smile forming on my lips as I watched four of my colleagues from the office approaching.“Omg, congratulations, Rose. We never knew you a
Roselyn POVIt was crazy how the Harrisons had managed to organize an entire wedding in just two weeks. When Mr. Harrison had informed me we were getting married in a fortnight, my jaw had nearly hit the floor. I was expecting months of planning, not a date set practically overnight. He’d told me not to worry about the preparation that it would be taken care of. All I had to do was show up on the wedding day. I felt like I was a guest at my own wedding. I had always wanted to plan my own wedding... pick my own wedding dress, pick my own food, pick my own cake, pick the venue, and plan everything from scratch, but I guess I won't get the chance to do all that.I tried to convince myself that it was better this way, easier even. Less pressure, less stress. I didn’t have to worry about anything; just walk down the aisle and say the words. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the sense of loss that clung to me like a shadow. It wasn’t just about the wedding itself; it was abou
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