What just happened

Kate POV

“Good morning, Mrs. Annie. Did you sleep well?”

I wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her arm while giving her my usual smile. The old woman watched me like I was her favorite person in the world.

“Oh Kate,” she said warmly, “you already know I always feel better when you are the one taking care of me.”

I laughed softly while checking the monitor. “You say that every time.”

“Because it’s true.” She pointed a finger at me. “You’re the only on here who doesn’t rush me like I’m wasting their time.”

“Well,” I said, scribbing down her vitals on the clipboard, “I can’t rush you. You’re my favorite patent.”

Her smile widened proudly.

“See? I knew it.”

I finished writing and placed the clipboard back at the foot of her bed.

“Everything looks good today. Your vitals are stable.”

She sighed dramatically. “Does that mean you’re leaving already?”

“My shift is almost over,” I admitted.

“Such a shame,” she teased. “The hospital should double your salary so you can stay longer.”

I laughed.

“I hope the doctors agrees with you.”

She chuckled as I headed toward the door.

Moments like this always made my job easier.

Being a medical intern wasn’t glamorous. The pay was barely enough, the hours were long, and half the time I felt like a walking zombie.

But helping people like Mrs. Annie reminded me why I chose this career in the first place. 

When I got back to my desk, I stared at the small pile of patient files waiting for me.

“Just finish these and go home,” I muttered to myself while sitting down.

“Heyyy! Sis!”

I froze.

That voice.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

Standing at the entrance of my office like he owned the place was my younger brother.

“Noah,” I sighed.

He grinned and waved dramatically.

“Are you going to keep shouting my name like a crazy person.” I asked, “or are you going to come inside?”

He walked in and dropped into the chair across from me.

“You look stressed,” he said, studying my face.

“I am stressed.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate,” he replied cheerfully.

I have him a look.

“You’re supposed to comfort me.

“I am comforting you,” he said proudly. “With my presence.”

I shook my head and continued writing.

“So why are you here?”

He leaned forward like he had something important to say.

“Don’t tell me you forgot.”

“Forgot what?”

“Today is Lila’s wedding.”

I groaned instantly. “Oh God.”

Noah burst out laughing.

“What?” he asked. “You’re not excited?”

“Excited?” I repeated. “For Lila?”

My brother shrugged.

“I mean… she did marry rich.”

“That’s exactly the problem,” I muttered.

Noah leaned back in his chair.

“You know she’s been bragging nonstop, right?”

“Oh trust me, I know.”

I imitated Lila’s voice.

“Kate, my husband can buy the entire city. Kate, your degree still hasn’t found you a rich man.”

Noah stared at me for a second before bursting into laughter.

“That’s literally how she sounds!”

“I know.”

I sighed.

“At least after today I won’t have to hear it anymore.”

We were still laughing when someone knocked on the door.

I looked up.

Two men stood outside my office.

Both of them were wearing dark uniforms.

My smile faded.

“Good afternoon,” I said politely. “How can I help you?”

One of them stepped forward and flashed a badge.

Police.

My stomach tightened immediately.

“We’re looking for a Noah Hayes.”

The room went silent.

Slowly, I turned to my brother.

Noah frowned.

“That’s me,” he said.

The second officer stepped forward.

“Mr. Hayes, you need to come with us.”

“What?” Noah stood up. “Why?”

The officer’s voice remained calm.

“You are under arrest for corporate embezzlement connected to Wolf Corporation.”

My brain went blank.

“That’s impossible,” I said quickly. “There must be a mistake.”

Noah looked just as shocked as I felt.

“I didn’t do anything,” he said.

But the officer grabbed his wrist. Click.

The sound of the handcuffs made my heart stop.

“Wait!” I rushed around the desk. “What are you doing?!”

Noah looked at me helplessly.

“Kate, I swear I don’t know what they’re talking about.”

The officers began dragging him toward the door.

“Kate!” he shouted.

My chest tightened painfully as I ran after them. “Please wait!”

But they didn’t stop.

Within seconds, they had taken my brother out of the hospital like he was some kind of criminal.

And just like that…

my normal day completely fell apart.

— — — — — —

An hour later, I sat inside a cold police station with my hands tightly clasped together.

“Please,” I said for the hundredth time, “my brother didn’t do anything.”

The officer behind the desk barely looked at me.

“You can explain that in court.”

“But he’s innocent!”

“Miss Hayes,” the officer said flatly, “you should leave.”

My eyes burned with frustration.

That’s when a calm voice spoke behind me.

“Miss Kate Hayes?”

I turned around.

A tall man in a dark suit stood there.

He looked like the type of person who never made mistakes.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“My name is Mr. Cole,” he replied politely.

“I’m a lawyer.”

My heart lifted slightly.

“A lawyer? Did Noah hire you?”

He shook his head.

“No.”

Then he said something strange.

“I’m here because my employer sent me.”

“Your employer?”

“Yes.”

He paused.

“My boss is willing to help your brother.”

Hope sparked inside my chest.

“You mean he can prove Noah is innocent?”

“Not exactly.”

My hope died immediately.

“What do you mean not exactly?”

He looked directly at me.

“My boss is willing to make this problem disappear.”

My heart started pounding.

“What does he want in return?”

The lawyer’s expression didn’t change.

“He wants you to marry him.”

I stared at him.

“Excuse me?”

“My employer needs a wife.”

I let out a short laugh.

“You’re joking.”

“I’m not.”

“You expect me to marry a complete stranger just to save my brother?”

“It’s the only offer you’ll get.”

My answer came immediately.

“No.”

The lawyer didn’t argue.

Instead he calmly handed me a card. “If you change your mind, call this number.”

I didn’t even look at it.

There was no way I would ever agree to something like that.

Never.

— — — — — —

Later that evening, I stood outside the most luxurious wedding hall I had ever seen.

Golden lights covered the entire building.

Expensive cars filled the parking lot.

Inside, music from a live orchestra floated through the air.

I barely noticed any of it.

All I could think about was Noah sitting in a jail cell.

I pushed the doors open and rushed inside.

Guests dressed in designer clothes filled the massive hall.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling.

Everything looked perfect.

Except me.

“Kate!”

My mother’s voice cut through the crowd.

She walked over quickly, clearly annoyed.

“Where have you been?” she demanded.

“I’ve been trying to call you!” I said urgently. “Mom, something happened to Noah—”

“Not now,” she interrupted sharply.

“But Mom—”

“Kate, the guests are arriving. Go help the staff with the drinks.”

I stared at her in disbelief.

“Mom, Noah has been arrested.”

She frowned.

“We’ll talk about it later.”

Then she walked away.

Just like that.

My chest felt tight.

I turned and saw my sister Lila across the room in her beautiful white wedding dress.

I rushed toward her.

“Lila, I need to talk to you.”

She barely looked at me.

“Kate, can you fix my dress? You’re wrinkling it.”

“This is important!”

She sighed dramatically.

“Don’t embarrass me Infront of the Wolf family.”

Before I could reply, the entire hall suddenly went quiet.

Everyone turned toward the entrance.

A group of powerful-looking people walked inside.

Whispers spread instantly through the crowd.

“The Wolf family…”

“The richest family in th city…”

At the center of them sat a man in a wheelchair. 

His face was cold.

Expressionless.

Dangerous.

That must be Aiden Wolf the groom.

The music stopped and tension filled the air.

The suddenly—

Lila was gone.

My mother started panicking.

“Where is she?”

People began whispering nervously.

A man from the Wolf family stepped forward.

His voice echoed through the hall.

“The bride has been changed.”

Gasps filled the room.

Slowly…

his finger pointed at me.

“You will take her place.”

And just like that—

my life changed forever.