LOGINA soft sigh escaped her lips as exhaustion washed over her like a wave after being stuck in traffic for almost thirty minutes. If her destination hadn't been more important, she would have turned around and headed back to the hospital, but she had intentionally cleared her afternoon schedule for this event. It was held only once a year, and no one would miss such an exquisite occasion for anything.Air flowed through the car window, and the breeze brushed over her face like a gentle touch. Somehow, it eased her mind as she relaxed her shoulders, gripping the steering wheel with her gaze fixed on the lines of cars ahead.Suddenly, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out to check a notification—a message from an unknown number.“WHERE ARE YOU?”She stared at her phone, reading the message repeatedly, trying to figure out who the sender could be. It definitely wasn’t Eric. She distinctly remembered saving all his contacts. Another message arrived three minutes later. “I’LL BE WAITING FOR YOU
She knew exactly which hand to take, yet she held her ground, arms at her sides, unwavering as she locked eyes with the man before her, a ruthless businessman who had just declared her his wife moments ago and was ready to destroy her if she dared to defy him again, alongside the man she had loved with all her heart.Serena felt the weight of the universe on her shoulders, tears threatening to fall—not from nerves, but from the rage boiling within her. However, she refused to let it consume her.Every gaze in the room was fixated on her, and she could almost hear the unspoken thoughts behind each piercing stare.“Don’t overthink it, Serena. He's not going to do anything,” Eric assured her, extending a hand toward her.His words felt cruel. Nobody needed to remind her of the lengths a man like Henley MacDonald might go. As she lifted her hand, her eyes remained locked onto his face, studying the devious smile that adorned it. Without hesitation, she placed her hand in Henley’s right ha
“What the hell!” He shrieked, his face contorting in a twisted mask of pain. His countenance recoiled in horror. “It hurts,”People gasped and murmured mingling with the young man's anguished wails. “What’s going on?”Serena whipped her gaze to meet his vicious face. ”Henley,” she called softly.If he wasn't the man who avoided her gaze like she was a plague earlier, now he was angry because of her—the fearsome expression on his face seemed vehement.“I told you your hand was in the wrong place,” he said, his voice laced with fury as he applied more pressure to the hand he was crushing. The young man looked around for help since it appeared that Henley wasn't ready to let go until he snapped his hand from the wrist.No one could get closer, they were anxious to meddle. She sensed people’s terror and it hit her that if she didn't do anything, she'd be blamed for creating the scene.“Please let him go,” “Why?” “Because this is none of your business. You have no right to meddle, Mr. Ma
“Good work today, Doctor,” Eric said, tossing the latex surgical gloves into the trash.After washing her hands, she dried them while glancing at her reflection in the mirror. “My team couldn't have completed a flawless operation without you. I'm happy we were able to save the patient.”His eyes scrutinized the washroom. There was another doctor present, and it seemed he had something important to share with her. She noticed how Eric's eyes constantly darted in the other doctor's direction. After washing up, the young doctor exited the general washroom.“Are you free tonight, Serena?” She narrowed her eyes at him, her curiosity piqued. “I’ve made plans with Claire. Why?”His expression fell with disappointment. He ran his fingers through his dark, silky hair, staring intently at her. “There’s a party I need to attend tonight, and I want you to be my date.”“Am I your last option?” She stepped aside.“You’re my only option. As my woman, I can't think of anyone else. What do you say?
Serena blinked rapidly, the weight of the chaos unfolding around her settling heavily in her chest. At that moment, it seemed like no one had heard her desperate yell.Leaning against the wall, she observed the fray without stepping in. How could she, when two powerful men were locked in a brutal fight? She knew she wasn’t strong enough to protect Brett, nor could she possibly stop Henley from pummeling his brother after discovering Brett’s betrayal.“I told you I’d ensure you don’t get that position you’ve been after. It doesn’t matter if I’m an illegitimate son; I deserve that spot. McDonald's is mine by right, too.”“Ridiculous! You’re just a son of a—!”Henley’s self-control shattered. He unleashed another punch at Brett with precision, gripping him by the collar to bring him up close, rage burning fiercely in his eyes as he coiled his hand into a fist again.“Henley, he’s bleeding. You’ll kill him.” The instinct to protect Brett surged within her, and she stepped forward, graspin
The unfamiliar voices resonated in her ears as she kept her eyes tightly shut, trying to piece together her surroundings. Thoughts raced through her mind, her brain processing the situation with urgency. The bed was impossibly soft, and the duvet felt like fur against her skin—far different from what she was used to. A sweet, unfamiliar scent filled the room, captivating yet confusing. She couldn't recall changing her perfume recently, but the aroma was so strong, it left her questioning where she might be. “Is she going to be okay?” Henley asked the doctor, his tone edged with curiosity.“Yes, Mr. MacDonald. Your wife will be all right. Just ensure she eats and takes her medicine when she wakes. She needs plenty of rest.” The doctor replied gently.Henley's irritation was palpable. “That’s none of my concern right now. I just need her to be awake—eating or not, I’m not her babysitter.” He settled into a stool close to the bed where Serena lay.The doctor gulped, sweat beading on his







