LOGINChapter 22I sat at my desk, flipping through the latest supplier bids for the hotel’s lighting fixtures, when Tony’s number lit up my phone. I answered immediately.“Tony. What do you have for me?”“Confirmed,” he said, voice crisp. “Dr. Felix Vaughan is Lila Vaughan’s father. Founder and owner of Vanguard Hospital. The man’s a billionaire, Tessa. Divorced, runs half the medical real estate in the city. Records are airtight.”I leaned back in my chair, tapping my pen against the desk. “You’re absolutely sure?”“Cross-checked company filings, hospital ownership docs, and family registries myself. No gaps. Shocking coincidence for your situation, but damn useful if you play it right.”A slow smile curved my lips. “Beautiful coincidence, actually. Julian and Lila have been chasing his approval like starving dogs. Now I’m already inside his world. Anything else I should know about the family dynamics?”“Felix is protective but distant with Lila. She pushes hard for his backing on everyth
Chapter 21I leaned over the blueprints spread across my office table, pointing at the east wing layout. "This section needs better flow for guest circulation. Move the lounge here and widen the corridor by two meters. I want it done before next month’s inspection."The architect, Mr. Hale, nodded and adjusted his glasses. "Understood, Ms. Averton. The structural team can—"The door slammed open. Julian stormed in, shoulders rigid, eyes locked on me like I was the only thing in the room. He didn’t even glance at Hale."Tessa. We need to talk. Now."I straightened slowly, keeping my voice even. "I’m in a meeting, Julian. You just barged into my hotel site office without knocking. That’s rude."Hale shifted uncomfortably, gathering some papers.Julian ignored him completely. "This can’t wait. You’re coming with me.""I have a visitor," I said, gesturing to Hale. "Finish what you were saying, Mr. Hale. We’re almost done here."Julian stepped closer, voice dropping into that familiar comm
Chapter 20I washed up quickly upstairs, scrubbing the day away. The signed contract felt like solid ground under my feet. I changed into a simple dress and went down for dinner.I had barely taken two bites when footsteps thundered behind me. Julian barged into the dining room and slapped a photo down hard beside my plate.“Who the fuck is this man, Tessa?” he snarled.I glanced at the image—me and Felix hugging outside the interior company building. I set my fork down calmly. “You had someone tailing me? That’s pathetic, Julian.”He slammed both hands on the table, leaning in close. “Answer the damn question! Who is he? Why the hell were you in his arms?”I met his glare head-on. “So now you’re spying on me? Paying people to watch my every move like I’m your property? That’s how low you’ve sunk?”“Don’t turn this around on me!” His voice rose. “You think you can just parade around with some rich prick and I won’t find out? Tell me who he is right now!”I stood slowly, pushing my cha
Chapter 19Francesca pushed open the office door, her heels clicking fast against the bare floor. “I just saw security dragging some suit out like yesterday’s trash. Who the hell was that?”I didn’t look up from the invoice I was initialing. “Julian’s father. Nothing important.”She raised an eyebrow. “Looked important enough to get tossed.”“He laid hands on me. I laid down the law. End of story.” I set the pen down and met her eyes. “Did you set up the meeting with the interior firm like I asked?”Francesca smiled, sharp and efficient. “Done. They’re expecting us in forty minutes. CEO himself is sitting in.”“Good. Let’s go.”We drove across town in my car. Francesca flipped through her tablet in the passenger seat, rattling off bullet points. “They specialize in high-end hospitality. Tight timelines, flexible on custom work. Their last three projects all came in under budget.”“Perfect. We need that for phase one.” I kept my eyes on the road. “Any pushback when you called?”“None.
Chapter 18: The Line Drawn I stepped out of the bathroom, towel still in my hand. The bedroom was empty. Julian’s side of the bed untouched. Good. I didn’t want his face near me tonight. Throat dry, I headed downstairs. The house was quiet except for faint sounds coming from Lila’s room. I paused at the bottom step. Soft moans. Then her voice, breathy and clear. “Julian… yes, right there.” I kept walking to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and drank it slowly. No rage. No tears. Just cold calculation. He was shameless. They both were. I set the glass down and went back upstairs. In the bedroom, I locked the door, picked up my phone, and dialed Tony's number. “Tony. It’s Tessa. I need you to dig into Lila Vaughan’s background. Family, connections, everything. Quietly. Send it first thing tomorrow.” “On it, boss. Anything specific?” “Start with her parents. And confirm if she’s actually related to Julian.” “Got it.” I ended the call and lay down. Sleep came fast. No night
Chapter 17: The SlapI drove to the house with my transfusion bag still faintly bruised on the inside of my arm.The door was unlocked when I got there.I heard them before I saw them. Laughter. Easy and domestic and the kind that belongs to people who think they're alone. I walked into the dining room and found them at the table together, Julian's fingers at Lila's lips, picking something away. A crumb. A piece of food. His hand pulled back when he heard my heels."Tessa." He stood too fast. "You're back."Lila touched her mouth and looked at the table.Julian crossed to me, hand extended like he wanted to touch my shoulder. "Lila had a fall earlier, her lip was a little—I was just checking if it was still bleeding."I looked at them both.No heat. No tightening in my chest. Just the quiet satisfaction of a woman watching people perform for an audience they've already lost."I'm tired," I said. "I need to rest."I walked past him toward the stairs.---He followed me up. I knew he w
Chapter 16: The Weight of KnowingI stepped out of Vanguard Hospital with Dr. Felix’s card pressed against my palm. Stage one. In my first life those words came with stage four and three weeks left. I was hopeless with no other choice than to just accept the fate that I didn't know about my cancer
CHAPTER THREEJulian’s words still hurt me deeply, so I hadn't told him about my terminal illness yet. Although he begged me to forgive him all through the night, he woke me up with breakfast in bed, a pancake with “I'm sorry” written with jam on it. Finally, I told him that it was fine and pushed
CHAPTER TWOJulian stepped out, turned around, and wrapped Lila in a hug one last time before making his way towards the stairs, to our bedroom. Fortunately, they didn't see me as I was hidden by the dark. Confusion flooded my thoughts. What could possibly make Julian come out at 1 a.m. in the nigh
CHAPTER ONE I have brain cancer and three weeks to live. I still recall the sound of the bells ringing in my ears when the doctor announced it to me. It made little sense. Just six months ago, I went for tests as the symptoms of migraine, memory loss, partial blindness, and bleeding through the no







