Chapter 2

Lily's face went deathly white. She swayed on her feet.

Graham didn't lash out at me the way a lesser man might. He simply let out a heavy, pained sigh.

Adopting the lofty air of someone who couldn't be bothered to stoop to my level, he spoke coolly.

"Serena Kingsley, you're too strong. You never need anyone's protection, so you'll never understand what it's like to be vulnerable."

"Since everything's out in the open now, let's talk business."

He deliberately lowered his voice, slipping back into the composed authority of a department chief.

"Crestview Medical Center has secured a single clinical trial slot for the Starlight targeted therapy."

"It's currently the only drug in the world that can cure Lily's rare condition."

"One injection, and Lily survives. Our baby gets to be born safely."

He looked at me, issuing his decree in the tone of someone granting a favor.

"The application requires a family member's signature and a substantial financial guarantee."

"I'm at a critical stage in the race for vice president of the hospital. I can't afford any personal scandals, and I definitely can't have suspicious large fund transfers traced back to me."

"So the money comes out of our joint account."

"Publicly, you'll claim Lily is your distant cousin. You go in, sign the consent form yourself."

I listened to every word of this breathtakingly shameless arrangement in silence.

I almost wanted to applaud his meticulous scheming.

Use my money to save his mistress.

And have me put my name on the line, all to preserve his crumbling reputation as the noble healer.

He didn't just want my money. He wanted to nail me to a cross of moral humiliation and twist the screws.

"And if I don't sign?" I said, the corner of my mouth curving into an icy smile.

Graham's gaze turned cold. His voice dripped with threat.

"Serena, you work a desk job in the pharmaceutical system. You should understand how these things work."

"If you dare sabotage Lily's chance at survival and blow this up --"

"I'll file for divorce immediately. And when that happens, your reputation in this industry will be destroyed."

"I'm asking you -- no, I'm begging you. Consider it a last shred of dignity for our seven years of marriage."

He was the first person I'd ever met who could make something so vile sound so elegant.

I looked at his smug face, so certain I would fold for the sake of "dignity."

"Fine."

I said softly.

"Bring me the application form."

A flicker of triumph flashed in Graham's eyes. He immediately pulled a thick stack of documents from his briefcase.