Chapter 5

Ian’s eyes widened. He grabbed Nathan by the collar.

“What did you say? Say it again.”

“Mr. Ford, I’m telling you the truth. I’ve seen Miss Shaw’s scans. The tumor is in a dangerous position, and surgery isn’t possible. She doesn’t have much time left. Please spend what time you can with her.”

Ian’s heart clenched as if a needle had pierced it.

He didn’t know how he left Nathan’s office.

He couldn’t believe that Rowan, who was always so headstrong and full of life, had brain cancer.

Perhaps this was another one of her schemes to get his attention.

With that thought, he went straight to her room.

Inside, Rowan ate an apple Chase had peeled for her.

“Chase, that was brilliant. If Ian thinks I have brain cancer, he’ll do anything I ask. He’ll spend every day with me and never look at Tina again.”

Chase nodded. “You did your part, too. You owe me dinner for this. I had to promise Dr. Zane I’d cover seven of his night shifts to get him to back up our story. Seven whole shifts!”

“Of course.” Rowan laughed so hard she leaned to one side. “You should’ve seen Tina’s face when Ian carried me to the hospital like he’d lost his mind. She was furious!”

The next moment, Ian kicked the door open.

Rowan dropped her apple and hid beneath the covers.

Only her eyes showed as she stared at his furious face.

“Ian, you’re still here…”

Ian’s handsome face turned icy.

He walked toward her, and the force of his anger sent a chill down her spine.

He looked at Rowan, barely holding back his rage.

“Rowan, is this funny to you?”

She reached for his sleeve, but he jerked away.

Rowan stubbornly caught hold of it again. “I didn’t lie to you. I really do have cancer. Please stay with me…”

Ian gave a cold smile. The brief worry in his eyes vanished beneath his anger.

“Is that so? What does it have to do with me? If you have cancer, don’t tell me. Don’t even tell me when you die!”

“I was wrong. I won’t lie to you again.”

Rowan rushed forward to hold him, but he pushed her away once more.

Ian turned, took Tina by the hand at the doorway, and left without hesitation, slamming the door behind them.

Rowan watched him go.

Once he was truly gone, her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the floor.

Chase helped her up and tucked her back into bed. She had barely lain down when blood began pouring from her nose and wouldn’t stop.

The bright red blood was painful to look at. Chase watched her with pity.

“Why did you have to lie to him like that? It’ll only make him hate you more.”

Rowan knew better than anyone how much Ian hated being lied to.

She only learned after waking up that she’d been taken for a CT scan.

By the time she tried to stop it, it was too late.

To keep Ian from learning the truth, she and Chase put on that act.

“Then let him hate me. It’s better than having him love me now. Think how much that would hurt him.”

Tears spilled down Rowan’s cheeks. If Ian knew the diagnosis was real, his sense of responsibility would surely make him treat her well.

But she didn’t want his pity. She didn’t want to stand between him and Tina when they finally had a chance to get back together.

Let things stay as they were. She would bear the pain alone.