Chapter 2

In the hospital room, Vincent took one call after another. "Nothing from today's interviews gets out. Not a word, not a photo."

He hung up and leaned over me. "Everything happened so fast today. I had no idea reporters would show up. Bianca's cold was getting worse, so I had to get her out of there."

He thought for a moment, then pulled up a luxury brand's website on his phone and showed me its latest scarves. "These are all new arrivals. Pick whichever one you like, and I'll buy it."

I have a small red birthmark near my collarbone. Foundation won't cover it, so I wear a scarf whenever I wear anything that shows my shoulders.

Vincent used to say the birthmark didn't make me any less beautiful. He called it the mark of an angel's kiss. Then Bianca said it stood out too much and made me look beneath my station. Vincent's mother, Eleanor Winston, overheard her and sent me a scarf the next day. From then on, I wore a scarf whenever I wore a dress.

I looked him in the eye and told him calmly, "But people still believe Bianca is your fiancée and the Colombo heiress. The reporters will run with it."

Vincent shrugged. "A lie is a lie. It doesn't matter. They got it wrong, and I've already ordered them to keep quiet. They wouldn't dare publish anything."

He gently stroked the edge of the gauze covering my wound. "The fire turned your father's funeral into a disaster today. If you clear things up now, people will think you only care about yourself, not your father. Once you've healed, we'll bury him and set our wedding date. I'll tell every outlet there is that you are my fiancée."

I lowered my eyes and said nothing. Vincent still hadn't answered my question.

Bianca pushed the door open with an armful of flowers and glanced at his phone. "Vincent, isn't that the scarf I said I loved? Wow, they have a new collection."

Vincent turned off the screen at once. My chest tightened. No wonder he knew which ones were new. He had already picked them out for someone else.

Bianca set the flowers down and glanced at my back. "Mrs. Winston sent me to check whether you can be discharged. She wants us all home for dinner. Don't be upset with her for rushing you, Louisa. She's worried about you."

A nurse came in to start my IV. "The patient isn't going anywhere today. We need to watch her for infection. One family member has to stay overnight."

Vincent offered to hire a caregiver. I shook my head. "I want you to stay with me. Just tonight."

He looked at Bianca first, then reluctantly agreed. "All right. But I still need to make a trip home. It took a lot to calm Mom down."

I pointed at Bianca. "Bianca's there."

Bianca shook her head. "Even with me there, I'm not her son."

Just then, the housekeeper came in with Eleanor on his arm.

She barely glanced at my back. "Louisa, I'm Vincent's mother. Bianca's father died taking a bullet meant for Vincent's father. If we can hire a caregiver, why would you make Vincent stay here and take care of you?"

Vincent didn't argue with his mother. "Louisa, let me tell you a story until you fall asleep, just like I used to. Sleep well. When you wake up, I'll be right here. And stop blocking my number. You can call me anytime, day or night." Then he told me a story I'd heard countless times before.

Eleanor urged him to leave twice. I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. I knew I couldn't make him stay. Thinking I was asleep, he kissed my forehead. "Sweet dreams, baby. Dream about me."

After everyone left, I opened my eyes. I pulled out my phone and found Charles Freeman's number. Don Freeman had done business with my family for years. He had sent his condolences and asked to attend my father's funeral, but I had never replied.

Late that night, the painkillers wore off, and my burns began to throb. My pneumonia made me cough, and each cough tore at the wound on my back until my pillow was soaked with sweat.

I couldn't take it anymore and called Vincent. He didn't answer, so I called again. This time, Bianca picked up. "Louisa, Vincent stayed up with me, and he only just fell asleep. He's hurt too. Don't disturb him, all right?"

Then I heard Vincent's voice in the background, heavy with sleep. "Bianca, help me change into my pajamas."

Bianca didn't hang up. "Vincent, Louisa wants to know if she still needs to attend the rescheduled funeral."

Vincent answered without hesitation. "No. You can stand in for her. There are only a few formalities left anyway."