LOGINJulliard hadn't expected Thomas to be this cold-blooded.Resentment and fury surfaced in his eyes. "You really are an ungrateful piece of work. Sharon's been so good to you, and this is how you treat her?"Thomas raised an eyebrow. "Ungrateful? If I remember right, I'm the one who did her a favor."Oh, and I nearly forgot, it was you who personally handed me the opportunity to put her in my debt in the first place. The fact that she's this good to me now, isn't that built entirely on that debt?"He paused, a faint, cold smile crossing his handsome face."Julliard, do I strike you as the type who enjoys helping people out of the goodness of my heart? Every bit of help I give comes with a price. "I saved her. In exchange, she treats me. That's about as fair a trade as it gets."Julliard's voice rose in anger. "If it's really just about your treatment, why bother fighting me for her attention and care?"Thomas's voice stayed level, laced with cold logic. "You're missing something
Julliard glared at Thomas, unblinking. "So you admit it?!"Thomas raised an eyebrow, tossing the question right back. "Hm? What's there not to admit?"Julliard hadn't expected Thomas to be this brazen about it.His fists clenched. "Thomas, if you've actually got the nerve, say all this to Sharon's face."Thomas leaned back against the headboard, lazy and relaxed, a faintly amused look on his face."If I said any of this in front of her, do you think she'd still care about me the way she does? Do you take everyone for a fool? Why would I give up a good thing to go looking for trouble?"For a moment, Julliard found himself with nothing to say.He was right. Even if Thomas really had done it on purpose, there was no way he'd ever admit as much to Sharon."So what," Julliard said coldly. "You're some nobody with no background, and you think you can compete with me for Sharon? If you want to live off a woman, you'd better make sure you're worth the trouble first."Thomas laughed so
"You're taking sleeping pills again?" Sharon looked up at Thomas, an anger she hadn't quite registered herself creeping into her voice."The doctor said this stuff only treats the symptoms, not the cause," she said. "Take too much and you'll build up a tolerance. It'll only hurt worse when it flares up down the line."Thomasglanced up, catching the irritation she couldn't quite hide, and something faint rippled through his dark eyes, gone almost as soon as it appeared.He laughed, for no clear reason.Seeing him laugh only made the fire in her chest burn hotter, though she couldn't say why.Part of her genuinely wanted to just turn around and walk away.But then she caught sight of him wincing, clearly in pain, and in the end she couldn't bring herself to be that cold about it.She told herself he was a patient right now. She couldn't just leave him out here alone. If he collapsed again, she'd be the one responsible.She drew a deep breath, her expression cooling."I'll walk y
Julliard didn't refuse this time, slowly working through half a plate of food. His color was still off, but he seemed a little livelier than when she'd first walked in.Once Preston carried the tray out, Julliard spoke up. "Sharon, you don't need to come every day. I promise I'll cooperate with the doctor. You've got your own life too. I don't want to be a burden.""You're not a burden," she said. "You've helped me so much. This is the least I can do to pay you back."She checked the time."Julliard, I should get going. I'll come by again tomorrow.""Alright," he said gently. "Go on and take care of your things."She left the room and got into the elevator.Her finger hovered for a moment over the button for Thomas's floor before she pressed the one below it instead.He had a home health aide. He had a fiancée. He didn't need her.She crossed the lobby and stepped outside.Passing through a tree-lined path, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.Afternoon sunlight filtered down
She hadn't even started dating anyone, and already her heart felt broken.Thinking of Thomas, still stuck in the hospital, only stirred up more restlessness in Sharon.He already had a fiancée. Continuing to look after him didn't feel appropriate anymore.Now that he was hospitalized, surely his fiancée had heard the news and gone to take care of him by now.The next day, Sharon got a call from Preston."Ms. McKinzie, the doctor just finished examining Mr. Macaron. His physical condition's recovered quite well, but..."Preston trailed off, hesitating."But what?" she asked."His mental state is really poor," Preston said. "He's been down since yesterday."The doctor recommends starting psychological intervention as soon as possible. If it keeps going like this, it could turn into serious depression. But Mr. Macaron isn't very cooperative. He only got through half of this morning's evaluation before refusing to continue."Preston's voice carried real concern. "Ms. McKinzie, wo
Thomas's brow creased slightly. Why did everyone keep asking him that same question?"The head of the family has to be married," he said. "That's how it's always been done in the Ferrero family, and it's not a rule that gets broken lightly. Otherwise, even winning the seat would leave the position on shaky ground, illegitimate in everyone's eyes, and impossible to hold onto."Liam could tell Thomas hadn't quite caught his meaning, so he pressed on carefully. "What I meant, sir, is that Ms. Lilo doesn't necessarily have to be your only option."Ms. McKinzie comes from a good family, she's beautiful, accomplished, and her character's solid too. Most importantly, she's the one easing your headaches. I think she could be a good choice as well.""You're assuming too much," Thomas said flatly. "She comes from a good family, which means she isn't lacking for anything. It wouldn't be easy to offer her something that would actually tempt her."Yes, I saved her, and as repayment, she agreed
Nate wore a smug expression. At his side, a faint smile tugged at the corners of Kelly's lips."Return?"What a carefully chosen word.Sharon didn't react with anger. Her tone remained calm, almost light. "Carter, shouldn't you understand what actually happened before making a decision?"Carter'
Carter couldn't listen any longer. His voice cut through the tension, "Nate, that's enough. Don't talk nonsense."Nate snapped back, defiant. "I'm not talking nonsense. I'm telling the truth!"The officer interjected calmly. "Nate, I must remind you that every word you say right now carries legal
Sharon paused for a moment, her gaze steady as it met Carter's eyes. Then she smiled, faintly."I wonder," she said quietly, "whether the prestigious Hendricks Group can afford to keep an heir with a criminal record… and a ruined face."Carter's expression darkened until it was almost terrifying.
"Sharon, did you know?" Kelly said lightly. "To make it up to me for everything I've just been through, Carter's taking me to pick out some jewelry."She smiled sweetly, the malice behind it barely concealed. "He said I can choose whatever I like—anything that makes me happy. Oh, and you and Carter







