Chapter 2

The rain came down in sheets, taking me back to the day Mom died, Dad fell seriously ill, and my family was on the brink of collapse.

I was still waiting for a cab when a cold gust of wind blew up my sleeves. I pulled my coat tighter around myself.

Not far away, Aiden was gently helping Sharon into his sports car.

He had always been a complete clean freak. On rainy days, he wouldn't let anyone ride in his car.

Once, we'd gone hiking together. It started raining just as we were getting ready to head home.

I reached for the passenger door, but he stopped me. "You're soaked. Find your own way home."

Then he started the car and drove off.

Clearly, it had never really been about keeping his car clean. I just hadn't mattered enough.

When I got home, the lights were already on. The front door was slightly open, like someone had been waiting for me.

But when I pushed it open, I found Aiden carefully feeding Sharon spoonfuls of soup, treating her like she was something precious he'd finally gotten back.

I told myself I didn't care, but my chest still tightened. That kind of tenderness used to be mine alone.

Sharon noticed me first and quickly pushed Aiden's hand away. "Aiden, Renee's back. I can do it myself. I don't want her getting the wrong idea."

Aiden simply brought the spoon back to her lips. "Come on, be good. You just threw up, and you're still weak. Have some more."

I watched him finish feeding her, help her into the master bedroom, and close the door behind her. He looked like a husband taking care of his pregnant wife.

Then he casually handed me a document. The title at the top was impossible to miss.

It read, "Wilde Group Acquisition Plan."

I gripped the pages tightly, my fingers trembling. "What is this supposed to mean?"

"Renee, once we're married, Wilde Group and Bassett Group are going to merge anyway."

He knew that wasn't what I meant. I meant the extra clause on the last page.

"30% of Wilde Group's shares will be transferred to Sharon Moore."

Aiden lit a cigarette, his words drifting out with the smoke. "Sharon's having this baby on her own. The shares will give her some security. You're a woman too. You should understand what she's going through."

The heat was on, but I felt cold to the bone.

I tossed the document back onto the table. "I need some time to think about it."

Aiden nodded, put out his cigarette, and went into the master bedroom.

I stepped onto the balcony, pulled out my phone, and called the number Dad had given me.

"If I marry you, can you guarantee you can save Wilde Group?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, I heard a quiet laugh.

"Renee, are you asking me for a favor, or are you telling me what to do?"

"Call it whatever you want. All I care about is Wilde Group."

"Fine. I can save Wilde Group, but I have one condition."

Early the next morning, Aiden texted me the address of a hotel and told me to come by.

When I got there, a staff member showed me inside. "Ms. Wilde? Mr. Bassett is already waiting for you. He said you can decide all the details for the wedding reception."

I was about to tell her there wasn't going to be a wedding when I spotted two familiar figures inside.

Sharon stepped out of a dimly lit area wearing the champagne-colored dress I'd ordered for the reception. She lifted her skirt and turned in a circle while the wedding planner worked on the waist.

"We'll need to let this out a little. You're starting to show, and we don't want it too tight around your stomach."

I walked over and stopped in front of them, my face blank as I looked at Sharon.

Aiden's expression didn't change. He just kept a hand protectively near Sharon's waist. "You're here? The dress just came in, so I had Sharon try it on for you."

I looked at the dress.

Aiden had come with me when I tried on wedding dresses last year. When the sales associate brought this one out for the reception, he took one glance, nodded, then answered a phone call and left.

I stood alone in front of the mirror for a long time before finally ordering it.

Now Sharon was the one wearing it.

I crossed my arms. "Take it off."

Sharon hesitated, nervously fiddling with the edge of the skirt. "Renee, don't be mad. I was only trying it on to help you. You've never done this before, and I just wanted to make sure everything fits right when the time comes—"

"I told you to take it off."

Her smile disappeared, and her eyes started to turn red. She lowered her head and reached for the clasp at the side of the dress.

Before she could undo it, Aiden pressed his hand over the clasp.

His tone turned sharp. "Renee, why are you picking on a pregnant woman? She's only trying on the dress."

My expression hardened, and I was about to argue when Sharon quickly pulled away from Aiden and headed for the fitting room.

"Forget it, Aiden. Renee's upset. I'm done trying it on."

She gave me a cautious look. "Renee, could you come in and help me undo the clasp?"

I was about to call over a staff member, but when I looked around, I realized the three of us were the only ones there.

The moment I followed Sharon into the fitting room, she pretended to trip over the hem of the dress and grabbed me. I instinctively reached out to steady her.

Instead, Sharon gripped my arm hard and shoved me toward the nearby couch. Then she slammed herself into the corner of the table beside her.

She clutched her stomach, her face pale with pain, her voice breaking. "Renee, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were such a clean freak, but the baby didn't do anything wrong!"

The crash caught Aiden's attention, and he shoved open the fitting room door. His eyes went straight to the pool of bright red blood beneath Sharon.

I had never seen him look so grim and furious. He bent down, and Sharon immediately threw herself into his arms.

She rested her head against his chest and struggled to speak between sobs. "Aiden, my baby. Please save my baby…"

Aiden quickly scooped her up. With his back to me, he snapped, "Renee, I told you. You can make all the trouble you want, but leave Sharon's baby out of it!"

I opened my mouth to explain, but suddenly, I didn't know what to say. The blood was still on the floor, and Sharon had been lying there just moments ago. Nothing I said would matter.

I rubbed my swollen, aching ankle and slowly got to my feet, watching them leave. Then I pulled out my phone and texted the man I'd called the night before.

"Can you come back sooner?"

A few seconds later, he sent back a voice message, sounding as laid-back as ever.

"Renny, who's picking on you this time? Just wait till I get back. I'll take care of it."