Chapter 3

I woke up in the hospital.

Outside the door, Ethan said, “Is she awake?”

Ryan scoffed. “Jenny was terrified all night. Alara only burned her arm.”

Julian said, “That’s not the problem. The problem is whether she’ll complain to Mason.”

So they were not here for me. They were here to keep me quiet.

The door opened.

Julian placed a folder beside my bed. “Private room extension. Sign it. I’ll pay.”

Ryan dropped a tablet on the table. “Your accounts are restored.”

Ethan put down a black card. “Use it.”

I looked at them. “Why are you really here?”

Ethan paused. “Jenny may lose her foundation appointment.”

Julian opened the folder. “The equipment incident has to be reported. If you sign this statement, it becomes an accident caused by your own mistake.”

Ryan added, “Then Jenny’s name stays out of it.”

I understood. They wanted my silence on paper.

“I won’t sign.”

Ethan frowned. “Alara.”

“She caused the accident herself.”

Ryan snapped, “She’s already scared. Why do you have to ruin her future too?”

Julian said, “This statement won’t hurt you. Mason will protect you anyway.”

“So I deserve to take the blame?”

Ethan stepped closer. “If you sign it, I’ll marry you.”

I almost laughed. “You think that’s a reward?”

His face darkened. “I’ve already compromised.”

“I told you. I’m not marrying you.”

Ryan sneered. “Then none of us will marry you.”

“Good.”

A hospital administrator came in. “Miss Hayes is crying. She says she’ll withdraw from the foundation if this becomes a scandal.”

Ethan turned to leave. Ryan followed.

Julian looked at me. “Don’t take this too far.”

“You already did.”

Minutes later, Ryan came back and grabbed my uninjured wrist. “Sign it.”

“Let go.”

Ethan stood at the door. “Stop making a scene. Help Jenny first.”

The administrator hesitated. “Miss Alara has not agreed.”

Julian said, “This is a Whitmore hospital. I’ll handle it.”

I looked at them. “You’ll regret this.”

Ethan did not look back. “Get it done.”

Ryan pressed the pen into my hand. When I tried to pull away, pain tore through my burned arm.

By the time the statement was taken from me, my signature was barely legible.

They went to Jenny. Ethan stayed beside her. Ryan comforted her. Julian handed the signed paper to the administrator.

The nurse whispered, “Miss Alara looks pale.”

Ethan said, “She can handle it.”

He was wrong. I blacked out.

When I woke again, Mason was beside my bed.

“What happened?”

I looked at him. If I told the truth, his sons would break his heart.

So I said, “An accident.”

Mason did not believe me. But he did not push.

Lucas arrived soon after. Noah’s assistant.

He handed me a document and a gray metal box. “Mr. Noah asked me to bring these.”

The document was an engagement confirmation. Noah had already signed it.

Inside the box was a second silver Whitmore board pin.

Lucas said, “Mr. Noah heard what happened. The first badge was taken from you. This one will be registered under his seat.”

“No one else can use it.”

I held the pin. It was not romantic. It was better. It was respect.

Lucas continued, “Mr. Noah has replaced your medical team and filed a counterstatement. No one can access your records or use that signed paper without review.”

For the first time that day, someone cared what I wanted.

“Thank him for me.”

“He also said he will attend the ceremony in three days.”

“Tell him I’ll be there.”

After Lucas left, Mason asked, “You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“In three days, the succession ceremony begins. All directors and relatives will attend.”

“I’ll announce Noah then.”

Mason was silent. Then he nodded.

Three days later, the Whitmore succession ceremony began.

It was held in the top-floor boardroom of Whitmore Group.

Directors, relatives, and lawyers filled the room.

Everyone knew I had to name my fiancé today.

“She’ll choose Ethan.”

“Maybe Julian.”

“Ryan still has a chance.”

No one mentioned Noah.

I stood outside the boardroom and pinned Noah’s silver pin to my clothes.

Ethan, Julian, and Ryan were already inside. Jenny sat beside Ethan, her wrist wrapped in gauze.

The lawyer stood. “Miss Alara, please take your seat.”