The Wife he Never loved

Jessica hand trembled as she held the hospital bill, The numbers blurring together under the weight of her panic. Her father's illiness had drained what little saving they had and every month brought another letter from the creditors. The phone calls never stopped, Each one was a reminder that were drowning, And she was powerless."Jessica." her mother said, voice tight with worry. "We can't keep borrowing something has to be done. You know what the offer is"Jessica closed her eyes, swallowing the lump in her throat. She did know, The contract marriage proposal. Five years with Michael. A man she barely knew, marriage without love. A deal to save her family, And how her father's eyes were on her, expecting her to sacrifice herself. Her chest ached. Not from fear of Micheal but From the weight of responsibility."I don't know if I can do it,"she whispered.Her father lying weakly in the hospital bed cough and managed a strained smile."Jessica.... You're our only hope." Hope. The word

Michael sank into his chair, running both hands through his hair. His mind raced. Investors expected reports. The board expected results..Rivalries companies were circling, waiting for any weakness.He couldn't change the past. Couldn't erase the contract.But he could act. Protect the company. Protect the family reputation. Protect Jessica... from the consequences of everything he had done , even if it meant facing every threat, every danger, every secret alone.Because as much as he tried to act detached, to be cold and distant, the truth was that she mattered more than any contract.More than any business deal. More than any threat looming over him.And if he had to burn the world down to keep her safe... he would.Jessica pushed open the front door, her keys clattering into the dish by the entrance.The house was quiet. She kicked off her heels, dragging her tired feet across the polished floor, and sank into the couch.Her chest felt heavy , the image of Michael and that woman by

Jessica had worked at Boston General for three years.Long enough to memorise the smell of disinfectant. Long enough to survive a night shift without coffee.Long enough for the hospital to feel more like home than the mansion in Kensington ever did.Here, at least, people talked to her. Here, she existed."Morning, Jess," Maya called from the nurses' station."New transfer coming to maternity today. Management said you'll assist her."JESSICA nodded, flipping through patient files absentmindedly."Name?"Maya checked the clipboard. "SARAH COLLINS".The name meant nothing at first. Just another patient. Jessica took the file and walked toward the ward, already thinking about medication schedules and charts.But when she pushed the door open and stepped inside, she froze.The woman sitting on the bed looked... familiar. Too put-together to ignore. Long, smooth hair. Perfect skin. Expensive clothes, even in a hospital gown. She didn't look weak. Didn't look sick. She looked comfortable a

Jessica almost gave the wrong medication. She stopped mid-motion.She already felt it. Wrong chart.She froze.This wasn’t her patient.For a second she simply stood there, staring at the file in her hand.Then the door opened.“Jessica.”Dr Helen’s voice. Calm. Sharp.Jessica looked up immediately.Doctor Helen stepped inside and glanced at the chart. Then at Jessica. Then back at the chart. Silence. The kind that feels worse than being yelled at.Jessica swallowed hard.“I’m sorry.”Doctor Helen didn’t speak right away. She took the file from Jessica’s hands and closed it.“You never make mistakes like this.”Jessica forced a smile.“I’m just tired.”“Tired doesn’t explain this,” Helen cut in immediately.The smile stayed on Jessica’s face. Her jaw tightened slightly as she nodded.“I’m okay,” she said.Doctor Helen looked at her for a long moment. The way she looked at difficult patients. Like she was searching for something beneath the surface.“You haven’t slept well,” she said.

Jessica didn’t sleep. She lay there staring at the ceiling, the message still burned into her mind.Ask the right question next time.She turned slightly on the bed, the room was quiet in a way that pressed on her ears.Too wide.Her fingers twisted into the bedsheet without her noticing.SARAH COLLINSMICHAEL CARTER HER FATHERThe names kept returning. Slower each time, heavier.She squeezed her eyes shut.No…Not tonightBut it didn't stop.Sarah's smile flashed behind her eyes. Then the document. Michael's name printed on it. Clear. Final.Like something already decided. Something she was never meant to see.Her chest tightened. That future she never allowed herself to name was already gone.A shaky breath escaped her. The room blurred at the edges. She blinked once, then again. But it didn't stop.The first tear slipped down her cheek before she even realized she was crying.Jessica wiped it away quickly. Another followed, then another.And she stopped pretending after that.Her