s lights blurred into an abstract band of colored light. For now, she is safe. In the quiet, leather-scented space inside the carriage, she carefully considered her words, word by word. She will

nd simple, and it can al

ion procedures, and Sloan was helped onto a wheelchair and taken to the VIP suite on the top floor. The room felt les

erbilt stands by the window, his tall figure intimidated by the dazzling skyline. The silence between th

he thermometer tucked under her tongue-these routine checks in her carefully crafted deception

He glanced at his watch-the Patek Philippe p

f his suit pocket and placed it on the nightstand. The card was thick, black, and printed in

an accident. She needed to leave a different impression-she wanted to make sure the accident had n

didn't look at the road-I walked straight onto the road. She slightly propped herself up against the pillow and met his gaze. This accident, your car ......

ical look flashed in his gray-white eyes, then rep

d. "The car will handle it. You won

is presence. The air in the room seemed much lighter.

e bedside table, clumsily dialing the number s

loane?" Where are you? Brian kept call

ered her voice, infusing a trace of genuine fear. "I'm in the hospita

pushed open. Liam strode in, his face full of heavy worry

herine, rushed to the be

e fli

her mother reached out to hold her, she shrank ba

red, her words bitter as ashes in

face turned pale as he reached out to steady his wife's shoulder. Liam suddenly stopped in his tracks

hem. But it is necessary. Brian is a cancer, an

ce was tense. "It's Mom and D

e allowing a trace of emotion to flash by. She was an actress, and this was the m

name, she showed a heartfelt, undisguised disg

r voice grew sharp. "I would never ge

-faced man with tired eyes-walke

most likely caused by a fall. Plus that major psychological stress source this morning...... D

ed of doubt vanished, replaced by overwhelming sympathy and inten

inst that touch, closed her eyes, and immersed herself in the maternal

r and whispered. She needed the security of Hayes

hone-double down on security and deny entry to anyone not on

k card Julian Vanderbilt had left behind

bilt, CEO, Va

ity firms-is a giant that can quietly swallow up her family business. Why

a calm confused expression, not letting her family see the shock

e and worry. A strong determination welled up in his heart. She had failed on

or outside the suite-the volume was raised, a man's angry

s blood

gnized t

oming-it's pounding