EN

d broken speed limits getting us here, but every second felt like an eternity. Nurses

nded at the nurses' station, his v

ubs. Blood, Sarah's blood, stained the f

ognizing Ethan instantly. "We

now. What

orrhaging during preliminary procedures. Her platel

couldn't finis

is accelerating faster than we anticipated. The inf

ther. All I understood was that my s

ou need?"

cialized medication we don't have on hand, it's experimental, but ef

ordered. "What

mited supply. There's a

t his phone. "W

something on his notepad. Ethan

rse. Yes, now. I don't care if you have to wake the FDA commissione

. She looked impossibly small beneath the tangle of tubes and

, taking her limp hand.

d. "Bren?" Her voice

talk. Save y

ispered. "I heard them... t

best doctors are working on it. Ethan, Mr. Blackw

denly sharp despite the

ed at the bedside. "The medication is being

n her weakened state. "Yo

ed fractionally. "Your si

bags. "We need to prep her again

my back, guiding me out. In the

e," I sobbed. "Aft

ard with certainty. "I've invest

but somehow it was reassuring. Ethan Bl

our attention. A man in a lab coat rushed toward us, carr

tch. "Twenty-eight m

later, she was being prepared for emergency surger

ood has arranged for two specialists to assist. With the

e reached weakly for my hand.

ll be right here

iting room Ethan had somehow procured, while he worked re

e the surgery go faster," he said even

work at a tim

life doesn't stop for emergenci

this is to yo

eyes. "Everything in my l

ingtone was different from before, a sharp, u

face darkening. "When? How many know?" Another pau

gathering his thin

Sarah's stil

ne of my buildings downtown. I

Sarah

s. You heard the doctor. The

sbelief. "I can't lea

le who depend on me making the right decis

snapped. "I

my part, the money, the specialists, the medication. Your sister will r

o withdraw her care if

ped. "Which includes publicly supporting me. Right n

What h

tion of the new Plaza collap

ightly. People cou

said. "And I need to change." I gestured at

s a change of clothes for yo

**

a. Ambulances wailed in the background. Construction workers covered in dust were being treated by

s cameras flashed. Ethan held

work. Emergency protocols were immediately activated. Three workers sustained injuries, non life

"Sources say your company cut corners

allegations are completely false. Safet

ty director resign last

hand found mine, gripping it tight

opportunities. Her replacement, Mr.

ced ease, but I could feel the tension radiating from him. This wa

d, is it true you were with your new fiancée when the acci

y went quiet. All

that Brenda Mitchell and I are engaged to be married. We're deeply sadd

flashes. Questions cam

id you

the we

hat attracted you

Ethan's fingers dug i

. "But tonight isn't about us. Our thoughts ar

those affected by tonight's events. Blackwood Enterprises will cover all medical

corted us back to the car. Once inside, Ethan im

t looking up. "Natural inst

rs, are they

structural failure is concerni

mber: Sarah out of surgery. Stable but cri

er me. "Sarah's

"I told you

uld go

re's another

t? W

collapse and those specific questions from the press isn't coinci

re important t

now? Yes. Because if my company suffers, so doe

, Blackwood Enterprises headquarters. Despite t

as Ethan strode through the lobby, m

opened, we stepped into organized chaos. People rushed about wi

d at a harried-lookin

ering, sir. The scaffolding bo

wn my spin

ide

ntified individual accessing the

ssion darkene

e played on a large screen. The blurry video showed a figure

ntified them?

n handed over a small plastic bag co

face hardening. "Where

e tamper

et me the building access

into the room. She wore an impeccable suit despite the late h

" She glanced dismissively at me.

fiancée. She g

How sweet. I hope she's not... dist

o be," Ethan replied coolly. "Wh

w that Chen Global stands with Blackwood Enterprises during

tone neutral. "But unnecessary. W

Because it looks like someone is targeting you, Ethan.

ack, refusing to be intimidated despite the designer

Ethan said pointedly.

I know all your secrets, Ethan. Every skeleton, every deal. Y

emarkably li

ng documents, making calls. I sat forgotten in a corner, exhaustion

I'll take you back

ed to stay awake. "Wa

"And whoever did it knew ex

seemed...

"Victoria is never concerne

he knows yo

"Everyone has secrets, Brenda. Th

stable but critical, the next 48 hours would be crucial. I collapsed into

orrow morning," he said when

taying

ed. "As you wish. Security will remain o

o much had happened in just one day. My life had completely transformed, from homeles

woke to a soft touch on my sho

you," she said, handing

ght the light like a small sun, surrounded by smaller sap

ed the ring on, surprised by its perfect fit. Like everything else abou

r eyelids flutter

aid, quickly mo

e asked, her eyes

ing, then running footsteps. The door burst open as a security

he gasped. "We n

? What's h

ere. They're

t's ridi

ness. Emergency lights flickered on, casting everything i

. "Lock the door after me. Don't ope

t under

aid urgently. "It was a message. And now they

th trembling hands. Sarah's frightened e

s going on? Wh

and heavy in my h

a shout, then a t

ched our door. S

urned, testi

hands, positioning myself be

ice sounded weak e

another testin

t from Ethan: DON'T TR

lectronic lock beeped.Th