The hospital smelled of antiseptic and was quiet. Fluorescent lights hummed overhead. Nathan pushed the ward door open and walked in without hurry. His boots made a soft thud on the linoleum. He spotted James in Bed 7, head wrapped in white bandages, stitches along his temple, a thin sheen of sweat on his face. The man’s body trembled when he saw Nathan approach.James’s eyes went wide. He tried to sit up but a nurse’s warning hand stayed him down. He swallowed hard, voice small, “N-Nathan… I – I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… I didn’t want any of this.”Nathan stopped by the bed and sat on the chair. He folded his hands, cracked his fingers. The faint red smears on his knuckles caught the light, dried blood that would not wash out tonight’s memory. He let his fingers flex, slow. His face was calm, but cold as ice.“How did you get involved in what happened?” Nathan asked, low and steady.James’ lips trembled. He stammered, voice raw, “I was hiding, trying to stay out of sight after the fall

Natalia’s hands flew to her mouth. Her breath came short and fast. “What…no…Nathan, you can’t just accuse us. I didn't…”He cut her off again. “Don’t dare try to deny it, Natalia.” His tone left no room for bargaining. “You’ll be honest when you speak. You’ll tell the truth to the police. And if you lie, if you try to shift blame…”He raised his hand, not to strike, but in warning. The hospital corridor seemed to hold its breath.“For your own good,” he said, voice low and cold, “I hope you’ll not be lying to cover your mother's crimes.”She nodded until her head bobbed. Tears spilled down her cheeks, hot and fast. “What are you saying? You're assuming the worst of me.”He studied her for a long beat. Truth or a well-acted terror, he could not tell all at once. But he felt he saw enough judging by the way her hands shook, the way her eyes avoided the full weight of his stare. He stepped back toward the ward door. His voice dropped to a stone-hard whisper. “You’ll speak to the police.

Nathan had just stepped out of the doctor’s office, his face unreadable as the man’s words lingered in his head. Amelia, Taylor, and even James, all stable enough to be discharged later that day or the next. As he walked down the quiet corridor, his gaze snagged on a figure at the far end. Natalia.His brows pulled tight, instinct drawing his expression into a frown. She stood waiting, wringing her fingers, her eyes darting like a guilty child. His stomach hardened. He didn’t need to guess why she was here; surely, another round of begging, or worse, defending her mother.She hurried toward him, words tumbling out. “Nathan…”“Why are you here?” His voice cut sharply, cold enough to make her flinch.“I’m sorry.” She stopped right in front of him, breath shaky. “You were right. My mother… she did what you accused her of. And just like you, I want her to pay. Lawfully.”His stare didn’t soften. He studied her as though every syllable might be a lie.“I’ll testify against her,” Natalia p

Amelia leaned back against the pillow, the sun slanting through the ward window. “My launch is coming up – Selvarrah Jewels. I hope you’ll come this time and not reject it like you did last time.”Nathan’s mouth twitched. “I’ll likely consider it.”“Great. I think I should have just gone out of my way to get you to accept the invitation before.” Her eyes glittered, half fun, half challenge.He gave a short laugh. “I’m sorry for rejecting your invitation. I found you… irritating then.”She gasped, hand over her chest. “Excuse me?!” Her face went theatrically offended. “You found me irritating?”He shrugged. “Now I don’t.”“Oh.” She sat up, mock serious. “So it took me putting on brave boots and walking into a fire to change your mind?”He looked at her sideways. “You came across as silly at first. Didn’t strike me as an entrepreneur.”She blinked, then grinned. “So you’re definitely attending my launch, right?”He looked at her and simply nodded. “Yes. I’ll attend the launch.”“Great. I

Nathan parked the sleek black sedan in front of the Monroe mansion, his gaze scanning the impressive pillars before the door opened. Taylor stepped out gracefully, her heels clicking lightly on the marble steps as she approached.She had her hair styled in soft waves that framed her face, her pearl earrings glinting beneath the porch light. Nathan moved instinctively, opening the passenger door for her.“I thought you wouldn’t want me to come with you,” she said with a playful smile, pausing beside him before sliding into the seat.Nathan’s lips curved faintly as he steadied the door. “Well, you asked. I couldn’t refuse. Besides, I want you to mingle again. You’ve been hiding away since… that incident. You need it, for your mind, for your heart.”Taylor slipped into the seat, smoothing her silk dress as she did. “You shouldn’t be worried, Nathan. My mental health is fine,” she assured, though her tone carried more weight than she probably realized.Nathan circled to the driver’s side,