d gone cold

ll of broth clung to the air,thick and sour under the hum of the fluorescent lights.The hospital had quieted after visiting hours,but the sile

him control

were getting married. Perhaps she was forced to marry him. Mayb

or not. This wasn't a real hospital afterall. Just some private medical ward in Hale Estate. Everyone

her head. "

untouched food. "You real

not h

leave Lena called after her. "Has my brother been contac

ckled under her touch as she fiddled to pry it open. Once she did, she discovered it was an egregiou

she tucked it back in an

mble that fitted awkwardly on his chin,the other built like a desk.They took adjourning seats opposite her as

obs. For the sake of this interrogation, I am B

were the only witness.Tell us a

She-she called me sounding terr

pulling a chair closer

he was to tell me

ched the page. "Yo

ntract. I was her painter. T

rtist in the middle of the night? Especially when you are not 'friends

on't

sheets. The image was grainy and a bit blurry but it was unmistak

d in Hale Heiress crash

lurched. "

und at the scene unconscious,with Miss Wren'

away. "Is sh

artin said, soft

ou to come down for a formal statement when yo

left, the door hadn't even clic

en

the doorway. Seventeen,thin as a wire, hospital wristband still peeking fro

d."I'm sorry I dra

fear. "I saw the news. They're saying-" He stopped,

uickly. "It wasn't-Eli,

rce belief into existence. "I know. Y

back from his forehead."

red. Then, more quiet

ard the window.

e change in the air was immediate when Damon walked in.

e jumped. "

d, though his frame tr

over him, unbothered.

er bro

ll want to

in, closing the dis

ped the sheets. "Yo

and the only person who saw it happen has somehow become the med

f her. "If you came

"Threaten her? No, Mr. Rowan. I c

d. "A way o

on. The debt collectors constantly waiting outside your door. The

. "She would nev

want to protect your brother, Miss

her out of thi

" He reached into his pocket and dropped a folded documen

at it. "Wh

ontr

atching it before she could.

him with scrutiny."The

s breath quick. "

ll release a statement identifying Miss Rowan as an unstable acquaintance who sabotaged my girlfriend's

ed back

nued softly, "she

m went

cracked. "

n didn't change.

nked. "B

e merger and quiet the press. You'll sign a marriage license, ap

broke. "Th

dred thousand dollars. All debts cleared.

ous envelope. "Have you gone

re than we

my girlfriend pay you half a million dollars for a mere portr

would I do that? What power could a f

her shares without her signature. If the media learns she's in a coma,

"You want me to p

graphers. We stage a quiet civil signing. A marriage license. Publicly, she and I become husband a

hammered agai

s ridi

out" His expression didn't

but it came out brok

line of tiredness that drew around like a scar."Then I'll make sure that every

came.Lena stared after him in disbelief and anger but somewhere deep inside her