Chapter 3

Time crawled outside the operating room. Wendy paced anxiously, glancing at the tightly shut doors again and again. Finally, they opened. Nadia was wheeled out by a nurse. She had fallen unconscious, but streaks of tears still stained her face. Even her pale lips bore the faint marks of having been bitten. "Nad!" Wendy rushed over. The doctor removed her mask, looking a little grim. "The surgery went well, but her body is extremely weak. She has to rest well, or… it might be very difficult for her to get pregnant again." Wendy's heart sank. As she looked down at the unconscious Nadia, her eyes filled with tears again. Nadia was such a good person. How did she end up with a scumbag like Callum? … Nadia didn't wake up until late afternoon. Wendy's mother, Emma Wilson, had come, bringing along a bowl of chicken noodle soup. "Nad, you're awake? Come have some soup while it's hot. It'll help you recover." Emma looked at her pale face with heartache. "Thank you, Emma." Nadia gave a weak smile and tried to sit up. "Don't move. Just lie down. I'll feed you." Emma quickly supported her and scooped a spoonful of soup. She gently blew on it before bringing it to Nadia's lips. Her heart ached. Nadia had finally conceived, but now, the baby was gone just like that. Nadia and Wendy were classmates. Back when Nadia was left homeless, it was Wendy who took her in. The Cooper family supported her through school. Emma had always treated her like a second daughter. Nadia sipped the soup slowly. Warmth returned to her stomach, but her eyes reddened. Not far away, Wendy was on the phone. Her voice was low but furious. "Knox Nicholson! I'm telling you. If you keep hanging around that jerk Callum, we're done! I'll call off the engagement, and I won't ever see you again!" With that, she hung up, breathing heavily with rage. Nadia looked at her. "Wendy, don't do that because of me—" "This has nothing to do with you," Wendy cut her off. "I just can't stand how wishy-washy Knox is. Callum did this to you, and he's still playing best friends with him? What the hell is wrong with him? Whose side is he even on?" The Cooper and Nicholson families were linked by an engagement. Wendy and Knox had been engaged since they were 18 years old. But Wendy's spoiled ways never changed, and they gave Knox a constant headache. … Meanwhile, in the most exclusive private room of Seora's elite club, mellow music filled the air, laced with expensive liquor and designer perfume. Knox held his phone, dumbfounded. He gave Callum an innocent look. "What the hell was that about? She just snapped and said if I hang out with you again, she and I are done?" Callum swirled his whiskey glass slowly. At Knox's words, he merely raised an eyebrow. Wyatt Haber, sitting beside him, chuckled. "Yikes, Knox! Trouble with your fiancee? Sounds like she really hates Callum. She's asking you to choose one between them." Knox ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Who knows what set her off this time? Whatever. Ignore her. Let's just drink." Right then, the door to the private room swung open. A woman walked in, wearing a slinky red dress that clung to every curve. It was none other than Brittany. She was the heiress of the Jaeger family and one of the biggest stars in the country. Just yesterday, her public birthday bash with Callum had exploded online. Her follower count had soared past 20 million overnight. She was a star among stars. If she managed to marry into the Ford family, she would become the most envied woman in all of Seora. Just the thought of being the richest man's wife thrilled her. She headed straight for Callum. Ignoring the gasps and jealous stares, she slid into the seat beside him. Her arm slipped naturally around his, and she rested her head on his shoulder. "Callum, can I be your date to the Fords' anniversary gala this weekend?" She was done hiding in the background. It had been three years. She had waited long enough. Callum's gaze softened. "I'll have someone get your dress ready tomorrow." Brittany beamed. "I knew you were the best!" Wyatt raised his glass. "Congrats, Brittany! Looks like you're about to make it official." Knox chimed in, "The three-year contract's up, right? Brittany, your happy ending's almost here." It wasn't hard to tell that both of Callum's closest friends were on Brittany's side. After all, they had never once seen Callum bring Nadia out in public. Besides, their marriage was hidden from the world. To everyone else, it might as well not exist. Brittany lifted her glass with graceful ease and clinked it against theirs. "Thank you, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Haber." Among the Big Four of Seora, three of the heirs now stood by her side. Once Callum and Nadia's marriage ended, Brittany could rightfully marry into the Ford family. Suddenly, a notification chimed. Wyatt glanced at his phone, and the moment he saw it, he nearly shot off the couch. "Holy shit! Nior's coming back!" He held his phone high. The bold headline practically jumped off the screen. "Founder of Bluebird Technologies, Nior, Confirmed to Attend Next Month's Global Medical Summit!" Wyatt's voice shook with disbelief and joy. Even his eyes turned red-rimmed. "This is it. My grandma might actually make it. Oh, my God! This is such good news!" Wyatt's grandmother, Karlie Collier, had late-stage lung cancer. The clock was ticking. Thus, this news couldn't have come at a better time. The group of heirs around him immediately burst into louder chatter. "Nior? You mean the one who came out of nowhere three years ago with that cancer treatment formula and then vanished into thin air?" "No way. She's actually showing her face? I thought she died or something!" "Dude, Bluebird Tech is legendary! That formula she dropped saved so many people who were on death's door!" "Exactly! She just appeared out of nowhere, revolutionized cancer treatment, and then vanished. No one's been able to find her since. Now she's back. This is huge! Next month's Global Medical Summit is gonna be on fire." Callum, sitting not far away, suddenly had a fiery gleam flash through his deep-set eyes. Ford Group already led the medical industry in the country. Four years ago, at just 22 years old, Callum had returned to Seora with dual PhDs in medical technology and business. He built the country's top-tier smart healthcare system from scratch, and in just four years, he claimed the title of Seora's richest man. Under his leadership, Ford Group had expanded into over 80 countries. He was the definition of a golden boy. But Nior… Her name wasn't just a legend in the medical world. It was a symbol of leadership and power. To Callum, she was like a mysterious island that quietly drew him in, impossible to ignore. If she agreed to partner with Ford Group, their dominance in the global medical world would be unshakable. Callum's fingers tightened ever so slightly around his glass. A confident smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Knox added, "Word is, Bluebird Tech is unveiling something called floral therapy. They're using scent molecules from specific flowers, combined with gene-editing tech, to hunt down cancer cells. Nior might be the greatest mind humanity's ever seen." Excitement rippled through the room. They were talking over each other now, imagining the massive shake-up Nior's return could bring. The energy was electric. Just then, the private room's door creaked open. A young waitress stepped inside with a tray in her hands, moving carefully as she approached the table to refill their drinks. But the moment her eyes landed on the trio of powerful heirs, nerves overtook her. Her knees buckled, and she stumbled forward in a panic. The tray tilted, and glasses tumbled. The sharp shatter of glass cut through the noise like a whip. Brittany, closest to the mess, didn't even have time to dodge. She let out a sharp scream. Callum reacted instantly. Almost the moment the glass shattered, he pulled the startled Brittany into his arms. He shielded her from the shards flying toward her face, but a few still grazed her hand, leaving two thin trails of blood. He frowned the moment he saw the gash on the back of her hand and blood oozing out in a steady stream. His expression darkened instantly. "Damn it!" Callum's sharp gaze cut toward the waitress, who stood frozen in shock. Her face was drained of all color. "What the hell are you standing there for? Get out!" His voice was cold. The waitress flinched and scrambled out of the room. "Callum, my hand hurts so much…" Brittany leaned toward Callum's chest, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes. His tone softened as he said, "Don't worry. Let's get you to the hospital." Carefully avoiding her injured hand, Callum swept her into his arms and strode out of the private room without another word. … In the hospital, the sterile scent of disinfectant lingered in the air. The hallway was quiet, save for the echo of footsteps against the tile floor. Callum stayed by Brittany's side while the doctor carefully cleaned and dressed the wound. Seeing her pale, pitiful face, Callum patiently comforted her and told her to rest well in the room. After that, he left the ward to handle the follow-up and planned to call home. As he turned the corner at the end of the hallway, something caught the edge of his vision—a ward with its door left slightly ajar. A familiar figure came into view. Callum froze on the spot. His gaze locked onto the pale face on the bed. The woman lay there quietly, eyes closed. Her long lashes cast soft shadows on her cheeks. Her slender arm rested beside her with an IV needle taped in place as clear fluid dripped steadily into her veins. Nadia? What was she doing here? In a hospital bed, no less? A storm of tangled emotions seized Callum's chest, tightening around his heart. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.