Chapter 5

The Doyle family had been a prestigious household in Truestin for generations, with wealth comparable to the Cannon family. Miranda had initially come to Nasledo only to study, but after marrying Dorian, her father, Albion Doyle, moved the Doyle family there. Yet even after moving, Albion barely saw Miranda more than once a year. Whenever Miranda mentioned visiting her family, Dorian would get anxious, fuss over every little thing, and refuse to let her go. Later, Albion worked closely with the Cannon Group, taking on numerous projects just to see Miranda more often. This was also why Miranda didn't want to confront Dorian immediately—she needed to return home first and let Albion sort out their company's dealings with the Cannon Group to avoid any losses. When Dorian heard that Miranda intended to return to the Doyle residence, his brow furrowed, and his steps quickened. "Randa, you're still sick. I can't bear to let you go back—who there could take care of you properly? And Emerson can't be without you…" "I'll take Emerson with me. Mom will take care of us," Miranda replied calmly. As they stepped out into the lobby, the cold wind hit, sharpening Miranda's mind. Dorian's expression darkened further, his grip on her tightening as he quickened his pace. Joanna trailed behind, calling for him, but he didn't look back. Her expression twisted for a moment. Then, gritting her teeth, she dashed into the busy street. A scream kept Dorian frozen in place. He spun around and saw Joanna kneeling in the middle of the road, a motorcycle speeding straight toward her. In an instant, he dropped Miranda and dashed toward Joanna, scooping her into his arms to shield her. Joanna was completely unharmed, leaning against Dorian as she whimpered, "Why are you still protecting me? Let me get hit, and Mrs. Cannon would finally calm down…" Dorian's heart ached. "It's my fault. I won't let it happen again." The two of them gazed at each other with deep affection, utterly unaware that Miranda, who was thrown violently aside, had hit the sharp edge of a roadside flowerbed, her head immediately bleeding. Before she could even get up, an oncoming motorcycle suddenly swerved, striking her. Miranda flew through the air like a ragdoll, landing and rolling across the pavement, leaving a trail of blood. Her bones were crushed, her muscles torn, and she screamed in unbearable pain. She tried to call for help, but on her side, she saw Dorian pressing Joanna into his arms, lost in a passionate kiss. Overwhelmed by endless agony and despair, the world went black. … Miranda spent 24 hours in emergency care, then stayed in the ICU for three days before finally waking up. When she opened her eyes, she saw Dorian propping his head up beside her bed, dozing lightly. His face looked weary, and a faint stubble had grown on his jaw, clearly showing he had been watching over her for a long time. Miranda studied his features quietly, catching glimpses of the boyish Dorian she remembered—waiting for her after school at the back door, passing notes through the window during exams, and the way he got angry when others confessed to her. These memories had accompanied her throughout her youth and were among her most precious and beautiful moments. But now, those memories twisted and faded, and Dorian's face seemed terrifying to her. Her whimper woke him instantly, and he panicked. "Randa, don't cry! Where does it hurt? I'll call the doctor." It was only after the doctor confirmed she was unharmed that he relaxed, holding her hand and sighing. "Don't ever mention going back to the Doyle residence again. Look at the chaos it caused." Miranda's heart, which had just begun to warm, went cold again. "What are you talking about? Am I in this state because I insisted on going home? Wasn't it Joanna causing trouble that got me hit?" Mentioning Joanna seemed to strike a nerve in Dorian. His face darkened instantly. "Why bring Joanna into this? It's her big day, and after such an unfortunate incident, she's already been through enough… You don't get to throw a fit!" "Unfortunate? I almost got run over… Is that 'unfortunate'? Dorian, do you even have a heart?" Miranda was both furious and humiliated, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. But this time, Dorian felt no sympathy, only irritation. "Crying over every little thing. Joanna didn't even shed a tear, and she was telling me to take good care of you… Can't you take a page from my book? "I'll have Cannon Group draft a public statement, apologizing on your behalf to her, and we'll call it over…" Miranda could hardly believe that Dorian actually expected her to apologize to the woman who stole her husband and nearly got her killed. Her vision blurred with anger, and her vital signs on the hospital monitor shot up dangerously—but Dorian didn't notice. He heard a familiar ringtone and stepped out of the hospital room with a smile. "Joanna, your ankle hurts? Okay, I'll come over and rub it for you…" He walked away with the phone, leaving Miranda alone. It wasn't until half an hour later that a nurse on rounds discovered her critical condition and rushed her back into emergency care. This time, no one was by her side.