Chapter 3

3

I looked at the threat in his eyes and found it hilarious.

Did he really think that after all this, I would still be his obedient little shadow?

Just as he turned to leave, his phone rang.

"Yes, I'm Serena's partner. What's the situation?"

Whatever the person on the other end said made Caleb turn pale. He stumbled back a few steps.

"Treat her! Use the best medicine! I'll pay for it!"

He hung up and looked at me, a flash of guilt crossing his face.

"Serena's condition is worse. She needs an advanced immunotherapy injection. The one you ordered just arrived. Give it to her."

I chuckled coldly.

"Does she deserve it?"

That injection cost millions. You couldn't buy it even with money. I had reserved it five years ago for my grandfather.

I had used every favor I had to get it. Now, he wanted me to just give it away?

Caleb's face went white. Then he let out a cold laugh.

"Elena, isn't all this drama just to force me to marry you?"

"Fine. I agree. Once Serena is better, I'll go through with the wedding. Now, give me the medicine."

He looked at me with total impatience, as if he were doing me a massive favor.

When I didn't respond, he added spitefully.

"Otherwise, you'll be standing at that altar alone tomorrow! My family will make sure you're the laughingstock of the city!"

I looked at the desperate madness in his eyes. It was pathetic.

Make me a laughingstock? He wasn't worth the effort.

I turned to walk away, but my assistant sent me an urgent message.

Caleb had tried to redirect the medicine to Serena using my name. It was in transit and needed my signature to confirm the change.

Caleb ran over and grabbed my arm.

"Sign it! Serena can't wait! I'm begging you, okay?"

"The medicine is already on the way. Serena will thank you. That old man of yours is going to die anyway, with or without it…"

Slap!

Before he could finish, I struck him across the face. He held his cheek, staring at me in shock.

"You actually hit me!"

"Elena!"

I ignored his cursing and got into my car, racing toward the hospital.

My phone rang incessantly. Just as I was about to turn it off, a new caller ID made me pause.

I took a deep breath to calm myself.

When I answered, Ethan's teasing voice came through.

"So, Elena, have you really made up your mind about tomorrow's wedding?"

I sighed.

"I have no reason to go back on my word for something this important."

"Oh?" He hummed. "Haven't you spent years going back on your word for that one guy?"

I rubbed my temples as I sat at a red light.

"I never fail when it comes to business. I need your family's medical tech, and you need to break into this market. This marriage is perfect."

There was a moment of silence. Ethan's voice became serious.

"I don't want to marry you only for you to run back to him the moment he cries. Splitting our assets would be a nightmare."

I glanced at the GPS. Ten minutes to the hospital.

"Don't worry. As of right now, I'm single."

"See you at the wedding tomorrow."

After hanging up, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

But as I prepared to turn a corner, a familiar car slammed into me from behind.

The impact was violent. My car flipped. Sharp pain shot through my legs, and my vision blurred with red.

Through the shattered window, I saw Caleb walking toward me.

He looked at me with pure venom.

"Elena, you forced my hand. Serena has to live!"

Ignoring my bleeding state, he reached in and grabbed my phone.

I struggled to stop him, but I didn't even have the strength to crawl out of the wreckage.

"Stop…"

"Stop?"

Caleb fumbled with the phone, looking at me with disgust.

"I can't believe you'd let someone die! I'm doing you a favor by helping you do something good for once!"

I glared at him, gritting my teeth through the pain.

"That medicine was for my grandfather. He waited five years!"

Caleb rolled his eyes.

"It's just a drug. Order another one. I'm sure your family has backups. Don't be so stingy!"

"Besides, the old guy has lived long enough. If he dies, we'll probably inherit more anyway."

"You really don't have your priorities straight!"

Despite the agonizing pain, I started to laugh.

My heart, my devotion, even my grandfather's life―none of it mattered to him compared to Serena.

But he forgot one thing. The only reason he could act so high and mighty was because of me.

"The wedding is still on?"

Caleb saw the message I had sent to my assistant earlier. He sneered and tossed the phone back at me.

"I guess you really are desperate to marry me. Fine. Now that I have the medicine, I'll marry you."

Before I could speak, he started listing his conditions.

"First, Serena moves in with us after she's discharged. I won't leave her alone."

"Second, you transfer all your personal assets to her name to ensure her lifestyle. You can keep the company."

"Third, Serena will have my first child. Only then will I consider letting you get pregnant. The family line needs to be pure."

"You can handle that, right?"

He looked at me with total confidence, certain I would agree.

"After all, she's my soulmate. I can't give her the title of wife, so I have to compensate her with money."

He then ran toward the hospital, leaving me behind in the wreckage.

I managed to call for help. As the sirens approached, I blacked out.

I woke up in the hospital with a broken leg and a moderate concussion.

The doctor said if I hadn't called for help when I did, the car might have exploded.

My assistant stood by the bed, looking hesitant.

"Ma'am, about the wedding with Mr. Ethan…"

I took a deep breath.

"It proceeds as planned."

Caleb stayed by Serena's bed the whole time, hovering over her.

His phone remained silent. No messages.

He tried to ignore the nagging feeling in his chest, telling himself it was just one of my games to get his attention.

He turned on the TV to distract himself.

He froze when he saw the live broadcast of the 'Wedding of the Century.'

The venue was stunning, exactly what he had imagined for himself.

But the groom's name on the screen was Ethan.