At the unexpected voice, Aaron lifted his head, and his eyes shrank in alarm.
Standing there was Jonathan, the grandson of the richest man on the whole continent.
How on earth did Evelyn end up being the one who saved Jonathan's life?
"Mr. Bailey..." Aaron lowered his posture at once, terrified of offending the future ruler of the Bailey family.
Born as the illegitimate son of a small noble family, he had long learned that survival meant pleasing people like Jonathan.
After completing two consecutive surgeries, Evelyn was already drained. The argument with Aaron had taken what little strength she had left.
While Jonathan and Aaron exchanged words, a wave of dizziness swept over her. The edges of her sight dimmed, and her knees buckled beneath her.
Before she could hit the floor, Jonathan moved in quickly and wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her.
The softness of her frame caught him off guard, and for a fleeting second, his composure wavered. Even so, his expression stayed distant and controlled.
Turning his gaze on Aaron, Jonathan said, "Mr. Foster, you seem to forget that Grace General Hospital doesn't revolve around you. I'm the largest shareholder here. What gives a minor shareholder like you the nerve to threaten the woman who saved my life?"
Shock flickered across Aaron's and Karina's faces as they looked at each other in disbelief.
Since when did Evelyn form ties with someone as untouchable as Jonathan, let alone become his savior?
Their legs felt unsteady, as though they might give out at any second.
Forcing an awkward grin, Aaron hurried to explain, "You misunderstood, Mr. Bailey. I was only joking with Evelyn. She saved your life. At Grace General Hospital, no one would ever dare dismiss her."
Without giving Aaron another glance, Jonathan bent down and lifted Evelyn with ease. Then he strode off, leaving Aaron and Karina rooted in place, their faces drained of color.
Cradled in Jonathan's arms, Evelyn shifted awkwardly and tried to free herself. "Mr. Bailey, you just got out of surgery. You shouldn't be carrying anything heavy."
Warmth from his body seeped through the thin fabric between them, and his nearness made Evelyn uneasy.
Beneath the sharp scent of disinfectant clinging to him, there lingered a clean, woody fragrance that made her lose focus for a brief second.
Keeping his expression distant and his steps steady, Jonathan answered coolly, "Do I look as fragile as your fake husband? You think I can't carry someone as light as you?"
Nestled against his chest, Evelyn murmured, "Thank you..."
For a fleeting moment, she felt that the man who was legally tied to her didn't seem so bad after all.
...
By the following morning, Evelyn arrived at the law firm carrying the waiver Jonathan had already signed. The inheritance process went smoothly, and assets valued in the hundreds of billions were officially registered under her name.
Staring at the figures displayed in her account, she stood still in disbelief.
Never in her life had she seen that many zeroes attached to her name.
Before she could sort out how to manage such an overwhelming fortune, a man approached. It was Matthew's assistant, Charles Marshall.
"Ms. Mason, your father asked me to escort you back to the Dale estate after the inheritance has been completed. He told me to make sure the relatives don't take advantage of you."
Confusion flickered through Evelyn's mind. What relatives was he talking about?
Even so, she entered Charles' car and made her way toward the Dale estate.
The estate proved why the Dale family was known for its immense wealth. The grandeur of the place was breathtaking.
However, the moment Evelyn stepped inside, a bucket of filthy water was dumped from above and drenched half of her body.
A woman wrapped in flashy designer clothes strutted over, her gaze dripping with disdain. "So you're Matthew's daughter? You look like you just crawled out of some backwater village!"
