I stared at him, my heart aching until I couldn't breathe.
I forced myself to look up, refusing to let the tears fall.
On the third day of his cold shoulder, I had caved. I was on my way to retrieve the engagement rings we had designed together, planning to surprise him.
But on my way back to the site, Bianca intercepted me, turning the construction site into my grave.
My memories, now untethered from my body, were fractured. I felt a gnawing sense that I’d forgotten something vital.
My spirit drifted uncontrollably toward where Alistair was.
The luxurious VIP suite was so crowded with specialists there was barely room to stand.
"Mr. Sterling, all of Miss Thorne's test results are normal. There's nothing physically wrong with her, you can rest assured."
Despite the experts' repeated assurances, Bianca remained curled up in Alistair's arms, her eyes red as she trembled. "Alistair, it's still raining outside... I'm scared... I'm scared those cold steel bars will fall..."
Just as Alistair was about to speak, his phone rang.
It was a call from my project manager, Ryder. The moment Bianca saw the name on the screen, she let out a sharp scream, snatched the phone, and threw it viciously into a nearby glass of water.
"It's him! That man, Ryder Grant—he's a monster. He's been harassing me, trying to frame me! Help me, Alistair, please, save me…"
Forgetting the phone completely, Alistair’s heart ached as he held the hysterical Bianca, whispering reassurances.
"Don't be scared, Bianca. Ryder won't bother you again. I won't let anyone hurt you..."
Bianca buried her face in his chest, arms wrapped tight around his neck, laughing through her sobs. "Alistair can't leave. You have to stay with me forever. You're mine. Only mine. Scarlett tried to steal you from me. She's crazy, she deserved to be crushed..."
"Yes, yes, she's crazy. We'll just ignore her." Alistair rubbed her back, soothing her gently until she finally cried herself to sleep.
Back in his temporary office, he pulled the drenched phone from his pocket, the screen completely black. He wearily pinched the bridge of his nose.
He was about to use the internal line to ask where I was.
A surgeon burst in. "Mr. Sterling, we have a new admission—severe abdominal penetration from a construction accident. The situation is critical. We need your authority as the foundation chairman to authorize a high-risk experimental surgery, immediately."
Alistair started to rise, but his movement froze.
He asked, "What's the media's reaction?"
The doctor swiped open her phone screen. "Reporters have been waiting outside all day. We expect negative press about this accident for the next two days."
He nodded and sat back down.
"Find another solution. Tell them I have a patient here to look after. Cancel all my meetings for the next two days."
