She was keeping it.
Nathan was driving like a man possessed.
Vivian gripped her seatbelt, afraid to say anything. One wrong word could ruin everything.[]
She believed her performance back at the office had been convincing enough.[]
But Nathan…
Vivian stole glances at his profile. He looked normal on the surface, but his clenched jaw and white knuckles on the steering wheel gave away his emotional state.[]
Nathan still cared about that bitch.[]
Vivian closed her eyes and pretended to rest weakly while her mind worked overtime.
They reached Mount Sinai in record time. Nathan jumped out of the car.
Vivian hurried to follow, but “coughed up blood” again as she got out.|[]
“I’m fine,” Vivian said, wiping the fake blood from her lips. “I’m dying anyway. Go check on Amelia first.“[]
Nathan’s face was tight with worry, but Vivian pushed him toward the hospital entrance, playing the selfless martyr perfectly.[]
“I’ll go see how she is. Take care of yourself,” Nathan said through gritted teeth.]
“Okay,” Vivian nodded.]]
She watched Nathan stride into the hospital, then immediately pulled out her phone to check her messages.
Nathan walked fast, then faster, then broke into a run without even realizing how panicked he was.[]
He got directions to Amelia’s room, but Harper blocked his path at the door.
Nathan’s jaw was clenched so tight it hurt.[]
“How is she?” he demanded.]
Harper didn’t answer immediately, just studied him suspiciously.
“What?” Nathan tried to control his frustration.[]
J
3
Harper thought about what the police officer had told her. Could Nathan have orchestrated this to get rid of Amelia so he could marry Vivian? Especially after ignoring all those desperate phone calls…]
But she didn’t know how to ask without sounding crazy.
Seeing Nathan’s patience wearing thin, she tried a different approach: “Do you absolutely have to marry Vivian? Can’t wait even one more day?”
Nathan stared at her. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Harper didn’t know how to respond.[]
Seeing her hesitation, Nathan couldn’t control his anxiety any longer: “Get out of my way!“]
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Chapter 17
Chapter 17
Seeing she couldn’t stop him, Harper just asked directly.
“Did you have someone run her down?“]
“What the hell?” Nathan’s eyes narrowed. “Weren’t you the one who told me to come here?“]
Something clicked, and his voice turned ice–cold. “What exactly happened to her?“]
“Nathan,” Harper snapped, pulling him aside. “Someone deliberately tried to hit her with their car-
But before she could finish explaining-
“Nathan!” Vivian had caught up.
She’d wiped the fake blood off her face–couldn’t risk Harper the doctor seeing her little prop kit. Now she just looked worried. “How’s Amelia?“]]
Harper’s rage spiked the moment she saw Vivian.[]
“You came to see Amelia and brought her with you?” Harper pointed at Vivian furiously. “Are you trying to kill her with stress?“]
Without waiting for an answer, Harper dragged them toward the emergency stairwell, away from Amelia’s room.
Vivian seemed startled, shrinking behind Nathan as she said sweetly, “Dr. Lopez, it’s not what you think. I was in the car when you called Nathan.“]
“We couldn’t pull over safely, and Nathan was so worried about Amelia that we just came straight here together.“[]
Harper thought this was complete bullshit. Nathan knew Amelia hated Vivian, but he still brought her up here anyway? Like he couldn’t have left her in the car or told her to wait at a coffee shop?
Give me a break
“Oh right, I almost forgot,” Harper said with toxic sweetness. “You two were photographed together leaving Harrison Industries tonight. Saw it trending on Twitter.”
“You-” Vivian’s eyes filled with crocodile tears.
In the stairwell, Nathan pulled Vivian protectively behind him.[]
Harper felt even more disgusted watching this performance.]
Making out all over the internet, then showing up at the hospital still playing happy couple.]
Were they here because Nathan was worried about Amelia, or to rub their relationship in her face?
“If you want to put on a show, get the fuck out! I’m not dealing with this shit!“]
Vivian stayed quiet, playing the wounded victim.]
Nathan frowned, “Don’t take it out on her. What did you mean about someone deliberately hitting Amelia?“]
“Someone tried to murder her with their car. I think you hired them.” Harper dropped all pretense. “I think you want Amelia dead so you can marry your girlfriend without the hassle of divorce proceedings.”
Before Nathan could respond, Vivian stepped forward.]
“Dr. Lopez, that’s seriously insulting,” Vivian said righteously. “There could be dozens of reasons for Amelia’s accident. How can you just blame Nathan like that?”
She looked genuinely outraged. “You called Nathan and told him to come here Now we’re here, and you won’t even let us see how Amelia is doing.
7
Chapter 17
What’s your game, Dr. Lopez?“]
“Is Amelia completely fine and you’re afraid to let us see her?“]
That last accusation sent Harper over the edge.[]
She thought about how Amelia had looked when the ambulance brought her in–covered in blood, barely conscious.[]
She thought about learning the details of the attack, how terrified she’d been.[]
Amelia had Rh–negative blood, which made any injury dangerous even without the pregnancy.
And this bitch Vivian had the nerve to imply Amelia was faking?
“Vivian, you’re so eager to defend him–did you hire someone to run her down?” Harper shot back.
“What?” A flash of panic crossed Vivian’s face before she covered it with hurt.
Nathan stepped in front of Vivian. “Vivian was being followed by paparazzi from 8:45 PM when she left her studio. Her entire evening is documented online, and she’s been with me since then.“[]
Harper gritted her teeth. “She could’ve hired someone else to do it.“[]
Nathan’s expression turned dangerous. “That’s enough, Harper!“]]
Inside the hospital room, Amelia drifted through endless darkness.
The blackness felt like quicksand, pulling her deeper and threatening to swallow her whole.[]
She felt like she was forgetting something important. Something she needed to fight for.[]
Fear and panic gripped her.[]
She tried to climb out, but her arms and legs wouldn’t obey.
After what felt like eternity, she saw a pinpoint of light in the distance.
Using every ounce of strength she had, Amelia crawled toward that light.]
. The moment she touched it, she saw a vision of a happy family of three in a beautiful townhouse.[]
Pure white wool rugs, a black baby grand piano.[]
A little girl sat on the piano bench, her small fingers pressing out halting, unpracticed notes.]
Für Elise.
3
A breeze through the old–fashioned windows lifted the white lace curtains. Golden afternoon light filled the European–style living room.
Bright and beautiful.
The little girl got frustrated after stumbling through the same passage several times and started banging random keys.
Then a gentle, handsome man approached her.
His voice was warm, seeming to echo across time: “Mia, you need to be patient.“[]
The little girl pouted, her big dark eyes full of frustration.
Her lips formed a perfect pout as she complained, “Daddy, I’ve been practicing for over a week and I still can’t get it right. It’s too hard!”
The man smiled and ruffled her hair, sitting beside her on the bench. He played a passage for her–Für Elise, perfectly executed.]
While playing, he looked at her and said, “See, Mia? Daddy learned it
finitely do it too.“|]
Chapter 17
The girl’s eyes shone with pure adoration.[]
“Wow! When did you learn that?“[]
The man chuckled softly, taking her hands and guiding her fingers across the keys. From clumsy to smooth, the melody flowed from their joined hands.
“Daddy learned it recently too,” he said encouragingly. “Because my little girl was learning piano, so I learned with her.“[]
The girl played seriously, then said with genuine admiration, “Daddy, you’re amazing!“]
“You’re the amazing one,” the man smiled, gradually letting go of her hands as she continued playing without realizing.
“All you need to do is believe in yourself.“]
He released her hands completely.
“You’re my only daughter. Everything I have is yours. From the moment you were born, it was destined–you’re the future of the Visconti family.”
“Daddy, can I really do it?” the girl asked uncertainly.[]
“You can,” the man said gently.[]
The melody flowed like a warm breeze as the man looked at his daughter with pure love and pride.[]
“Look,” he said softly, “you’re already doing it.“[]
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