Inside the upscale hospital suite, a phone buzzed repeatedly on the table, ignored as the couple nearby remained fully absorbed in their heated embrace.

"Gavin, Bethany keeps calling you again. Tell me, between the two of us, who matters more to you?"

The woman's expression was playful and seductive—she was Nicole Nelson, Bethany's half-sister.

Gavin silenced the phone and pulled her closer, his tone full of indulgence. "You, obviously. Bethany is unbearably boring—she can't compare to you at all. The only reason I've stayed with her is because she's supposed to inherit part of your family's shares. Without that, she wouldn't even be worth my time."

A calculating light flickered in Nicole's eyes. "Those shares are still in the hands of her unstable mother. Bethany won't receive anything until she marries, but honestly, that day will never come."

"Why not?" Gavin asked, intrigued.

"If Shirley dies before Bethany marries, the shares will revert to my father for redistribution." Nicole's lips curved into a cold smile. "Shirley has leukemia, right? And guess who just happens to be a perfect donor match?"

Just as Bethany reached for the door, her movement froze as a dreadful realization began to form in her mind.

"It's me!" Nicole laughed smugly. "Bethany would never guess that the donor is actually me. As long as I refuse, her mother has no choice but to wait for death. And once she's gone, I'll have my father transfer those shares straight into my name."

"You're brilliant, baby," Gavin said, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "So, will you be my girl?"

Nicole tapped his chest lightly, smiling. "I've belonged to you for a long time now. Isn't the answer obvious?"

Their gazes met, filled with mutual understanding, before they drew each other close and kissed with intensity.

Outside the room, Bethany watched them, fury blazing in her eyes as a bitter metallic taste rose in her throat.

So it had all been nothing but deception.

Every word Gavin had spoken about loving her had been false. Even the donor who meant to save her mother was part of a lie. It had all been carefully planned.

The future they were so eagerly anticipating would be built upon her mother's death.

This was something she could never forgive.

A cold resolve formed within her—she would make them pay for this.

Casting one last venomous glance inside, Bethany turned and left in silence, heading toward the transplant unit upstairs.

Inside, Shirley lay asleep on the bed, an IV needle inserted into the back of her hand. After she underwent conditioning, her body had grown so frail that she could hardly sustain basic life functions without the IV.

Bethany remained outside the glass door, watching her as the doctor's message echoed repeatedly in her mind.

Without the transplant, Shirley wouldn't survive beyond a week.

Bethany didn't allow herself a moment of hesitation and began dialing every contact she had.

Nicole would never agree to donate, and Gavin, the man she once believed was her last hope, had proven himself to be nothing more than a cruel liar.

She was left with no option but to find another solution.

Yet among countless people, locating a compatible bone marrow donor on such short notice was nearly impossible.

Slowly, the first light of dawn began to appear.

Bethany had exhausted every contact in her list, but none of them could help.

A heavy knocking sound suddenly broke the silence, and Bethany lifted her head.

At some point, Shirley had climbed out of bed. Separated by the thick glass door, she was striking it repeatedly while grinning at Bethany, her expression erratic and unsettling.

Over the years, others had labeled Shirley as insane, but to Bethany, she had always remained the same gentle and caring mother.

But at this moment, Bethany found herself unable to face her.

It felt as though there was no solution left to find.

Bethany instinctively stepped back, unable to meet Shirley's eyes.

With nowhere left to retreat, Bethany found herself cornered. Meanwhile, Shirley continued to stretch her neck toward her, smiling innocently, completely unaware of the fate awaiting her.

Unable to hold back any longer, Bethany sank to the floor along the wall, burying her face in her hands as sobs overtook her.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.

Through tear-blurred vision, Bethany looked up to see several men dressed in black standing before her. "Miss, our boss would like to meet you. Please come with us."

Outside the hospital entrance, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan was waiting.

Inside the back seat, Connor sat dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. His composed features exuded authority, while his long fingers occasionally tapped against his knee, revealing a trace of impatience.

At that moment, a bodyguard knocked on the window and bent slightly as he spoke respectfully. "Sir, we've brought her."

Bethany was completely confused as she was guided into the car, having no clue what was going on.

A low, firm voice sounded from beside her. "So, you're Bethany Nelson?"

A shiver ran through her entire body.

There was something strangely familiar about that voice.

She lifted her gaze and saw a man with sharply defined features, his eyes beneath thick brows cold, intense, and intimidating.

He was strikingly handsome, carrying a powerful and commanding presence.

A man like him was not someone one could easily forget after seeing once.

Bethany was certain she had never crossed paths with him before, and the familiarity she felt must have been nothing more than her imagination.

Pulling herself out of her thoughts, she lowered her gaze slightly and answered, "Yes, and who might you be?"

The man observed her closely, his gaze searching. "I'm Connor Roberts. There was once a marriage arrangement between our families, and I've come to fulfill it."

What?

Bethany faltered, her voice unsteady. "You mean... you intend to marry me?"

"You could say that," Connor answered calmly.

Bethany was completely stunned, unable to process it. Was this some kind of absurd joke?

Connor simply watched her in silence, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

His eyes were piercing and intense, as though they could see straight through her.

Her instincts immediately warned her that this man was dangerous.

Unease filled her to the point she could barely remain still. "Um—"

"When was the last time you showered?" Connor interrupted suddenly, cutting her off mid-sentence.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him. "Excuse me?"

"You don't smell very good," he stated flatly, as if unaware of how harsh it sounded.

Bethany's face instantly turned bright red.

A surge of embarrassment and humiliation washed over her.

She awkwardly adjusted the hem of her clothing, which was wrinkled, damp from the rain, and stained with dust from the hospital walls. She truly looked disheveled.

The redness spread down her neck as she dropped her gaze to her shoes, too ashamed to move.

Connor looked away and instructed the driver in a cold tone, "Take us to Iridale."

Without giving Bethany any chance to object, the car quickly drove off.

Iridale was a high-end neighborhood.

After arriving, Bethany got out and saw a two-story house standing prominently under the sunlight. Connor directed a maid to escort her to a bathroom.

Still affected by Connor's earlier remark, Bethany thought she noticed the maid subtly wrinkle her nose as she approached.

Feeling embarrassed, she quickly said, "I can take care of it myself."

The maid passed her a set of fresh clothes before stepping back a few paces. "Each room on the second floor comes with its own bathroom. You may use any, except for the third room from the east."

Bethany only wanted to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere. She nodded quickly, grabbed the clothes, and rushed upstairs without delay.

The second floor was lined with numerous rooms. She opened the room nearest to the staircase and headed straight into the bathroom.

As she removed her clothes, her body came into view, marked with patches of red. Overlapping hickeys and bite marks stood out clearly against her delicate skin.

She had expected some marks, but not to such an extent.

A sudden wave of sadness hit her, tears gathering in her eyes as she avoided looking at her reflection. She turned on the shower and let the hot water flow, blending with the tears running down her face.

It had been her first time having sex. She had intended to give it to the man she loved, only for it to be taken in such an unexpected and absurd way by someone else.

Worse, she didn't even know what that man looked like.

She scrubbed at her skin frantically, overwhelmed by sorrow, completely missing the faint sound of the bathroom door opening beneath the noise of the running water.

It was only when a chuckle cut through the sound that she realized someone else was in the room.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" Connor asked.

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Bethany snapped her head up.

Connor stood at the doorway, resting against the frame with folded arms, his lips curved in a mocking smile as he regarded her.

A startled breath escaped Bethany. In a panic, she quickly grabbed a towel to cover herself, panic written all over her face. "Why are you here? Get out!"

Connor narrowed his eyes, his tone edged with sarcasm. "Shouldn't that question be mine? What exactly are you doing in my bathroom?"

What?

For a split second, Bethany froze. Her gaze darted around the room, and only then did she notice the shelves lined neatly with men's toiletries.

Her mind went completely empty.

This was actually his room?

Heat rushed to her face almost immediately, embarrassment spreading uncontrollably. "I'm sorry. I must have gone into the wrong room. I'll leave immediately."

Flustered, she apologized while clutching the towel against herself with one hand and hastily gathering her clothes with the other, rushing toward the exit.

But just as she passed him, Connor's hand shot out, gripping her wrist.

Looking down at her, he spoke in a cold, warning tone. "If you have any sense at all, stop playing these ridiculous tricks. And besides..."

His eyes drifted to the marks scattered across her neck and shoulder, a trace of disdain flickering in his gaze. "Do you honestly think I would be interested in you?"

The contempt in his voice cut into Bethany like a blade.

She was aware Connor had misunderstood, yet she found herself unable to offer any explanation.

She couldn't deny stepping into his room, nor could she deny what had happened with another man.

Her lashes trembled faintly, the bitterness choking her words before they could leave her lips.

"Leave." Connor released her without another glance.

Bethany didn't linger for even a second. She hurried out, almost as if escaping.

Connor's gaze followed her retreating figure, his expression turning distant and cold.

What a shameless woman.

He had only come upstairs to shower. Due to the irrational fear of germs, that earlier car ride with her had already made him uncomfortable enough.

His eyes flicked briefly toward the bathroom she had just used. A faint frown formed between his brows before he turned away, heading instead toward the guest bathroom.

Meanwhile, Bethany rushed into a guest room on the west side. Once inside, she shut the door behind her and washed herself again and again—three times in total—before finally changing into the fresh clothes left by the maid.

Standing there, drying her hair, she pulled out her phone and searched Connor's name.

What she found left her completely speechless.

Connor belonged to the Roberts lineage, the most dominant and affluent family in Aloridge.

Her pulse quickened instantly. So Connor was from the Roberts family. If that was true, he might actually have the power to help with Shirley's medical situation.

A knock came at the door. A maid's voice followed from outside. "Miss Nelson, are you ready? Mr. Roberts is waiting for you in the living room."

"Coming," Bethany replied immediately. She switched off the hairdryer, ran her fingers through her slightly tangled hair, and made her way downstairs.

Inside the living room, Connor was stretched out comfortably on the sofa, idly scrolling on a tablet. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, exposing the lines of his strong forearm.

Hearing footsteps approach, he lifted his head, his expression shifting ever so slightly.

Bethany entered wearing a long black dress, her damp curls resting loosely over her shoulders. Her face looked clean and soft now, and her bright eyes gave off an innocent, almost vulnerable charm that instinctively drew attention.

Even Connor found himself unable to tear his gaze away from her.

Yet the marks on her collarbone were too obvious to ignore.

His expression remained indifferent. He looked away, placed the tablet down, and slid two documents across the table toward her. "This is the prenuptial contract. Go through it."

Bethany lowered herself onto the sofa opposite him, skimmed the papers briefly, and signed without wasting a second.

If marrying Connor meant saving her mother, then she saw no reason to hesitate.

Her quick acceptance caused a subtle shift in Connor's gaze.

In the car earlier, she had seemed shocked, yet now she signed so easily without a single question.

Connor, however, had only agreed to this marriage because of his grandfather's arrangement. It would last just one year, and her decisiveness spared him unnecessary complications.

He gestured to his assistant, who stepped forward to collect the papers. "If everything is fine, we'll head to the courthouse in three days and finalize the marriage."

"Alright," Bethany responded, trying to contain her excitement, surprised at how smoothly everything was progressing.

Just as Connor stood to leave, Bethany hurriedly stopped him. "Um, can I ask you for a favor?" She spoke softly, her tone cautious and slightly flattering.

Connor paused and glanced at her. "What does clause three of the agreement state?"

Bethany stiffened.

Clause three clearly stated that neither party would interfere in the other's private affairs.

That meant she had no right to ask him for anything.

Still unwilling to back down, she tried again. "It's very important. It concerns my—"

"Your matters have nothing to do with me," he cut in coldly.

Her expression immediately collapsed, disappointment flooding her face.

Connor sneered. With nothing left to gain, she stopped pretending altogether. And that was quicker than he had expected.

Without another glance, he turned and left, his assistant quickly following behind, leaving Bethany sitting alone, silent and defeated.

She had even given up her marriage, yet it still wasn't enough?

Outside the villa, the assistant followed Connor into the car. After a brief hesitation, he spoke carefully. "Sir, Miss Nelson looked like she really had something urgent to say. Should I investigate it privately?"

Connor turned his head slightly, his gaze icy. "She's just a woman without restraint. Why concern yourself with her?"

They had already received information about Bethany.

She was engaged to a man named Gavin, yet he had spent last night with her half-sister. The fresh marks on Bethany's skin clearly had nothing to do with him.

There was only one explanation—she had been unfaithful.

"My apologies, sir," the assistant said quickly, lowering his head.

Connor let out a cold scoff. Then, as if remembering something, his expression shifted slightly. "Any news about the woman from last night?"