Wesley's eyes widened in surprise. "How could I forget? Your grandmother nearly collapsed from the shock. Thank goodness you followed that young lady back home."

Owen gave a slow nod. "That woman was Anna. She was only thirteen, and she'd been taken too. She risked everything to help me escape."

"Anna?" Wesley stared at him, stunned by the revelation.

A shadow passed over Owen's face. "That same year, she was in a terrible car crash. I've always felt something was off about it, but no matter how hard I searched, nothing suspicious ever turned up. The accident left her the way she is now. Marrying her is the only way I can get her out from under the Russells' thumb. It's all I can do for her, Wesley, before my time runs out."

Wesley's playful demeanor faded, replaced by a rare seriousness. "Who says your time's up? I'm meeting with Dr. Bradley today. There might be a miracle out there—someone with a real cure. Don't throw away your hope yet."

Owen let his head rest against the back of his wheelchair, resignation softening his voice. "The doctors say I have half a year left, at most. There's no sense in chasing miracles."

He motioned for Roderick to pass a folder of documents to Wesley. "I need you to handle everything if I'm gone."

Wesley flipped through the papers, his shock plain. "You're leaving everything to Anna? Won't that just paint a target on her back?"

Owen's reply was steady. "That's why I need you to watch over her. When I'm gone, she'll have no one else. I just want her to live a quiet, safe life."

A determined look settled on Wesley's face. "I'll keep trying for a cure. But if anything happens, you have my word—no one will touch Anna as long as I'm here."

With nothing left unsaid, Owen signaled for Roderick to take him back to his room.

"We've arrived, Mr. White."

"Go ahead and get things ready. You don't have to stay with me," Owen responded.

"Understood."

Owen pushed the door open and saw the wedding dress lying abandoned on the floor.

He could hear the water running in the bathroom, so he rolled himself inside, switched on the lamp by the window, and quietly picked up a book to read.

Anna came out of the bathroom with only a towel around her, and her face turned cold as soon as she saw Owen.

Owen glanced up at her right then.

He noticed water dripping from her hair and motioned for her to come closer. "Why didn't you dry your hair before coming out here?"

Anna quickly hid her reaction, forcing a simple smile as she walked toward Owen with her hair still wet. "It'll dry on its own."

"You really should dry it first, or you'll end up with a cold," Owen said, reaching for a towel and gently patting her hair dry.

Anna kept sneaking glances at Owen while he did this. He was gentle, and he did not seem to be pretending.

Why was he being so nice to someone everyone called a simpleton?

Owen noticed the purple marks and scabs on Anna's arms. Some were old, and some looked fresh, which meant she had taken a bad beating. When he spoke again, his voice was cold. "Where did those bruises on your arms come from?"

Anna lowered her gaze to her arms and pushed out a small pout. "Daddy hit me because I kept sneaking extra food."

She slipped closer and wrapped both hands around Owen's arm while she blinked up at him. "I promise I won't sneak food again. Please don't hit me. I can't stand getting hurt."

"You're safe here. You can eat whatever you want, and no one will lay a hand on you," Owen reassured her as he rested his hand on her head. "I'll make sure no one ever bullies you."

Anna brightened at his words and threw her arms around him, swaying as if she were playing a game. "You're so nice to me. I feel happy."

Even with the towel between them, Owen could sense the softness of her chest. His body went rigid for a moment, though he still allowed her to cling to him.

While she stayed wrapped around him, her expression shifted into something far colder.

Her fingers brushed the ring on her hand, and she slipped out a thin silver wire with practiced ease. If she chose to strike now, she could end this man's life without a single witness.

Suddenly, brilliant bursts of fireworks streaked across the night sky, casting vivid colors over the darkness outside.

A gentle hand rested on Anna's back as Owen spoke up. "Annie, didn't you say you wanted to catch the fireworks?"

Turning toward the window, Anna watched the dazzling show, her fingers loosening their hold on the silver thread. She let go and glanced up at Owen.

"Why don't you go get changed?" Owen suggested, his voice quiet and kind. "I'll have someone bring you downstairs so you can watch the show up close, all right?"

With a dazed nod, Anna rose to her feet, following his suggestion without protest.

A phone buzzed on the table, and as Owen reached for it, a sudden grimace twisted his face. Without warning, he doubled over, coughing until blood splattered into his hand.

His fingers pressed desperately to his lips as another harsh cough wracked his chest.

Alarm flashed in Anna's eyes. Was he dying right in front of her?

Blood stains slipped between Owen's shaking fingers.

Fearing she might see too much, Owen turned his head away. He forced out words between ragged breaths, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Annie... You need to get out of here... Tell Roderick to take you downstairs."

Anna's gaze narrowed as she studied Owen's face. Was he really trying to protect her even now?

A fresh wave of coughing overtook him, and this time Owen slumped sideways, unable to hold himself up any longer.

"Owen!" Dropping to her knees, Anna caught him as he started to fall.

Everything around Owen turned into a haze. His sight faded, and just before darkness took over, he tried to catch one last glimpse of Anna's face. "You have to go!" he managed to say before he blacked out.

Anna hesitated while holding Owen close, unsure what to do next.

Killing him now didn't feel right. She looked down at him lying helpless, slipped into Owen's shirt, then carefully shifted him onto the bed so he lay flat.

Fingers reached for his buttons, ready to check his injuries, but a sudden bang shattered the quiet—someone had thrown open the door.

"Mr. White!"

"Owen!"

Anna barely had time to move before a sharp pain jolted through her wrist, and someone yanked her to the floor.

"Out of the way, you idiot!"

A crowd poured in, and several people in white coats rushed to Owen's side, immediately beginning emergency treatment as he lay unconscious.

Gregg's face was tight with worry. "How is he? Will Owen be okay?"

"His condition is far more serious than before." One doctor glanced up with uncertainty. "Honestly... I can't promise he'll wake up this time."

"What did you just say?" Shock slammed into Gregg as the news sank in.

His expression turned grim, and he slumped backward, overcome.

"Grandpa!"

"Dad!"

Family members rushed in to keep Gregg from falling, steadying him with anxious hands.

Once Gregg was safely settled, Ezra White, Owen's uncle, fixed a serious look on everyone. "What exactly happened here?"

"Dad! It's all because of that simpleton!" Nathan White, Ezra's son, exploded with anger. He stood beside the bed and swung his foot hard, sending Anna crashing backward as she tried to sit up.

Anna hit the floor with a thud, air knocked from her lungs.

Rage burning in his eyes, Nathan shouted, "The Russell family had the nerve to marry a simpleton off to Owen! They just held a ceremony, and his condition has gotten worse!"

He fisted a handful of Anna's hair and jerked her upright, forcing her to look at him. "Owen wouldn't be like this if it weren't for you. Someone has to pay for it."

Anna's shoulders curled inward as her voice trembled. "I didn't hurt anyone... I really didn't."

Nathan's face twisted with scorn. "Still pretending you're innocent?" he spat. "You're strutting around in a towel, clearly trying to lure him into your bed and you're the reason he is having an episode again!"

He didn't wait to finish before striking Anna across the face, the sound echoing in the room.

Pain exploded in Anna's cheek, snapping her head to the side.

"And even someone like you can play at seduction? Is this what the Russell family call raising a daughter?" Nathan snarled, his voice laden with disdain.

Blood trickled from Anna's split lip as she shivered, barely managing to speak. "I didn't do anything."

Ezra's tone was solemn. "Dad, Owen always knew his condition was serious, but after being fooled by that woman from the Russell family, he took a turn for the worse. If his wristband alarm hadn't gone off, we might not have made—"

He fell silent when Gregg's glare cut him off.

"Enough! Not another word!"

Struggling to control his breathing, Gregg fixed a stormy gaze on Anna. "You've brought nothing but trouble. Take her back to the Russell family where she belongs!"

A group of servants rushed in and grabbed Anna by the arms, hauling her toward the door.

"Mr. Jones is here with Dr. Bradley!" Roderick hurried in from outside, his eyes widening when he saw Anna being dragged away. For a moment he looked stunned, then he darted forward, stepping between Anna and the servants. "Mrs. White!"

"Mrs. White?" Nathan's lips curled into a sneer. "You really think she deserves to be called Mrs. White? She nearly killed Owen. She's not worthy of being his wife!"

Planting himself firmly in front of Anna, Roderick faced Gregg and spoke calmly. "Sir, before anything happened, Mr. White made it clear that all his personal property and company shares would be left to his wife."

The room tensed as Ezra shot up from his seat, palm slamming onto the table. "That's impossible! Owen would never leave everything to her!"

Roderick barely had time to steady himself as Nathan shoved him aside, shouting, "So you want a cut of Owen's fortune, Roderick? Don't tell me you think we'll believe this story!"

He clamped a hand down on Anna's arm. "We're being generous even letting her keep her life! And now she is after Owen's property? She's out of her mind!"

Nathan could not believe what he was hearing. Had Owen truly lost his mind, leaving his entire fortune to someone like Anna?

Each new thought only added fuel to Nathan's temper. Fixating on Anna as she knelt, bruised and shaken, he let his anger boil over and raised his hand to strike her once more.

But before he could land the blow, a sudden force shoved him back several steps. "What the—"

His anger faltered the moment he realized Wesley stood before him. Nathan swallowed his curse, his voice subdued. "Mr. Jones."

Wesley calmly reached down and lifted Anna to her feet, pausing to make sure she was steady before placing himself between her and Nathan. He turned to Gregg, his tone unwavering. "Gregg, Roderick is telling the truth."

Without hesitation, Wesley passed a folder to Roderick, signaling for it to be handed over. "This is Owen's will. He personally asked me to see that everything he owned would go to his wife if anything ever happened to him."