In just a few years, with the resources of my family, the Hoffmans grew from a small outfit to a globally recognized brand.

I gave my all to him, sometimes feeling it was never enough.

I never saw it coming. Wren just had to show up, and I was beaten, utterly and completely.

"You want to call it off? Fine! Since Wren's back, I can finally chase after my own slice of happiness! Yara Lawrence, you've only got yourself to blame for this mess!"

…

He tried to intimidate me with his gaze, yet I could not help but laugh.

Did he really think I would still be at his beck and call after everything that has happened?

He was about to storm off when the phone cut through the silence, sharp and demanding.

"Yes, I'm Wren's partner. What's going on now?"

Whatever the voice on the other end said, it knocked the color right out of Trevin's face, sending him stumbling backwards.

"Get the treatment started, the best there is, I'm calling the shots here!"

Once he hung up, his eyes darted to mine, a flicker of guilt betraying him.

"Wren's taken a turn for the worse. She needs this special serum to kick her immune system into gear, and the one you've been waiting on just got here. Give it to her!"

I could not help but scoff, my words deliberate and biting. "Is she even worth it?"

That serum was worth a fortune. It was not something just anyone could buy. It had been reserved for my granddad five years ago, and I had called in more than a few favors to secure it.

Did he expect me to just hand it over on his say-so? The nerve of this guy!

Trevin went pale, but then an icy laugh escaped him.

"Yara, isn't all this just your way of trying to trap me into marrying you? Alright, I'll bite. Once Wren's better, we'll have our wedding. Happy now? Just give up the serum."

He acted like he was doing me a huge favor, barely hiding his annoyance.

When I did not budge, Trevin spat out his next words with venom.

"If not, you can go ahead and have the wedding by yourself tomorrow! Imagine that, no groom, and the Lawrence family being the talk of the town!"

I stared into his eyes, wild with a kind of do-or-die craziness, and could not help but snort at the absurdity.

Turn the Lawrences into the town's joke?

As if he had the right!

I spun on my heel to leave when my assistant's message buzzed in with urgency.

Trevin had gone behind my back, using my name to send a concoction to Wren, and then it was in transit, pending my sign-off.

Trevin raced to me, his grip tight on my arm.

"Please, just sign it. Wren can't wait. Can't you just do this for me? It's already on its way. Wren will be grateful that you saved her. And your stubborn old man, it wouldn't make a difference to him with or without the serum…"

I cut him off with a slap that sent him reeling. His hand flew to his cheek, his eyes wide with shock.

"You hit me? Yara! You…"

I tuned out his swearing and floored it to the hospital.

My phone was relentless, ringing off the hook. I was about to shut it down when a new call stopped me cold.

I took a deep breath to steady myself.

Picking up, I was greeted by Edward Graham's taunting tone.

"Ms. Lawrence, are you sure about the wedding tomorrow?"

I let out a weary sigh. "I'm not one to flip-flop on something as serious as marriage."

"Really?" He tutted softly. "Seems to me you've been flip-flopping for years when it comes to men."

I massaged my temples at a red light, my voice steady.

"When it counts, I've always kept my head in the game. Plus, I need the Grahams' medical expertise, and you need new markets. Marrying into each other's families is just smart business."

After a brief silence, Edward's voice took on a more serious tone as he spoke.

"I have no intention of marrying you. Imagine the mess when that guy starts bawling, and you rush to his side. Splitting the companies would be a nightmare."

I checked the time on my dashboard; the hospital was just ten minutes away.

"Relax, I'm flying solo from here on out. See you at the wedding tomorrow."

I ended the call, feeling a weight lift off my chest.

However, as I was about to make a turn, a car I knew all too well rammed into me from behind.

The crash sent my car tumbling, pain exploding in my legs, the world turning a bloody hue.

Through the cracked window, I saw Trevin walking up, his eyes seething with bitterness.

"Yara, you've brought this on yourself. Wren can't be hurt!"

Ignoring my desperate state, he snatched my phone.

I tried to stop him, but I could not even muster the strength to get out of the wreck.

"Stop!"

"Stop?" Trevin sneered, playing with my phone as if I were nothing.

"Yara, to think you'd leave someone to die! I'm just locking in some good luck for you!"

I stared him down, teeth clenched in anger. "That's the serum my granddad's been waiting on for five years!"

Trevin gave me a dismissive look. "It's just a serum. Order another one. I'm sure the Lawrences have a backup plan. Don't be so stingy!

And really, your granddad had his time. Wouldn't we get a bigger cut of the inheritance if he were gone? You're so naive!"

Despite the pain, I could not help but laugh.

My loyalty, my granddad's life, they meant less to him than Wren.

However, he seemed to forget, his power and pride came from me.

"So, we're still on for the wedding?"

Trevin caught a glimpse of the text I had sent to my assistant and let out a derisive laugh, flipping his phone down in front of me.

"Looks like you're dead set on tying the knot with me. Now that we've got what we need, I guess marrying you isn't off the table, huh?"

I did not get a chance to respond before he started laying down his terms, his brow furrowed in thought.

"First off, once Wren's out of the hospital, she's living with us. I'm not comfortable with her being on her own.

"Second, you're going to transfer all your assets to Wren, to make sure she's taken care of. You can hang onto one of your companies.

"Third, I want a kid with Wren first, then we can talk about you and me having one. The Hoffman family line has to continue, after all.

"Small stuff, right? Can you handle that?"

His eyes bore into mine, filled with a confidence that seemed to say he knew I would say yes.

"Wren and I go way back, and since I can't marry her, I owe her that much in material support."

With that, he dashed off towards the hospital, leaving me staring at his back.

Struggling to get help, I passed out just as the ambulance sirens grew near.

I came to the hospital bed, nursing a broken right leg and a moderate concussion.

The doctor told me I was lucky to have called for help when I did. Any later, and the car explosion could have been catastrophic.

My assistant stood by, documents in hand, looking uncertain.

"Ms. Lawrence, about your marriage to Mr. Graham…"

I inhaled deeply. "Keep it on track."

......

Trevin was a constant presence by Wren's hospital bed, tending to her every need.

The phone by her side stayed quiet, no new messages lighting up the screen.

He tried to shrug off the nagging feeling in his chest, convincing himself,

'This is just Yara playing games, trying to reel me in. If I bite, she'll have me wrapped around her finger.'

His mind was a whirlwind of unease, so much so that he did not even notice when Wren stirred awake.

He flicked on the TV, hoping to find some distraction from his thoughts.

Trevin was rooted to the spot as he watched the Lawrence family's wedding of the century unfold live on TV.

The venue was a vision straight out of his dreams, stunning in every detail.

However, there, in bold letters, was the name 'Edward Graham' as the groom.