Chapter 1

I was negotiating a huge business deal with a prospective client when I received the hospital's call. If I could score this deal, Castor Group would stand a better chance of turning the tables.

However, from the conversation, the client made his attitude clear to me—if not for the fact that I was Eugene Fort's wife, he wouldn't have given me the time of day.

That wasn't the most pressing matter, though. I panicked when I heard what the doctor told me over the phone and hurried off, not even remembering to apologize to the client before leaving.

I crouched by Dad's bedside, my face covered in tears as I watched him speak with difficulty. "I won't ask for anything else. All I hope is that you and Eugene are happy together…"

He looked behind me. "Where is he?"

I pulled out my phone with trembling hands. "He's busy at work. I'll call him right now."

The call connected but was rejected almost immediately. I tried again several times, but nothing changed.

Eugene and I had a business marriage alliance, but everyone knew I'd liked him since childhood. He, however, only had eyes for Ivy Green. Just as I thought my blatant crush on him would ultimately fail, he'd come to me and told me Ivy had leukemia. Coincidentally, my bone marrow was a match for hers.

So, we'd come to an agreement. He would give me the title of his wife and allow me to enjoy the perks that came with it, which I had for the past three years. In exchange, I would become a walking bone marrow donor and be on standby to save Ivy's life.

Over the years, Eugene and I had always pretended to be a loving couple before Dad. I didn't expect everything to come crashing down at this moment. I met Dad's gaze and lied through my teeth. "Eugene's having a meeting, Dad. I'll bring him to you."

Dad looked hesitant as he stared listlessly at the ceiling. Ultimately, he nodded. "Okay…"

…

When I hurried to Eugene's company, his secretary, Michael Lowry, barred me from entering. Michael raised an eyebrow before signaling behind him. Then, he smiled and said, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Fort. You have no permission to enter the building."

The trained bodyguards behind him surrounded me. I tried to push them away so I could get past them, but they didn't budge. I was on the verge of tears as I pleaded, "I have an emergency, Mr. Lowry. My father…"

"I'm sorry. Mr. Fort said that you're not allowed inside regardless of the reason." Michael pulled out a card from behind him and read its contents. "'Mrs. Fort and dogs are not allowed entry.'"

The passersby who heard that burst into laughter, but I couldn't care less about them. I cried, "I'm not lying this time, Mr. Lowry. My father is really in trouble!"