Chapter 3

The steady sound of beeping filled the room. Her eyelids joined, as if dragged by cables, and the blinding whiteness of the room caused her to flinch. Her throat felt dry, and her body ached with an unfamiliar heaviness.

”She's coming at last," murmured a gently hopeful voice.

Erica blinked, her vision slowly focusing. With kind eyes and dark, wind swept hair, a woman leaned over her, relief and worry dancing in her features. Behind her stood a man with a strong jawline and broad shoulders, his arms crossed tightly as he studied Erica.

“Where…” Erica rasped, her voice harsh, her throat dry.

”Don't rush," the woman suggested, going for a glass of water on a bedside table. Gently she held it to Erica's lips and allowed her to take a drink. The cool liquid soothed her dry throat, but the questions floating in her mind only increased.

“You’re safe now,” the man said, his deep voice reassuring. “We found you by the river two months ago. You were in bad shape, but you’re alive. That’s what matters.”

Two months. The words struck Erica like a lightning bolt. Instinctively, her hands went to her abdomen and the tips moved shakily as they made contact with the slight cut under the hospital sheet.

“The baby?” she whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

The woman's mouth stretched, and she patted Erica on th arm reassuringly. “Your baby’s fine. It’s a miracle, really. The doctors say you’re both fighters.”

Relief washed over Erica in waves, her body sagging against the pillows as tears rolled down her face. Her baby. The tiny life inside her had survived.

***

In the weeks that followed, Erica grew stronger. Sophie and Ryan, the couple who had saved her, visited her daily, their concern evident in every gesture. Sophie was kind, and ready to give a comforting and ready to hear ear all the time. Ryan, though quieter, showed a protective strength that Erica found comforting.

Sophie was the one who first suggested she stay with them once she was discharged.

“You need time to find yourself again,” Sophie had said, her voice gentle but firm.

Ryan had nodded in agreement. “We’ll help you. You’ve got more strength in you than you realize. It’s time you learned to use it.”

The days turned to months and as promised, Sophie and Ryan, became Erica's sponsors. They trained her the techniques that will allow her to move through a world she has never been completely equipped to deal with. Sophie, a polished and confident businesswoman, coached Erica on everything from public speaking to negotiation tactics. Ryan introduced her to the corporate world, teaching her the intricacies of business and finance.

Erica absorbed it all like a sponge, her determination burning brighter with each passing day. The shy, uncertain woman she had once been faded away, replaced by someone sharper, stronger, and more self-assured.

Her appearance transformed too. Gone were the soft waves of her golden-brown hair; now it was sleek and cut to frame her face with precision. Her clothes changed from simple pastels to masculine power appropriate suits, chic and flamboyant. Even her demeanor shifted—her posture straighter, her gaze more direct, her smile calculated rather than shy

Months later, Erica gave birth to a baby boy.

By the time Sophie and Ryan presented to her the opportunity to lead a team project with one of their partnering companies, Erica was prepared.

When Erica stepped off the plane in the city she had once called home, she felt like a stranger. Streets, buildings, even the very air—all of them held memories she had spent months trying to forget. But she wasn’t the same woman who had left this place in pieces.

Clicking heels against the marble floor she confidently moved into the stunning glass tower where the meeting was to take place. Her assistant, a young man named Caleb, hurried to keep up with her fast movement.

”We're about to go meet the CEO of Whitfield Enterprises, in just ten minutes," Caleb announced, looking over his tablet as they entered the elevator.

Erica's step stopped for a moment, her heart beat once less. She covered her response with a slight shift of her head. “Whitfield Enterprises?”

“Yes, ma’am. One of the top firms in the industry. They're really looking forward to this working relationship," Caleb said, blind to the anger behind Erica's calm face.

Whitfield Enterprises. Asher’s company. Of course, fate wouldn't send her bouncing back without forcing him to hers.

Erica balanced her shoulders, her reflection in the elevator doors staring back at her with a calmness she didn’t entirely feel. If she was going to face him, she would do so on her terms. He wouldn’t recognize her—not as the naive, heartbroken woman he had discarded.

”All right", she said, her voice as steady. “Let’s make this meeting count.”

The doors opened and they slid open and Caleb motioned her to come into the hallway with him. The Whitfield Enterprise office was a stylish, contemporary and luxurious space that was elegant but not overdone.

A receptionist directed them to the boardroom, her gaze lingering on Erica with a mixture of awe and curiosity. Erica barely noticed, her focus locked on the door ahead.

Caleb let her in and she walked in with her head held high.

The room was filled with murmurs as the executives on Asher’s team exchanged introductions. Erica quickly glanced at the faces, but none of them were Asher's.

“Ms. Vaughn,” a man greeted her, extending his hand. “We’re honored to have you here. Our CEO should be joining us shortly.”

Erica shook his hand, her grip firm. “Thank you. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.

They were barely seated when the door opened again, and every sound in the room seemed to fade.

Asher Whitfield stepped inside, his presence commanding as ever. His sharp suit closed around him as though it’s his second skin and his hair, chestnut in color, was stylishly parted into a neat style. But it wasn’t his appearance that caught Erica’s attention—it was the way his hazel eyes widened in shock when they landed on her.

Erica met his gaze, her expression unreadable. Her pulse beat through her head, but she did not give it away.

Asher blinked, and his carefully constructed demeanor went down. 

“Erica?” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, disbelief in his voice.