Bang!

The clinic door was kicked open so violently that it slammed against the wall.

Rose's pen had just touched the paper when the noise startled her hand, dragging a jagged line straight across the contract. She froze for a split second, then looked up—

And locked eyes with her husband, Ryan Knight.

His silk robe hung loosely open. Blood—dark, sticky, unmistakable—stained his collar, his arms, even the spaces between his fingers.

In his arms, he carried a woman. Her nightgown was soaked through at the hem, and soft, broken moans spilled from her lips.

Rose had never seen Ryan like this in the seven years of their marriage—disheveled, panicked, completely undone.

And every bit of it… was for another woman.

A nurse rushed in behind him and tried to block his way.

"Sir, you can't just barge in like this!"

Then she turned to Rose urgently. "Dr. Bennett, the patient likely has a vaginal tear with heavy bleeding. I'll take her to the ER—"

Ryan ignored her completely.

His eyes locked onto Rose's face, unyielding, his voice hoarse and absolute.

"Help her."

Rose tightened her grip on the pen, her knuckles turning pale.

—

Twenty minutes earlier.

The clinic had been quiet, filled only with the low hum of a computer fan.

A stack of documents lay spread out in front of Rose. On the top page, several words had been circled in red ink:

Share Transfer Agreement.

Beside it rested a thin piece of paper—Her daughter, Ariel's birth certificate. The edges were worn soft from being handled too many times.

On the computer screen, a little girl with twin pigtails stood on tiptoe, pressing closer to the camera. Her eyes sparkled as if they might leap right out of the screen.

"Mommy, is it true? Am I really coming to see you? Am I finally going to meet Daddy?!"

Rose's fingers paused on the document. A faint smile curved her lips.

"Mm. Soon."

But she didn't answer the question about her father.

The child didn't notice. She was too caught up in excitement.

"Yay! Uncle Caleb said he's going to get me the biggest suitcase ever! I'm bringing all my toys!"

At the edge of the frame stood Caleb Byrne. His expression was so dark it was almost hard to look at.

One hand rested lightly on the girl's shoulder as he spoke in a low voice.

"Rose, have you really thought this through? The company only went public three months ago. If you transfer your shares now, Dr. Hale is going to lose his mind. You're the student he values most. You've already stayed out of the spotlight long enough to frustrate him."

Seven years ago, a revolutionary platform called Aetheris Medical AI had taken the industry by storm.

It single-handedly transformed an unknown startup into a publicly listed company and became one of the most influential medical technologies in the United States.

And its creator—

Was Rose Bennett.

She had worked alongside her mentor, Dr. Nathan Hale, digitizing decades of pharmaceutical research, clinical case studies, and treatment data.

And now… she was walking away from all of it.

"I know, Caleb," Rose replied vaguely.

Her gaze dropped to the birth certificate again—specifically to the blank space under Father.

For five years, it had remained empty.

It couldn't stay that way anymore.

"Caleb, I know there'll be consequences. I don't want to disappoint Hale, but Ariel is already five. She shouldn't have to stay hidden. She deserves to meet her father… and maybe… he deserves to know she exists."

Even she could hear the hesitation in her voice.

On the other side of the screen, Ariel perked up at the mention of her name—and her father.

She leaned in closer, eyes shining.

"Mommy, are you talking about me? And Daddy? What are you saying?"

Children didn't understand the weight behind adult words. To her, it all sounded like something wonderful. Her bright, curious gaze flickered between them, making it impossible to lie.

Caleb exhaled and forced a smile.

"We're saying Ariel is the cutest girl in the whole world."

Then he gently covered her ears and looked straight at Rose, lowering his voice to a near whisper—but every word burned.

"And him? Does your FUCKING husband, Ryan Knight, even want her? Don't tell me you've forgotten what he said."

The room fell silent.

Rose's smile froze.

Of course she hadn't forgotten.

Seven years ago, a marriage arranged to preserve family reputation had bound her to Ryan. The prenuptial agreement was clear—seven years, then a clean divorce. No ties.

She hadn't even changed her last name. She was still Rose Bennett.

No one knew she was married.

She had never expected love from that marriage.

And yet, over those long, cold years, she had given her heart away inch by inch.

That was the one secret she had never told anyone.

But an even bigger secret came from six years ago—

That unexpected night.

They had both been drinking. Neither had been prepared for what happened. When she saw the two lines on the pregnancy test, she had been overwhelmed with joy.

For a fleeting, foolish moment, she believed a child might warm something between them.

She flew to Paris with the test results in hand, stood in front of him, suppressing every emotion—

And got only this:

"Why are you here? Did anyone see you?"

It was obvious. He didn't want anyone to know he had a wife.

"I'm warning you," he had said coldly. "Don't say anything you shouldn't. You know exactly what we are."

Even so, she had asked, "Ryan… your grandmother wants us to have a child. What do you think?"

He didn't hesitate.

"We're not having children."

Then his gaze dropped briefly to her flat stomach.

"If you're pregnant—no matter who the father is—get rid of it. And if this is some kind of test, let me make it clear. I don't want a child."

There had been no room left for illusions.

At least he hadn't lied.

But the truth cut deeper than anything else.

He hated the marriage. He hated her.

So of course… he would never love a child connected to her.

She should have known.

After that, she never mentioned it again. She went to California alone, gave birth to Ariel, and left her in Dr. Hale's care. She visited when she could.

And hid her… for five years.

But children grow up.

They start asking questions like, "Everyone else has a dad… where's mine?"

And Rose could no longer keep giving vague answers like "He's busy."

She could see the light fading from Ariel's eyes.

She couldn't let her daughter keep waiting for someone who would never come.

Or one day, Ariel would hate her for it.

Looking at her daughter's small, squished face on the screen, Rose finally made her decision.

Her hands moved faster over the documents, flipping through page after page for a final check.

"I know what you're trying to say, Caleb. But you also know this—I have to go back to my family eventually. Ariel deserves both her parents. If I can't stay in California, then handing the company over is the best option. I've already accomplished everything I wanted. Success, money, reputation… none of that matters to me."

She paused.

"Hale will understand."

Caleb opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing. He just sighed heavily, looking utterly frustrated.

Meanwhile, Ariel had caught the only thing that mattered to her.

"Mommy! Daddy! Daddy! I'm going to meet Daddy, right?!"

Rose couldn't help but laugh. Her eyes softened in a way they rarely did.

She didn't answer directly.

But she nodded.

For the first time, she gave her daughter hope.

Even if it was just a gamble—

Even if there was only the smallest chance—

She wanted to believe Ryan wasn't that cold.

That he might accept their daughter.

That he might… accept the love she had carried for seven years.

Rose took a deep breath, flipped to the last page, and uncapped her pen—

Bang!

But all of it was cut short by a shrill crash as the door splintered open.

—

The nurse mistook Rose's silence for shock and said awkwardly,

"All the ER doctors on duty today are male, so…"

So her husband couldn't bear the thought of another man examining his mistress—

But had no problem forcing his wife to do it?

Rose couldn't understand it.

Even with her professionalism, she couldn't pretend she didn't know what had happened.

A man and a woman. Nightclothes. A vaginal tear.

The conclusion was obvious.

For once, she almost wished she wasn't such a skilled doctor.

Ryan didn't seem to care. He bent down, murmuring softly to the woman in his arms, his voice so gentle it felt foreign.

"It's okay. It won't hurt soon."

Rose tightened her grip on the pen until it nearly snapped.

Behind her, the laptop screen was still on.

Ariel saw the change in her mother's expression and called out anxiously, her small voice clear and bright:

"Mommy! What's wrong?! Is that Daddy?! Daddy! Daddy!"

Ryan stiffened.

As if pulled by something unseen, his gaze shifted toward the still-open laptop.

But Rose was faster.

Snap—

She slammed it shut.

Then quickly pulled the unsigned documents into her arms, covering the most important words.

Everything she had just decided to reveal—

Hidden again.

Ryan's eyes moved from the laptop… to her hands… then back to her face. Suspicion flickered in his gaze.

"Who were you talking to?"

Rose met his eyes calmly, her voice cold and steady.

"Nothing."

She paused.

"Just a poor girl… whose father died."