Chapter 6

Shannon Lynn finally came back from Tahiti, arms full of shopping bags.

Passing the study, she walked in on Landon Moore pinning Ivy to the desk, kissing her hard.

The bags crashed to the floor. Eyes red, she stared in disbelief. “Landon, I asked you to pick me up—you said you had a meeting. You lied to me!”

“Shannon…” Landon’s face shifted.

“How could you lie? You never lied to me before.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I shouldn’t have come back. I’m the one intruding.”

She spun and ran. “Shannon!” Landon released Ivy and sprinted after her.

Watching them go, the tiny ripple in Ivy’s heart stilled. Thank goodness Shannon arrived in time. After these days of closeness, Ivy had worried she might start to fall for Landon. He was dangerously handsome, energetic, and when he wanted to coax a woman, he could coax anyone.

It's too dangerous!

Back in her room, she started packing. But before long, Landon called: “Come to Moore Hospital. Shannon was hit by a car and needs blood. I remember you have RH negative blood, too.”

“Okay. I’m on my way.”

At the hospital, the surgery light stayed red. Landon stood outside, clothes splashed with blood, eyes fixed on the door—composure stripped away and anxiety etched across his face.

When Ivy arrived, relief flickered in his eyes. She gave him a steady look. “It’ll be fine. I’ll go donate.”

In the phlebotomy room, 400 cc of blood drained from Ivy’s arm. Her face went chalk-white.

“Ma’am, you’re anemic. We can’t draw more.”

“I’m okay. A little more—I can recover soon.”

They stopped at 600 cc. Her skin was paper-pale.

“That’s enough,” Landon said sharply, unable to watch. Seeing the thick needle in her thin arm, a stab of pain hit him. This foolish woman—just how much did she love him? Did she truly sacrifice that much because of him?

The thought slipped into words. “Do you… like me that much?”

“Uh…” Ivy looked up, didn’t know how to answer.

Just then the operating room doors opened. Shannon was wheeled out. “She’s fine,” the surgeon said. “She’ll wake when the anesthesia wears off.” Landon exhaled.

Once Shannon settled in a ward, he turned to Ivy. “You look pale. Go home and rest.”

“I’ll stay with you.”

Within the hour, Shannon woke to find them both at her bedside. Her eyes reddened again. “Landon, didn’t you say you’d never fall for her? Now you have, haven’t you? Now she matters more than me, doesn’t she?”

Landon sighed. “No. You matter more.”

Something in Ivy tightened. The words stung more than she expected.

Shannon held his gaze, stubborn. “Then prove it.”

He frowned. “How?”

She pointed toward the window—on the other side lay a quiet lake. “Jump in. Pick one of us.”

“Shannon, that’s not funny,” Landon snapped, face darkened.

Tears fell like rain. “You can’t bear to choose her. You’ve fallen for her. Then I’ll jump.” She yanked the IV from her hand and tried to rise. Landon pinned her back down, frantic. “Shannon…”

Ivy rubbed her temple, head aching at the tantrum. How had she become the sacrifice for their love? She didn’t want to die. Autumn lake water would be freezing, and she could barely swim.

Landon turned to Ivy, apology and pleading in his eyes. She stared, wide-eyed—astonished at how far he would indulge Shannon.

“Someone could die,” she said evenly.

“Don’t worry. If you jump, I’ll have them pull you out.” Landon jerked his chin at the bodyguards outside.

She couldn’t fight it. Silently, she opened the balcony door and stepped out. She shut her eyes and jumped.

The lake was a blade of ice. It swallowed her, stabbing pain into every limb. She kicked for the surface, but waterlogged clothes dragged her down. Panic made her sink faster. Water flooded her mouth; her lungs burned.

Her awareness thinned. Each second below was an eternity. Numbness crept in.

At last, hands dragged her up. Warm water later, towels, a bed. In a fevered blur, she dreamed of Grandma’s smile. “Just a little longer, Ivy. Hold on.” “Mm,” she answered in the dream. “Grandma, we’ll leave soon.”

A large hand seized hers, yanking her awake. “What did you just say? Leave where?” Landon searched her face.