Chapter 4

　　JANICE

　　"Ughhh, my back!" I stretched a bit, trying to find a more comfortable spot on the chair beside Nancy's hospital bed. My phone screen was the only source of light in the dimly lit private room.

　　One would think a hospital with such high fees would have better chairs.

　　The steady beep of the heart monitor and the faint hum of the IV pump filled the quiet afternoon. Nancy lay sleeping under the thin hospital blanket, her face pale and drawn.

　　My thumb moved across the screen, sending out another resume. I had spent the last hour applying to every suitable opening I could find—administrative assistant positions, receptionist roles, even entry-level customer service jobs at companies I had carefully researched. Each cover letter was tweaked with the same desperate professionalism.

　　"I am a reliable worker, oriented to details, and available to start immediately," I read the words to myself, cringing a bit at how mechanical the words sounded, but I kept sending them anyway.

　　Anything to bring in steady income before the next round of bills hit.

　　"Fuck… harder…"

　　And then there was that problem. It had been four days since that night in the penthouse, and I still couldn't get it out of my mind. It did not matter how hard I tried to focus on job applications or hospital forms, those damned memories kept intruding.

　　Calder's hands gripping my hips, Lucian's fingers tangled in my hair, Aiden's dark eyes watching me as he moved deep inside me with slow, commanding thrusts. The ache between my legs had mostly faded, but the heat that pooled low in my belly whenever I remembered their voices.

　　Why on earth did I have to react this way? Wasn't I supposed to feel regret, shame, and maybe even anger?

　　I shook my head sharply and opened another tab on my phone.

　　"Focus, Janice." Nancy needed me more than ever.

　　It took me about twenty more minutes of applications before my bladder protested. I stood quietly, careful not to disturb Nancy, and slipped out of the room. The hospital corridor was quiet at this hour, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead as I made my way to the restroom at the end of the hall.

　　"Come on, Janice." I splashed cold water on my face, staring at my reflection in the cracked mirror. The faint bruise on my collarbone had started to heal, but it was still visible if I pulled my collar aside.

　　It was the last thing I needed Nancy to see. I wouldn't be able to take the questions.

　　I adjusted my shirt to cover it and took a deep breath before heading back.

　　When I returned to Nancy's room, my stomach dropped like a stone.

　　What was he doing here?

　　Aiden sat in the chair I had just vacated, looking every bit as handsome as he had few days ago. His tailored charcoal suit was well suited to accommodate his bulging muscle. Those hands had been around my… focus, Janice, goddamit.

　　Nancy was awake now, propped up against the pillows, her eyes a bit brighter. She was laughing softly at something Aiden had said.

　　"…the pediatric wing has this beautiful rooftop garden," Aiden was telling her, his voice as smooth as silk. "Kids can go outside even during treatment. It makes a real difference in recovery rates."

　　Nancy's lips stretched into an even wider smile. She seemed to be eating his words right up.

　　"That sounds incredible, sir. Our floor just has those depressing beige walls and a broken vending machine, for some reason."

　　Oh, no.

　　I crossed the room in three quick strides, positioning myself between Aiden and the bed like a shield.

　　"What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded, keeping my voice low but sharp. "How did you even get in? You need to leave this place right now."

　　Aiden's dark eyes lifted to meet mine, completely unruffled. He didn't stand up. "Janice," he said evenly, as if we were having some sort of polite conversation over coffee. "I just want to help."

　　"Help?" I snorted. "I do not need your help, Mr Grant. Get up."

　　Nancy's hopeful expression faltered slightly as she looked between us. "Jan… he was just telling me about better hospitals, with actual specialists and faster donor matching. He said…"

　　"I said get out," I repeated, not caring that I had cut Nancy off. I couldn't… wouldn't let Aiden dangle false hope in front of Nancy like that. The disappointment would crush her.

　　Aiden rose slowly. He gave Nancy a small, reassuring nod. "I'll step outside so you two can talk. But my offer is real, Nancy. My company oversees several excellent hospitals with top-tier departments that deal with issues concerning the kidney. We have access to donor networks that move much faster than the public system. I can make calls today if your sister agrees."

　　The moment the door clicked shut behind him, I turned to Nancy, who was already staring at me with wide eyes.

　　"He seems really nice, Jan," she started. "And I'm sure he's serious. What if he can actually help? The waiting list here is years long, and I'm getting worse. You know I am."

　　She was right. Even with the new deposit I made, the hospital still told me it would take some time to get a match. And there was so much hope in Nancy's eyes. It was the kind that could so easily turn into devastating disappointment. She had already lost so much—our parents, her childhood, her health.

　　Should I really be the one to snuff out even this small flicker of possibility?

　　"Stay here and rest, okay? I'll talk to him, but don't get your hopes up too high yet."

　　I stepped out into the hospital corridor, closing the door firmly behind me. Aiden leaned against the wall opposite the room, arms crossed over his chest, looking every inch the powerful man who could bend the system to his will. There was a sharp contrast between the man and the hospital.

　　Before I could launch into my prepared speech, Aiden spoke.

　　"She misses you, you know."

　　"What?"

　　"Mila," Aiden said quietly, his voice becoming softer. "My daughter. She misses you. Sometimes I catch her staring at the photos of both of you. She keeps them in her room."

　　Rage flared hot and instant in my chest. I stepped closer, jabbing a finger toward his chest without quite touching him.

　　"I do not give a flying rat ass if Mila misses me. I don't want anything to do with you, your daughter, or your friends. Whatever game you think you're playing ends here. That night was a one-time thing, because I needed the money. I got it. Stay the hell out of mine and my sister's life."

　　Aiden didn't move, but his gaze sharpened. "You truly don't have much of a choice anymore, Janice."

　　"…"

　　"I know about Nancy's condition, and the donor shortage. You have bills piling up, and no job. What would you do when you need money again? Fuck more men, Janice?" He sneered at me. "You have my help in a platter of gold. Remove your pride and take it. My hospitals have better equipment, better specialists, and private donor networks that can match her within weeks instead of years. All you have to do is let me help."

　　He was absolutely right. I hated that.

　　Accepting his help would mean giving them access to my life once again. I couldn't afford to owe them anything.

　　I crossed my arms tightly, trying to steady my breathing. "And what's the price this time?"

　　He tilted his head slightly, studying me with those piercing eyes. For a brief moment, something almost like regret flickered across his face before it vanished.

　　"Your sister doesn't deserve to suffer because of your pride."

　　The silence stretched between us for a few seconds. He was right about everything, and I hated him for making the choice feel impossible.

　　Aiden checked his watch. "It's time for me to leave. I have a meeting across town." He pushed himself off the wall and stepped closer—so close I could feel the warmth of his body and smell the faint trace of his cologne. He leaned in, his lips grazing the shell of my ear in a touch so light it sent a shiver racing down my spine. His voice dropped to a husky murmur. "Also, your body doesn't seem to agree with your words, Janice. And you know how much I hate liars."