CHAPTER 3: CHAPTER 3: SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED

Outside the operating room, time crawled unbearably slow.

Vivi Sterling paced back and forth anxiously, her eyes darting now and then to the tightly shut doors of the operating room.

At last, the door opened.

Stella Grant was pushed out by a nurse. She had already fallen unconscious, but streaks of dried tears still clung to her face, and there were faint teeth marks on her pale lips.

"Stella!" Vivi Sterling hurried up to her.

The doctor took off his mask, his expression grave. "The surgery was a success, but the patient’s body is extremely weak. Remember, in her condition, she needs proper rest, or else... she might never be able to get pregnant again."

Vivi’s heart plummeted as she looked at the sleeping Stella, tears welling up again.

Such a good girl like Stella—how did she end up with a scumbag like Aiden Fordham!

Stella woke up in the afternoon.

Vivi’s mother had come, carrying a steaming bowl of meat congee.

"You’re awake, Stella? Here, have some congee while it’s hot, it’ll help you recover." Mrs. Sterling gazed at her pale face with deep concern.

"Thank you, godmother!" Stella managed a weak smile, struggling to sit up.

"Don’t move, just lie down, I’ll feed you." Mrs. Sterling quickly steadied her, scooping up some congee, gently blowing on it to cool it, and then bringing the spoon to Stella’s lips.

Her heart ached so much—this child was so hard to come by, and now she lost it just like that!

Back when Stella was homeless, Vivi had been bullied after school, and it was Stella who stepped in to help her. Vivi brought her home, and the Sterling Family supported Stella to finish her schooling.

Mrs. Sterling even regarded her as another daughter.

Stella sipped the congee little by little. The warmth spread through her stomach, but her eyes turned red with tears.

Vivi was on the phone nearby, her voice pressed low but brimming with agitation.

"Abraham Grant! I’m telling you, if you keep hanging around with that asshole Aiden Fordham, we’re breaking up right now! Engagement off, and I never want to see you again for the rest of my life!"

She slammed the phone down, her chest heaving with rage.

Stella looked at her. "Vivi, don’t do this just because of me—"

"It’s not about you!" Vivi cut her off, "I just can’t stand Abraham Grant being so clueless! Aiden Fordham hurt you like this, and he’s still acting like they’re best friends? Whose side is he even on?"

The Sterling and Grant Families had long been set for an arranged marriage—the two had been engaged since they were eighteen.

But Vivi’s spoiled princess ways had never changed, giving Abraham Grant endless headaches.

At that moment, inside the most exclusive private booth at Nocturne, Meritopia’s elite club.

Languid music flowed; the air was thick with expensive liquor and the scent of perfume.

Abraham Grant held his phone, his face clouded with confusion.

He shot an innocent glance at Aiden Fordham. "What the hell is she flipping out about now? She says if I keep hanging with you, she’s breaking up with me?"

Aiden raised his glass, slender fingers swirling the amber liquid. At the words, he merely lifted a brow, his face unreadable.

Damian Hawthorne, seated next to him, grinned. "Whoa, Second Master Grant, looks like shit’s going down at home! Your girl really has it in for Aiden. Now she’s giving you a choice—pick one."

Abraham ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. "Who knows what’s up with her! Forget it, let’s drink."

Just then, the private suite door swung open.

A woman sauntered in—a red slip dress, sexy, every move oozing confidence. Corinne Kensington.

Corinne, heiress to the Kensington Family, now a top A-list celebrity.

Yesterday’s high-profile birthday bash with Aiden Fordham had shot her fan count to twenty million—she shone like a star in the sky, everyone watching.

If she could marry into the Fordham Family, she’d be the most honored woman in Meritopia.

The wife of the wealthiest man! Just the thought made her giddy!

She walked straight to Aiden’s side, ignoring the stunned and jealous looks around her, sat down beside him, slipped her arm naturally into his, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Aiden, can I be your date for the Fordham Group’s anniversary this weekend?"

She was done hiding in his shadow.

Three years. She’d waited long enough!

Aiden’s eyes softened. "Tomorrow, I’ll have someone pick out a dress for you."

Corinne’s face lit up. "I knew it, you’re the best."

Damian raised his glass. "Congrats, Corinne! About to make it official."

Abraham joined in, teasing, "Looks like the three-year agreement is about to end. Corinne, your hard days are almost over."

It was obvious—Aiden’s two closest brothers both sided with Corinne. After all, they’d never seen Aiden bring Stella out, ever.

Besides, that marriage was a strict secret—no one on the outside knew anything.

It might as well have not existed!

Corinne graciously lifted her glass, clinking it with theirs. "Thank you, Young Master Grant, Young Master Hawthorne."

Among the four great families of Meritopia, three heirs were all backing her. Once Aiden and Stella’s marriage was over, she’d officially enter the Fordham Family.

"Ding." Damian glanced at his phone at a pop-up message, almost leaping off the sofa in excitement!

"Holy shit! God N is coming back!"

He brandished his phone. The headline on the screen was impossible to miss—[Bluebird Technologies Founder God N Confirmed to Attend Next Month’s Global Medical Summit!]

Young Master Hawthorne’s voice trembled with wild joy, eyes shining red, "My grandmother might be saved! This is incredible!"

The Hawthorne matriarch had lung cancer—not much time left.

This news was hope from the clouds.

The young heirs in the room immediately erupted in even louder chatter.

"God N? The one who, three years ago, cracked the cancer treatment equation, instantly becoming a legend, then vanished off the face of the earth?"

"No way—they’re finally reappearing? I thought she’d ascended already!"

"Bluebird Technologies! The forever benchmark in medtech! That equation from three years ago pulled so many terminal patients back from the brink of death!"

"Exactly! It’s her! Three years ago she popped out of nowhere, dropped the equation, then disappeared—no one could find her. Now she’s back? This is a bombshell! That medical summit is going to explode next month."

Sitting not far away, Aiden’s dark eyes suddenly flashed with burning intensity.

The Fordham Group’s medical division was already the domestic leader.

He’d pioneered the country’s top medical AI system and had become Meritopia’s wealthiest man in only four years.

The Fordham Group, under his leadership, operated in over eighty countries worldwide. He was the definition of the favored son of heaven.

But...God N!

That name wasn’t just legend in medicine—it was a symbol of supreme, magnetic leadership.

To Aiden, God N was like a fabled Arcanum Isle—shrouded in mystery and power he couldn’t help but want to get close to...

If God N could partner with the Fordham Group, the company’s global standing in medicine would be unmatched!

Aiden’s fingers tightened minutely on the wineglass, and the corner of his lips lifted with a victorious curve.

Abraham added, "I heard God N’s ’Gene Therapy’! Uses biomolecular gene editing tech—directly targets cancer cells! Awesome!"

Everyone chimed in excitedly, talking over each other, imagining the revolutionary changes God N’s return would spark—the atmosphere was electric.

God N, the world’s top biologist—her value simply defied measure.

At that moment, the suite door was pushed open lightly.

A young waitress came in, carrying a tray, walking gingerly as she prepared to refill the guests’ wine.

But when she saw the three elite heirs before her, she got so nervous she suddenly tripped, lurching forward!

The wine glasses on her tray crashed to the floor!

"Bang—crash—"

The crisp shattering of crystal pierced the din.

Corinne, sitting nearest, couldn’t react in time.

"Ah!"

Corinne let out a sharp yelp, and Aiden sprang into action. In the same instant the glass shattered, he pulled the startled Corinne straight into his arms.

He shielded her face from flying shards, but glass still slashed two bloody lines across her fair hand.

His brows knit tight as he saw the clear wound and blood oozing from Corinne’s hand, his face instantly going cold.

"Damn it!"

Aiden’s razor gaze swept the ashen, frozen waitress, his voice like frost.

"What are you standing there for? Get out, now!"

The waitress, terrified, scrambled out on trembling legs.

"Aiden...my hand hurts so much..."

Corinne huddled in Aiden’s arms, tears shimmering in her eyes and her voice quivering with pain.

"Don’t be scared. I’ll take you to the hospital."

Aiden’s tone softened. Carefully avoiding her injured hand, he swept her up in his arms and strode purposefully out of the suite.

Hospital.

The smell of antiseptic hung in the air; the corridor was so quiet only footsteps could be heard.

Aiden settled Corinne in and had the doctor tend to her wound thoroughly, making sure it was properly bandaged.

Looking at Corinne’s pale, pitiful face, Aiden forced himself to comfort her gently and told her to rest well in the hospital room.

He left the room, and just as he turned into the corridor, out the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse through a half-open door nearby.

A familiar figure appeared in his sight.

Aiden jerked to a stop.

His gaze fixed on the hospital bed—white sheets, a pale face.

A woman lay silently there, eyes closed. Her long lashes cast faint shadows under her lids, a slender arm hooked up to an IV, transparent liquid slowly dripping into her.

Stella Grant!

Why was she here? Lying in a hospital bed?!

A torrent of unspeakable, tangled emotions seized Aiden’s heart, as if an invisible hand had clenched him hard.

Aiden pushed the door open and marched straight in!