Chapter 3

The next day. Top-floor boardroom, Moretti Group.

I sat at the head of the table, white gauze taped to my forehead.

The boardroom doors opened. Adrian walked in with Lily trailing behind, clutching a stack of files.

He was the general manager of a Moretti subsidiary.

Lily was his assistant.

Adrian noticed the gauze on my forehead and his stride faltered.

"What happened?" he asked, irritation in his voice.

I opened the financial report.

"Let's begin, Mr. Vance. Everyone's time is valuable."

Adrian's face darkened. He sat down across from me.

Halfway through the presentation, Lily reached over to hand Adrian his coffee. Her hand slipped.

Scalding coffee splashed across the original financial statement in front of him.

"I'm so sorry, Adrian, I didn't mean to..."

She immediately grabbed napkins to blot it, tears already falling.

Adrian pressed her hand down.

"It's fine. It's just a document. Don't burn yourself."

Then he looked at me, his tone perfectly matter-of-fact.

"Isabella, have your secretary reprint this."

I capped my pen.

"Mr. Vance, this document has been verified by every relevant department. It bears the personal signatures and security codes of our partners' senior executives. It is the sole authorized original. Digital backups cannot replace its legal validity."

Adrian waved his hand impatiently.

"Then have the team redo the whole process. Lily was up until midnight organizing data—it was just a slip. Show some understanding."

No one in the boardroom spoke.

I raised my eyes to him. "This is a workplace. Please keep the discussion professional."

"Isabella, are you targeting Lily again?" Adrian slammed the coffee-soaked document on the table. "It's just a report. You're supposed to be my fiancée—can't you be the bigger person for once?"

Lily stepped forward with reddened eyes.

"Boss Moretti, this is all my fault. Please don't blame Adrian... I'll redo it right now."

As she spoke, she bent to pick up papers from the floor, letting her body sway deliberately.

Adrian immediately steadied her and hissed at me:

"Enough! Look at yourself right now. Where's any of the grace a Moretti heir should have? Lily's health is fragile—if you scare her into an episode, are you going to take responsibility?"

I pressed the intercom.

"Send security up."

Adrian froze.

"What are you doing?"

Two security officers pushed through the doors.

I looked at Lily.

"Lily Vale has committed gross negligence, destroying a critical corporate document and creating significant risk for the Group. She is terminated effective immediately."

Then I looked at Adrian.

"Adrian Vance has blurred professional boundaries and disrupted a senior executive meeting. Effective today, all his duties are suspended. He is to go home and reflect."

Adrian let out a disbelieving laugh.

"Isabella, you'd stoop to this just to make me bow? Fine. I'll go. Let's see who pushes the South Harbor project forward without me."

He grabbed Lily's hand.

"Lily, we're leaving."

Lily glanced back at me, triumph flickering in her eyes.

At the door, Adrian stopped.

"When you learn how to be a proper fiancée, you can come beg me to come back."

The door slammed shut behind him.

The wound on my forehead throbbed faintly.

I fed the ruined document into the shredder and opened the next item on the agenda.

"Meeting continues."

Three days later. Outside the VIP ward at City General Hospital.

My grandfather's attending physician stood before me, his expression grave.

"Miss Moretti, Don Vincent's condition is critical. He needs bypass surgery immediately. But Professor Gray is attending a classified military conference out of state—all communications are restricted."

The doctor paused.

"We've confirmed that Mr. Vance's private jet has special route clearances on file. It's currently the fastest way to bring Professor Gray back."

I took out my phone. My fingertips were shaking.

I dialed Adrian's number.

First attempt—he rejected the call.

Second attempt—no answer.

Third attempt—he finally picked up.

On the other end, there was music and the sound of a crowd cheering.

"What?" Adrian's voice was clipped with impatience.

"Adrian, Grandpa's had a cardiac arrest. He's in emergency surgery. He needs your plane to pick up Professor Gray."

I forced myself to stay calm.

"I'm begging you. Arrange it now."

The line went quiet for a few seconds.

Then Lily's voice came through.

"Adrian, who is it? Aren't we supposed to go see the meteor shower tonight? If the plane gets sent away, we won't be able to go... I've never seen a meteor shower in my whole life."

Adrian's voice turned gentle, coaxing.

"Shh, it's okay, sweetheart."

A moment later, his voice came back, clear and cold.

"Isabella, knock it off. This trick isn't going to work."

I gripped the phone.

"I'm not playing tricks! Grandpa is really in emergency surgery!"

"Emergency surgery?" He scoffed. "Last month you said Don Vincent's blood pressure was high. Last week you said you cut your hand slicing fruit. Isabella, the same routine loses its effect after the third time."

"Adrian, this is a human life."

"Enough." He cut me off. "If you want me back, just say so. Don't use an elder's health to put on a show. I'm busy."

The call disconnected.

The red light above the operating room stayed on.

I held my phone, my back against the cold wall.