Chapter 38

Stella's POV

I jerked away from his touch, bile rising in my throat. "You're insane."

"Am I?" His fingers tightened painfully. "We both know why you married Adam. Playing the dutiful adopted daughter.sacrificing yourself to repay the Winston family's kindness."

"Yes. I was forced into marriage." My voice could have frozen hell itself. "And where were you when that happened? Oh right.in bed with someone else!"

Movement caught my eye. Adam stood at the corridor's turn.his face unreadable. How much had he heard?

He turned and walked away without a word.

"Mr. Lancaster!" I tried to follow, but Brian held me back. "Adam.wait!

"Come on, Stella." Brian's voice dropped to a seductive whisper."We both know you deserve better than a crippled old man who can't even-"I yanked my hand free. "Want mne ? Sorry, dear nephew, you're just a bastard."His face contorted with rage. "Then I hope you're ready toplan Grandmother's funeral."

"Is that a threat?"

"Just reality." He straightened his designer jacket with exaggerated care. "The specialist who could save her? Only operates on my recommendation. Tick tock, Stella. How much is Grandmother's life worth to you?"

After he left, my trembling fingers found my phone. One call to John Winston- surely my adoptive father would help?

"Stella? It's the middle of the night."

"Please." I hated how desperate I sounded. "I need help.Grandmother-"

"Already bringing shame to the family name wasn't enough?"His cold voice made me flinch.′′Now you want to waste our connections on a dying old woman?"

The line went dead, leaving me alone in the sterile hospital corridor.Dawn painted the hospital windows in shades of gray as I sat vigil outside Grandmother's room. The hospital corridor was too quiet at this hour.My rain-soaked clothes had mostly dried, leaving wrinkles inmy suit. Not that I cared right now - every beep from Grandmother's monitors kept me on edge.

From my reflection in the window. I could see dark circles shadowing my eyes- testament to a sleepless night.

"Mrs. Lancaster?" The chief surgeon's voice pulled me from my exhausted daze. "We need to discuss treatment options."

I straightened, forcing myself to focus. "Of course."

"There are two possibilities." He consulted his chart. "Dr.Weber could operate tomorrow - he's highly qualified for this type of procedure."

Brian's smirking face.flashed through my mind. "And the second option?"

"Dr. Luke Morgan." The name sparked a memory - James Morgan's brother. The name sparked a memory. The same James Morgan I'd humiliated at Rouge nightclub last month.

"He's one of the best neurosurgeons in the country.Unfortunately, his earliest available slot is next month."

A month. Would Grandmother even survive that long?I need to make some calls." My voice sounded distant to my own ears.My phone felt like lead as I pulled it out. One call to Adamcould fix everything. He had the influence to expedite Luke Morgan's schedule, to override Brian's trap.

Behind me, nurses whispered as they passed:

"That's her-a crippled man's wife..."

"I heard she was seen with his nephew..."

"Such a scandal..."

I barely heard them, my mind racing through possibilities.

There had to be a way out of this trap. There had to be...

Time was running out, and with it, Grandmother's chances of survival. Brian's ultimatum hung in the air like poison.

Through the hospital room's window, I watched Grandmother's chest rise and fall with mechanical precision. The usually proud woman looked impossibly fragile against the stark white sheets.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, pressing my palm against the cold glass. "I'll find a way to fix this. I promise."

"Taylor." Relief flooded through me when he answered. "I need to speak with Adam. It's urgent."A long pause. "I'll relay your message, Mrs. Lancaster."Minutes stretched like hours before Taylor's response came: "Mr. Lancaster says... to get lost."

My heart stuttered. What? He must be upset about missing our dinner plans. "Taylor, please. This is about my grandmother.She needs-"

"I'm sorry. Mrs. Lancaster." His voice held genuine regret. "His exact words were Tell her to get the hell out of my life.'"

My heart clenched. He must be angry about missing our dinner date. If only he knew the real reason...

"Could you possibly tell me where he is? If heis busy, I can wait for him," grandmother's life not permitting delays.

After a brief pause. he provided an address, "Santorini Resort."

The Santorini Resort lived up to its reputation as New York's premier luxury destination.

I smoothed my silk dress. mentally rehearsing what I needed to tell Adam about Grandmother's condition. The VIP floor's security recognized me immediately- Miss.Winston, they called me with careful deference that still felt strange.

Voices and laughter drifted through the partially open door of the Vip room. I hesitated for a fraction of a second before knocking.I'm scared for a whole night, while him? I was about to leave

but the thought of grandmother made me stay. Fine, I had no choice.

“Can I...”I entered in it.

The scene that greeted me made my carefully prepared words die in my throat.