Marry His Comatose Elder Brother

Prologue I was once the woman Zachary Shaw cherished above all else. When I was twenty, I was kidnapped. He spent three days searching for me without eating or drinking before rescuing me from the remote hills. Everyone thought I would be the only woman he ever loved. Until Vivian Sullivan came along. To make her smile, he nearly died in an underground fight club. To punish me on her behalf, he poured scalding water over my shoulder with his own hands, forced me to kneel and apologize, and even had my skin forcibly grafted onto her. What he didn't know was that I was already carrying his child. Only after losing the baby did I finally see where his heart truly lay. Since he loved Vivian so much, I would let them have each other. The man I would get engaged to in a month would no longer be Zachary. It would be the Shaws family's eldest son, who was in a coma—Raymond Shaw. Pearle's POV Everyone in New York knew I was the woman Zachary Shaw loved, whom no one dared hurt, a flower he cradled in his hands and carefully tended. When I was kidnapped at twenty, even my own parents thought I wouldn't make it back alive. Even the police believed there was little hope. But Zachary spent three whole days without eating or drinking, searching the remote hills alone until he found where the kidnappers were holding me. Yet just as our engagement ceremony was drawing near, a girl appeared by Zachary's side. On the first day she appeared, Zachary nearly got himself killed in an underground fight club. All to win her a necklace. All to make her smile. On the seventh day after she appeared, I reported Zachary missing to the police. In the end, I found him in a hotel bed after he had been missing for five days. And lying in his arms was that very girl. On the twentieth day after she appeared, Zachary brought her home—to the house he had always called our home. Suddenly, the people who had been watching the drama unfold and telling me not to worry all fell silent. Because no one had imagined that Zachary, who had once treasured me as much as his own life, would actually bring that woman home. When he was younger, Zachary had been something of a womanizer. Even when we first got together, he hadn't entirely reined himself in. Back then, a woman had shown up at our door to flaunt her relationship with him in my face. By the next day, every trace of her had vanished, as though she had disappeared from the face of the earth. After that, everyone understood that my place in Zachary's heart was different. I was at the office when I heard the news. I immediately drove home as fast as I could. The moment I stepped through the door, I froze. At last, my composed expression cracked. In the living room, Zachary was on top of a woman. Their clothes were half off, and the sounds of their intimacy kept reaching my ears. I drew a deep breath and looked around, my gaze settling on the kettle on the table. I walked straight over, picked it up, and flung the water at them. "Ahhh!" The water in the kettle seemed to have been boiled recently. It was still scalding hot. Zachary realized it too and immediately shielded the woman. My grip on the kettle tightened. It felt as though an invisible hand had clenched around my heart. I hadn't realized he cared about her this much. "Are you okay, Vivian? Are you hurt?" His voice was overflowing with concern. But the more he cared about her, the more it hurt. Because the way he fussed over that woman looked exactly like the way he used to care for me. Vivian Sullivan shook her head, clinging tightly to his arm. "I'm fine. But you... Does it hurt?" Watching them, I let out a cold laugh. "Stop putting on this disgusting little show in front of me. Get out!" Vivian's face turned several shades paler. Zachary stood in front of her, looking down at me as he said coldly: "Apologize." My nails dug deep into my palms, but I couldn't seem to feel any pain. Through gritted teeth, I said coldly: "Not a chance." With that, I turned and went straight upstairs. The moment I shut the door, I could no longer hold back my tears. I had never known Zachary could be so gentle with another woman. He was my boyfriend. He had done that with another woman, yet he wanted me to apologize. Why did I have to see this today, of all days? Why did they have to do that in this house? Slowly, I pulled a sheet of paper from my pocket. I had clutched it so tightly that it was crumpled. But the words were still clear: eight weeks pregnant. I knew Zachary had been getting close to this woman named Vivian Sullivan lately. I had looked into her in secret. Before she got together with Zachary, she had been nothing more than a woman with a middle school education who worked at a bar. I had thought he would come back once he'd had his fun. Even if he wasn't ready to come back to our life together yet, surely seeing this medical report would bring him home. But I had never imagined he would do something so filthy with that woman in our house, then go to such lengths to protect her. I collapsed onto the bed, clutching the medical report as my tears kept falling, soaking the pillow. In my daze, I felt a powerful force dragging me out. As my senses slowly returned, I was thrown to the floor. Zachary's cold face appeared before me. "What are you doing?" I struggled to get the words out. Zachary said nothing. He simply reached out and pulled my clothes down off my shoulder. I tried to fight back, but he was far too strong. "The water burned her today. It'll probably leave a scar on her shoulder." I froze for a moment, then laughed. "So? What are you going to do now? Pour boiling water over me?" Zachary stared at me without speaking. After a long while, he let out a soft sigh. "Why did you have to treat her like that? I promise you, no matter what I do with her, I'll still get engaged to you in a month." Then his voice turned cold. "But you have to apologize to her for what happened today." Before I could react, a searing pain shot through my shoulder. Steaming water poured over it. But what I hadn't expected was that Zachary would also make me kneel and apologize to Vivian. The agonizing pain in my shoulder made me break out in a cold sweat. I swallowed my cry of pain and forced the words out between ragged breaths. "Zachary... I'm not... apologizing to her!" Zachary's expression darkened. He crouched and seized my chin. "Think about your family's company. Think about your parents. Now answer me. Are you going to apologize or not?" I felt as though I'd been struck by lightning. I stared at him in disbelief. "You know exactly what matters most to me, and you're still using my parents to threaten me?" A complicated emotion flickered in his eyes, and his tone softened a little. "Vivian isn't like you. She never had a good life growing up. You were spoiled and pampered from the day you were born. You have so much. Why do you have to hold everything against her?" "So I have to give her my man too?" Zachary paused. "I told you, no matter what I do this month, that won't change who my fiancée is. You'll always be the woman I marry." I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, there was nothing in them but numb despair. "Fine. I'll apologize." I was held down on my knees. The moment I apologized, I heard my own heart shatter. Once the video was recorded, Zachary nodded in satisfaction. Looking at the smile on his lips, I felt a terrible ache deep inside. I had thought that would be the end of this farce. But the next day, Zachary's men tied me up and took me to the hospital. Without even looking at me, Zachary ordered them to take me into the operating room. I had no idea what was happening. Panic was written all over my face. The cold operating table. The glaring surgical lights. The expressionless doctor. The needle gleaming coldly. I looked at everything before me in confusion. Before I lost consciousness, I heard Zachary say, "Vivian is upset about the scar on her shoulder. Give her a skin graft using your skin." When I woke again, all I could see was a white ceiling. Someone slowly helped me sit up. But it wasn't Zachary. It was a close friend of his. "You're awake. I... I'll go get the doctor!" He left in such a hurry that he forgot his phone on the chair. A notification sounded. With some difficulty, I reached over and picked up the phone. "Zachary, what's going on with you and that Vivian Sullivan? Are you really giving up on Pearle Foster? Your engagement is only a month away..." "I never said I was giving her up. But I've honestly never met anyone like Vivian. She's sweeter and more innocent than any woman I've ever met. Every time I see her, I can't help being drawn to her." "What about Pearle, then?" "Don't worry. Her family's company still needs financial backing from mine. She won't leave me." The moment I read those words, my grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles turned white. A flash of self-mockery crossed my eyes as countless emotions swept through me. Unease, doubt, and sorrow finally gave way to a calm resolve. I took out my phone and called Zachary Shaw’s mother, Yvette Thorne. “Mrs. Thorne, I don’t want to marry Zachary Shaw anymore.” The person on the other end seemed to say something anxiously. I gave a faint laugh and spoke softly. “No, I’m not saying I won’t marry into the Shaws family. I just want to marry someone else.” “I want to marry Zachary’s older brother, Raymond Shaw.”Pearle’s POV My family’s company was in serious trouble. I really did need financial backing from the Shaws family. But Zachary wasn’t their only son. If I married the other one, I could still get their financial backing. Yvette Thorne sounded bewildered by what I’d said. “Have you… have you really thought this through? I know what Zachary’s been doing lately has upset you, but we don’t even know when Raymond will wake up. Marriage is a lifelong commitment. I still hope you’ll think this over carefully.” I fell silent for a moment. “Mrs. Thorne, you know I’ve never been the forgiving type. Since Zachary likes that woman so much, I might as well give them a chance.” She sighed on the other end. “If your mind is made up, there’s not much else I can say.” After I hung up, Zachary’s friend returned. But there was no doctor with him. “Pearle Foster, I’m really sorry. There aren’t any doctors in the dermatology department right now…” I frowned. “A hospital this big doesn’t have a single dermatologist on duty today?” He scratched his head awkwardly, looking uncomfortable. Just then, two nurses wheeled in a medical cart to change my dressings. They chatted as they worked. “That woman in the next room is so lucky, isn’t she? Such a tiny scar, and Mr. Shaw actually called every doctor in the hospital over to see her.” “I know. At first, I thought she must have been seriously hurt.” Zachary’s friend slowly edged away from the room, no longer daring to look at me. Listening to the nurses, I could only find it laughable. A year ago, I’d fallen and hurt myself while hiking. It had only been a scrape, but Zachary had treated me the same way. Back then, looking at that room full of doctors, I’d thought he was going overboard, but it had still warmed my heart. I’d never imagined Zachary would use the exact same moves on someone else. After the nurses left, Zachary’s friend opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something. I simply asked him to leave. “You can go. My injuries aren’t serious. I don’t need anyone looking after me.” After hearing that, he had no reason to stay. As soon as he left the room, I struggled to push myself up against the edge of the bed and headed for the bathroom. They’d given me too much anesthetic, and I was still unsteady on my feet. I’d just reached the bathroom door when I heard him talking on the phone outside my room. “Zachary! Why don’t you come check on Pearle? She’s here all alone. I feel bad for her…” But Zachary refused without hesitation. “What’s there to feel bad about? Vivian is the victim. Pearle’s the one who hurt her. Whatever she’s suffering now is the punishment she deserves.” I pulled open the bathroom door and hurried inside. I didn’t want to hear another word. But I’d moved too quickly, and the anesthetic hadn’t worn off. I lost my footing and fell to the floor. Agonizing pain swept through my entire body. An unbearable pain tore through my lower abdomen. Then everything went black, and I passed out. The last thing I saw was a friend who’d come to visit rushing toward me in terror. “Save my baby…” When I woke again, I was back in the hospital room. My close friend sat beside me, looking at me sadly. The doctor stood there with my chart and spoke slowly. “I’m sorry, Ms. Foster. We did everything we could, but we couldn’t save the baby.” I froze, instinctively reaching for my lower abdomen. It felt empty, as though nothing had ever been there. Another tie between Zachary and me had been severed. Lying in the hospital bed, I thought back to when I’d first met Zachary. To raise money for my family’s company, I’d gone to work at a bar selling drinks, hoping to meet someone willing to invest. One customer took a liking to me and insisted I sleep with him. I refused. He smashed all the liquor bottles on the floor and said that if I wouldn’t sleep with him, I’d have to pay for everything. Just as I was losing all hope, Zachary appeared. He pinned the man to the floor and punched him, over and over. In that moment, I couldn’t tell whether my heart was pounding from fear or attraction. The Fosters and the Shaws had known each other for years, but I’d never had any romantic feelings for Zachary. Maybe it was the way my heart had raced that night. Maybe it was because my family’s company couldn’t afford to wait any longer. Either way, I made a bold decision. I would pursue Zachary. I would marry him. After asking around, I learned that Zachary liked girls who looked innocent and fresh-faced. So I kept working at it, changing my makeup, clothes, and even my hobbies to suit his tastes. As I’d hoped, I became the most innocent-looking woman in New York. And as I’d hoped, I became Zachary’s girlfriend. But the moment I saw Vivian Sullivan, I understood why he was so infatuated with her. Between Vivian and me, one was a white wildflower growing among the rough stones beside the road, and the other was a red rose blooming beneath the blazing sun. No matter how well I played my part, it was still only an act. If that was how it was, I might as well let him go.Pearle’s POV On my seventh day in the hospital, Zachary finally called. “How much longer are you going to keep this up? They only took a patch of skin. Are you planning to stay in the hospital forever? Vivian’s already gone home. Aren’t you coming back?” I gave a cold laugh. “Home? Zachary Shaw, that isn’t my home anymore.” At that, some of the irritation faded from his voice. “Pearle Foster, will you stop this? This is your home. It’s the home we’re going to share.” I had no interest in listening to his nonsense, so I hung up. A second later, he called right back, his voice full of disbelief. “Pearle Foster, did you just hang up on me?!” “If there’s nothing else, I’m going to sleep.” With that, I was about to hang up again. But his furious voice came through the phone. “If you dare hang up, I’ll withdraw all funding right now! Try me.” My expression darkened at once. “Zachary Shaw, have you gotten addicted to threatening me with that?” There was a brief silence on the other end. “You’re the one who refuses to have a proper conversation with me.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, forcing down the anger in my voice. “What exactly do you want?” “There’s an auction the day after tomorrow. I’ll send you an invitation. You have to come.” Before I could speak, he hurriedly added: “Consider it… consider it my way of making it up to you.” My face filled with contempt at those words. But I knew I couldn’t afford to anger Zachary yet. A collapse in cash flow would bring the entire Foster family business crashing down. “Fine. Can I hang up now?” Zachary seemed to want to say more, but then I heard Vivian Sullivan calling him in the background. The line immediately went dead. Zachary had hung up. I hid the self-mockery in my eyes and turned off my phone. Two days later, Zachary had someone deliver a dress to the hospital. I stared for a moment at the white tulle dress they’d brought. Once they left, I picked up a pair of scissors, cut the dress to pieces, and threw it in the trash. Then I called and had a strapless red dress delivered. After putting on bold makeup, I got into the car taking me to the auction. Sitting in the car, I studied my reflection in the mirror, thoroughly pleased. Ever since I’d gotten together with Zachary, I’d worn nothing but light colors. Even my makeup had always been subtle. But I didn’t like light colors or subtle makeup. Now that I’d decided to leave Zachary, there was no reason to keep pretending. My appearance drew everyone’s attention. No one had ever seen me looking so glamorous. Even the man beside Zachary was stunned. He shook Zachary’s arm. “Zachary… look over there. Is that Pearle Foster? Why is she dressed like that?” Zachary tore his gaze away from Vivian Sullivan, whom he’d been flirting with, and looked in the direction the man indicated. The moment he saw how much of my chest was exposed, he froze. I knew he’d told people more than once that I was the most conservative woman he’d ever met. “Zachary, did you and Pearle break up? If you did, maybe I should ask her out. She’s absolutely gorgeous.” Zachary’s expression darkened, and he gave a disdainful laugh. “We haven’t broken up. She’s probably jealous because Vivian and I have been so close lately. This is just her way of trying to win me back.” Zachary picked up his glass and drained it, but that still wasn’t enough. Just as he was about to have a second drink, the man beside him exclaimed. “Zachary, go help Pearle. Some guy seems to be bothering her.” He looked up and saw that a man was indeed grabbing at me. His brows drew together, and he immediately started toward me. But just then, his phone rang. It was Vivian Sullivan. He stopped in his tracks. “I’m so scared…” Zachary immediately turned and headed in the opposite direction. Of course, I saw it all. But I’d never expected him to help me in the first place. I shot a cold glance at the man beside me, who was still trying to take the opportunity to grope me, then grabbed a nearby wine bottle and smashed it against him. Watching him fall to the floor screaming, I felt a flicker of disgust. “Consider that a warning. Touch me again, and it’ll be much worse.” After having security drag him away, I picked up my glass and began networking. After more drinks than I could count, my head began to swim, and I hurried to the women’s restroom. The moment I stepped inside, I heard the unmistakable sounds of intimacy. I recognized the voices immediately. So this was what Zachary Shaw had been in such a hurry to abandon me for. I calmly washed my hands. At first, it might have broken my heart. Now, all that remained in that barren place inside my chest was a cold numbness. The auction was almost over, and I still had no idea why Zachary Shaw had asked me to come. But looking at the bag full of business contracts, I smiled in satisfaction. After telling the driver to wait in the parking garage, I took the elevator down to the first basement level. The moment I stepped out, my vision went black, and I lost consciousness.Pearle's POV When I woke again, my entire body felt weak, and an inexplicable heat was spreading through me. I struggled to stand, only to collapse back onto the floor. I tried to call for help, but my voice was painfully hoarse. Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. I looked up hopefully. When I saw Zachary Shaw, I frowned. “What… are you going to do?” The heat inside me was growing more intense. By then, I understood that I had been drugged. Zachary Shaw stopped in front of me and looked down at me, barely containing his anger. His voice was ice-cold. “Why did you drug Vivian? Do you hate her so much that you won’t be happy until you’ve ruined her?” Only then did I realize he had the wrong idea. I reached out and clutched the hem of his shirt. “It wasn’t me! I didn’t do it. I…” “Vivian said you did it, and you’re still trying to deny it!” I froze for several seconds. The light slowly faded from my eyes, and it took a long time before I could force out a broken whisper. “You trust her that much?” After a moment of silence, Zachary Shaw said in a low voice, “Vivian wouldn’t lie.” I let go of his shirt and closed my eyes. “Then there’s nothing left for me to say.” Silence fell again. Then I heard his footsteps retreating. “You can stay here tonight and wait for the drug to wear off. Whatever you did to Vivian, I’ll do to you.” As the door closed, my eyes flew open, and I began panting uncontrollably. My body felt worse by the second, but now I couldn’t risk going outside. If I did, whatever happened next would be beyond my control. Clinging to the last of my willpower, I found a fruit knife in the room. I thought that if it became unbearable, I could stab myself. But just then, I heard the door open, and an obese man walked in. His leering gaze roamed over my body as he drew closer. “I can’t believe Mr. Shaw arranged such a beauty for me tonight!” For an instant, I felt as though I’d been struck by lightning. My ears rang. I had never imagined that Zachary Shaw would send someone to violate me just to punish me on Vivian Sullivan’s behalf. A clammy, revolting touch landed on my arm, and his fleshy face loomed into view. My body reacted before my mind could catch up. I swung my arm, slashing the knife across his hand. The man fell to the floor in agony, clutching his hand. As I stared at the severed finger on the floor and listened to his screams, my thoughts slowly began to clear. Bracing myself against a nearby table, I struggled to my feet. My eyes began to redden. I had accepted that Zachary Shaw no longer loved me. I had even accepted the way he protected Vivian Sullivan. But I had never imagined he could be this cruel to me. After we got together, he would get angry if another man so much as gave me a second glance. I still remembered the last gala hosted by his company, when a man who didn’t know who I was had harassed me. That very night, Zachary Shaw had sent people to beat him up. But now, Zachary Shaw was the one who had drugged me. He was also the one who had sent a man to violate me. The memories were like poisoned needles, piercing my already frozen heart one by one. I raised the knife and drove it hard into my thigh. Blood spattered across my cheeks and neck. But it wasn’t enough. I plunged the knife into my other thigh. The searing pain cleared my head. I didn’t dare stay in that room any longer. What if Zachary Shaw had sent more than one man…? I couldn’t bear to think about it. Dragging my bleeding legs, I left the room. When I reached the hotel lobby, everyone around me recoiled in shock. Zachary Shaw turned around in confusion, and his pupils suddenly contracted. Looking at me collapsed on the floor, he sounded frantic. “What happened? You…” As though something had dawned on him, his face went deathly pale. “You stabbed yourself to fight the drug? Why would you do that? I wasn’t going to…” “Let go of me! I don’t want you! Get away!” I desperately crawled toward a bystander. I forced myself to stay conscious until I was lifted into the ambulance. Only then did I pass out.Pearle's POV When I woke again, I was in the hospital. The moment I sat up, a sharp pain tore through my thighs. Only then did the memories of yesterday slowly return. Thinking of the man’s leering face in that room, and how coldly Zachary Shaw had walked away, my gaze dimmed with bitter self-mockery. Just then, a voice at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up to see Zachary Shaw. “You’re awake, Pearle Foster. How do you feel? Does anything still hurt?” I said nothing, merely turning my head away as though he weren’t there. Zachary Shaw’s expression stiffened. He took my hand and said softly, “I know you feel wronged, but… you were the one who did something wrong first.” I pulled my hand away and sneered. “Zachary Shaw, we grew up together. Do you really think I’m the kind of person who would do that?” “But you were the only one who touched her glass. How am I supposed to…” “Get out! Get out!” I shouted at him. Zachary Shaw frowned and was about to say more when the doctor walked in. “She’s just suffered major blood loss. She needs peace and rest! And before this, you also…” “Doctor!” I quickly interrupted. Seeing no change in Zachary Shaw’s expression, I let out a small breath of relief. I gave the doctor a discreet look. The doctor looked from me to Zachary Shaw, understood, and said no more. After the doctor left, Zachary Shaw glanced at his watch and spoke slowly. “Pearle Foster, I know you’ve been upset because Vivian and I have gotten close lately. But don’t worry. I told you I wouldn’t marry her, and I meant it. You’re the only woman I’ll ever marry. It can only be you.” After Zachary Shaw left, my scornful laughter echoed through the spacious hospital room. Once, hearing him say that would have made me happy. I had thought it proved he loved me. Now, it only disgusted me. I couldn’t understand how he could carry on with another woman while promising to marry me without the slightest shame. This Zachary Shaw felt like a complete stranger. I had even wondered whether the man beside me was really him. In the end, though, I could only accept that his feelings had changed. On the day I was discharged, Zachary Shaw promised to pick me up. But I waited downstairs for three whole hours, and he never came. Eventually, I had no choice but to hail a taxi. Just as I was about to get in, a pair of hands stopped me. I looked up and saw Vivian Sullivan. Frowning, I stepped back, putting some distance between us. My obvious disgust made Vivian Sullivan clench her fists. I looked down at her, impatience flickering in my eyes. “What do you want?” Vivian Sullivan smiled faintly. “Pearle Foster, do you know why Zachary Shaw didn’t come?” When I said nothing, she continued, unbothered. “He was about to come get you this morning, but I suddenly wanted pastries from that shop down south, and he immediately offered to buy them for me. He must have forgotten you were still waiting. Don’t blame him, Pearle Foster. You know how he is…” Before she could finish, I raised my hand and slapped her. Vivian Sullivan clutched her cheek and stared at me in disbelief. “How dare you hit me!” I curled my lips in disdain. “And how dare you come here and gloat? So what if you do end up with Zachary Shaw? You’re just picking through the trash I threw away.” I dusted off my hands in a deliberate show of disgust. I got into the taxi and slammed the door, never once sparing Vivian Sullivan a proper glance. That evening, while I was eating dinner at home, a group of people suddenly barged in. Before I could react, they seized me and hauled me into the living room. “Who are you? What do you want?” But the moment I saw Zachary Shaw, my words died in my throat. They forced me to my knees in front of him. He reached out and gripped my chin, his voice ice-cold. “Where did you hide Vivian?” I let out a scornful laugh. “She’s your woman. Why are you asking me?” The moment I finished speaking, his grip tightened, as though he might wrench my jaw out of place. I fought through the pain and spoke again. “Zachary Shaw, if you want to act like a lunatic, find someone else. Stop wasting my time!” Zachary narrowed his eyes. “She texted me this morning saying she was going to see you. But by the time I got back with the pastries, she was gone. If you didn’t hide her somewhere, who did?” Only then did I understand the strange look Vivian Sullivan had given me that morning. She had planned to frame me all along. “You won’t talk? Fine. But your parents might have to suffer for it.” “Pearle!” At the sound of my mother’s voice, I whipped my head to the side. Only then did I see that my parents had been tied up. “Pearle Foster, tell me where you hid Vivian. Otherwise, your parents are going to suffer.”Pearle's POV “Zachary Shaw! Have you lost your mind? Those are my parents! You’re using them to threaten me?” But no matter how much I shouted, Zachary remained unmoved. He raised his wrist and glanced at his watch, his voice calm. “You have ten minutes. If you still refuse to tell me, I’ll pick one of them to lock in the walk-in freezer.” My voice was already hoarse from crying for so long. I reached out and clutched his pant leg, pleading with him. “Zachary, I really, truly don’t know where Vivian Sullivan is! I didn’t hide her anywhere. Please, will you just believe me?” But Zachary only checked his watch again. “Six minutes left.” He bent down slightly and wiped the tears from the corner of my eye, saying the cruelest things in the gentlest voice. “Who should go in first? Your mother or your father? Pick one, Pearle Foster.” In that moment, despair swallowed me whole. The weight in my chest was so crushing I could barely breathe. When the ten minutes were up, I watched as my father was dragged toward the door. Something inside me snapped. Frantic, I grabbed the fruit knife from the table and held it to my throat. “Zachary Shaw, if you don’t let my father go, I’ll kill myself right here! Don’t think I won’t!” The fingers hanging at Zachary’s side curled for an instant. But before he could speak, my father, Gordon Foster, dropped to his knees. “Zachary, please don’t hurt Pearle. If this is because you don’t want to keep funding our company, we’ll accept that. All I ask is that you don’t hurt her. Please, I’m begging you…” With that, he bowed down hard, pressing his head to the floor. In an instant, the house fell silent except for my mother Lorraine Graham’s sobs and Gordon Foster’s pleas. By then, my eyes were as still as stagnant water. Looking at my kneeling father and weeping mother, I couldn’t help wondering why I had ever fallen in love with Zachary Shaw. If I had known this was how it would end, I would rather never have met him. “Even now, you still refuse to believe me?” Zachary said nothing, but his silence gave me my answer. “Fine. Then I just hope you don’t regret this!” “What are you doing? Are you insane? Call 911!” As I fell, I saw Zachary sprint toward me, just as he had the day he first told me he loved me. Only back then, I had been the only person in his heart, the only one he saw. Now, someone else had taken my place. Zachary pressed his hands tightly against my neck, disbelief filling his eyes. “You… Why would you do this?” I struggled to pull my lips into a smile. “…You don’t believe me. Zachary, you actually… don’t believe me.” A complicated emotion flickered in his eyes. The ambulance soon arrived at the Foster family home. The moment I was lifted into the ambulance, I lost consciousness. When I woke again, I was lying in a hospital room. Lorraine immediately rushed over and took my hand. “Pearle, how could you do something so foolish?” Looking at the anguish on my mother’s face, I felt tears sting my eyes. “Mom, I’m okay. Don’t worry.” I had deliberately avoided anywhere vital. It had looked like a lot of blood, but my life had never actually been in danger. I had only done it to force Zachary to release my parents. And my gamble had paid off. No matter how worried Zachary was about Vivian Sullivan, he would back down if he thought my life was at risk. “They found that woman, Vivian Sullivan, not long after you got to the hospital! She said she’d been kidnapped, and that you hired the people who did it. How could she make up such a vicious lie? I know you better than anyone. You would never do something like that!” Just then, Gordon, who had been standing nearby, spoke up. “Pearle, I’ve made up my mind. We don’t need financial backing from the Shaws family anymore. It doesn’t matter if we lose the company. Anything is better than letting you suffer!” Hearing my father say that, I could no longer hold back my tears. I knew better than anyone what that company meant to him. Yet now, he would rather give it up than see me mistreated. With reddened eyes, I looked at Gordon and Lorraine. “It’s okay. I don’t care about Zachary anymore. Besides, you know I’m not the kind of person who just lets people walk all over me.” Gordon nodded. “I know you aren’t. But as long as we keep accepting money from the Shaws, they’ll have something to hold over you. You don’t have to tell me. I know Zachary must have threatened you with it.” I fell silent for a moment. Seeing my reaction, Gordon snorted. “I knew it! Don’t worry, Pearle. I’m calling Yvette Thorne right now to tell her we don’t need their money anymore.” When he actually started making the call, I hurried to stop him. Gordon waved me off. “Don’t try to talk me out of this. Yes, I care about the company I built with my own hands. But nothing and no one matters more to me than you.” Realizing I couldn’t stop him, I made up my mind and told them I was going to marry Raymond Shaw. Gordon stared at me in shock. “What did you say? You’re going to marry Raymond Shaw?” I was about to explain when Zachary pushed open the door and walked in. “What are you talking about? Who’s marrying whom?”