rk so she recognized the ma

ous with ambition and ruthlessness. Stories of his cu

ierce rivals, their animosity boiling over when Nick Holt,

tions had confounded many. He'd spared no expense, deploying private jets to assemble an elite medical team with experts fr

cker of anxiety and hope in his eyes, she couldn't help b

shaking his head with a faint, bitter smile

oment, her mind racing. "But

times open or close their eyes as part of an uncons

a doctor herself, she underst

lier hadn't been that of a blank stare.

eavy with disappointment. "It's late. Ever

ie remained behind, her th

leaned closer, her eyes narr

f movement, any subtle detail the docto

t she actually misr

..

refreshed and ready to face another day. She was just about to

his sharp features bearing a d

dripping with condescension. "Marrying a vegetable? Gue

years, Nikolas had lived in the shadow of his older cousin Jonathan, always second-best in everything-looks,

s felt emboldened. This was his moment to bas

sizing her up like an object to be ridic

wless skin and delicately sculpted fea

her eyes. Sharp, clear, and undeniably c

erie's presence-a stunning woman who actually cho

tomach churn. She frowned, stepping back instinctive

state, he still outclasses you in ev

pride stinging. Her gaze flicked over him dismissively as she

er, a toxic mix of humiliation

speak to hi

ith a force that betrayed his rage, pulling he

m?" Nikolas asked, his vo

nathan's nothing but a corpse that hasn't been buried yet. You're wasting your beauty on a dead man. W

ain ripped through him. A strangled groan escaped

u will ever be," Valerie said, her tone like frost. "Even now, the Holt family wo

strike, her expression composed but laced with icy

eeth grinding audibly as his face twisted in

ning in his eyes. As he reached the door, he turned back,

g in the faint grimace she wore as she

ly. Jonathan wasn't just

, this family wasn't just rut

r unease, Valerie took another deep

ehind her, the man on the bed s