Chapter 7 " Don't you dare touch my daughter ! " William Winters shouted , arms outstretched in front of Allison's bed , " Get out - all of you ! " " She deserves worse ! " " She attacked a tech pioneer - she should rot ! " Someone shoved him hard . William hit the floor with a grunt , but the moment he saw one of them reaching for Allison , he scrambled backup , trying to block their way again .. The crowd had lost all reason . They shoved him down a second time - this time even harder - and lunged toward Allison's unconscious body , ready to drag her out . Right then , Alexander walked in , flanked by private security . " Back off . " he barked His men surged into the room , forming a wall between Allison and the mob , forcing them to retreat . William gathered his daughter in his arms and gently laid her back on the bed , his hands trembling as he checked to see if she was okay . Alexander's gaze swept over Allison's pale face , his brow tightening with suspicion . All this - just from spending a single night giving a statement at the precinct ? Could Sarah have been right all along ? Was Allison putting on an act ? Pretending to help him fulfill his dying wish , while secretly doing everything she could to keep him tied to her ? One injury after another , every so - called sacrifice it all looked more and more like a calculated performance to win sympathy , to make him stay . And now she'd dragged her father into it too , forcing the issue all the way to the Rockwood patriarch's doorstep . If it weren't for that pressure , he never would've been pulled out of the hospital to clean up this mess . His thoughts drifted to Sarah , waiting for him alone in that sterile room . The concern in his chest evaporated like it had never been there . " You think this is what I gave you my daughter for ? " William snapped , rising shakily to his feet . " To see you destroy her ? If this is marriage , then end it ! " Allison stirred , her fingers tightening weakly around his hand as she whispered , her voice barely audible . " No not yet . We can't divorce . Not now . H " LiLi … " His face twisted with pain . " After everything he's done to you , you still- ? " She couldn't tell him the truth . Not yet . So she just held his hand tighter . As long as she was still breathing , she had to hold out . Wait for Alexander's " death . " Wait until she could finally walk away - with what was rightfully hers . Across the room , Alexander's expression shifted . He hadn't expected that . Even after everything - even beaten , betrayed , and hospitalized - she still refused to leave him ? Still wanted to stay married ? Chapter 7 Ask Al Install Al Chat App powered by Grok to host sou 35.00 % It hit him like a gut punch . She'd rather be a widow than his ex - wife . For a second , something inside him twisted But then it was gone . Because the only woman he loved … was Sarah . And he'd be leaving with her soon . The intruders were cleared out . The house fell quiet again . Alexander stepped closer , towering over Allison's fragile frame . His tone was low , clipped , warning . " I've already taken care of the rumors . This won't happen again . " He paused . " But you did hurt someone . That doesn't just go away . Sarah's not pressing charges but when you speak to my grandfather , I trust you'll know what to say . Allison's gaze didn't waver . She nodded calmly . " I'll make things right with him . " Satisfied , Alexander lett . William looked like he wanted to explode . He turned to Allison , jaw clenched , but the words died in his throat . All he could do was sigh. He'd raised a daughter who loved with everything she had - and clearly , gave it all to the wrong man . " I don't love him anymore , " Allison said softly , clutching her father's hand . " I'm not staying because of that . " Her voice cracked as she took a breath . " I have a reason . And she told him everything - Alexander's take illness , the inheritance , the plan to remarry into the Vanderbilt family once this over William's expression shifted from anger , to disbelief , and finally , to something heavier : sorrow He said nothing for a long moment . Then he gave a slow , almost reluctant nod . was If this was they path she had chosen… then all he could do was stand behind her , and help her hold on - at least until the day Alexander's fake death was complete Under pressure from Cornelius Rockwood , Alexander finally stepped in to control the narrative . The smear campaign against Allison vanished overnight . Toxic posts were wiped from every platform . A few friendly influencers were paid to speak up in her defense . Just like that , the scandal disappeared . Swept under the rug with practiced ease .