Chapter5 At the final instant , Ethan Sterling lunged forward , pouring every ounce of strength into yanking Sloane back . A car screeched , too late to stop . Its bumper slammed into me , hurling me across the pavement . Blood filled my mouth . Through blurred vision , I saw Ethan cradling Sloane , shouting hoarsely for help . Agony split me apart , but a grim smile tugged at my lips . When I had tackled Sloane , I had grabbed a shard of porcelain and driven it deep into her abdomen . The jagged edge had cut my own palm wide open , but that pain was nothing compared to the wound in my heart . Hot blood bubbled up my throat , choking me . The stream of headlights blurred into a wall of steel and light , blocking my view . Flat on the ground , I reached a trembling hand toward the endless sky above . My babies ... I'm coming to find you ... But death didn't claim me . When I woke , the sharp tang of disinfectant filled my nose . " Oh my God ! " Nurse Kelly - blonde hair , blue eyes - gasped in shock , then bolted out of the room , her figure vanishing through the doorway . Moments later , a group of doctors in white coats crowded around my bed . Their faces were of every color and creed , their hands busy with instruments . They flashed lights in my eyes , pressed stethoscopes to my chest , listened to my breathing , checked every inch of me . Amid their rapid English , I pieced together fragments of meaning . I had been in a coma for a month . Nurse Kelly returned to change my IV . Chapter5 55.56 % " Where am I ? How did I get here ? " My voice was raw , unsteady . She gave me a playful wink . " You'll have to ask the handsome man who brought you in . " Confused , I watched her disappear again . Only then did I notice the corner of a card tucked beneath my pillow . I pulled it free . On the front , messy Chinese characters sprawled across the paper . " Vivian Hart , wake up soon - you still owe me thirty million ! " " Promise me you'll be happy . Promise me you'll be safe . Promise me you ' ll be well . " I froze , then understood immediately . There was only one man who would write something so nonsensical , yet so tender . Outside , the sky bled into shades of orange and crimson . Evening sunlight painted the horizon . " Vivian . " The voice came from the door - warm , tinged with laughter . I turned my head . A tall man stood there in a black turtleneck , his posture elegant , his frame sharp . My breath caught . His features had grown more refined , his aura colder - years of corporate warfare etched into the cut of his jaw and the curve of his mouth . Yet his eyes - those soft , smiling eyes shaped like peach blossoms were exactly as I remembered . " You saved me ? " My voice trembled with disbelief . Miles Prescott strode over and gently tapped my forehead with his knuckle . " Idiot . You were hurt like that and didn't think to call me for revenge ? You had to try and do it yourself ? " His smile faded , shadows passing through his gaze . Chapter5 55.56 % " If I hadn't seen the headlines about Ethan Sterling's mistress and rushed back from the States to check on you - God knows where you'd still be lying . " I gave a small , bitter laugh . " Ten years apart , and the first time we meet again , you see me like this - broken , pathetic . " We had grown up together in Havenridge Orphanage , all three of us . Ethan , Miles , and me . But ten years ago , Miles ' s birth parents found him and took him back to the United States . We never saw each other again . Before he left , he had asked me if I wanted to go with him . I had chosen Northbridge City . I had chosen Ethan Sterling . Back then , at eighteen , Ethan had clutched me with red - rimmed eyes and vowed , As long as you'll be with me , Vivian , I'd give you my life . At twenty - eight , he had tossed mine aside like it meant nothing . Hearts change . Love fades . Chapter5