I stepped right into his face , grabbed his arm . " Do it . " He blinked . " Sir- " I cut him off . " I don't care what it takes . Save them both . Don't come out of that room . unless you're telling me my woman and my child are alive . I'll pay whatever , I'll sign whatever . Just move ! " The doctor nodded hard and disappeared back inside . I stood frozen , staring at the red light above the OR door , flickering like it was mocking me . My chest ached so bad I thought I might drop right there . My fists clenched so hard my nails dug into my palms . I leaned against the wall , " Fresca ... don't leave me . Don't take my child with you . Claire already left me . I've got nothing left but you . Just hold on . Wake up and I swear I'll make everything right . Just ... don't leave me . " FRESCA'S POV The surgery dragged for hours . My ears were ringing with the doctors ' voices shouting back and forth , but I already knew the ending . I paid for it , after all . Still , when the door finally opened and one of the doctors said , " Both mother and child are safe , " I made my breath shallow and weak , like I was at death's door . Beckley stormed into the room , eyes red , hair a mess , looking more broken than I'd ever seen him . He grabbed my hand like it was the only thing keeping him alive . Got ya ! " You almost left me , " he whispered , kissing my hand over and over , his voice raw . " I thought I'd lose you . I swear , I'll never let you go again . Never . You're mine . Both you and my child . " His lips pressed against my hand , then against my belly , tender and desperate . I let my eyes flutter open , smiled faintly like I was too weak to breathe . " You'll never lose me ," I whispered , " Not in this lifetime . " He believed every word . When his father called and he stepped out to answer , my lips curled into a slow smile . My face burned from holding the act for too long , but God , it was worth it . Everything worked perfectly . 2/3 34.5 % 零 館 I let the memories roll back , piece by piece , like a sweet movie I directed . I remembered slipping into the garage that night , sliding an envelope across the hood of a car . The driver looked nervous , sweat dripping from his forehead . He muttered , " You're sure about this ? Crashing a car with you inside , isn't a joke . " I leaned in close . " You're not crashing it . You're staging it . Just like I told you . You'll walk away fine , and you'll get double this when it's done . But if you talk ? I'll have men gut you before sunrise . Do we understand each other ? " He swallowed hard and nodded . " Y - yes , Miss Fresca ." Then came the hospital . I stood in the hallway before it all began , slipping stacks of cash into gloved hands . The nurse's eyes widened . She whispered , " You want us to pretend she's critical ? " " Not pretend , " I corrected her , smiling . " Perform . I want sweat , panic , shouting . You make it look real . My Beckley needs to believe he almost lost me . And you- " I tapped the doctor's chest , " -don't forget to deliver the miracle ending . " The doctor glanced at the money and gave a stiff nod . And the videos of Claire . That was almost too easy . I hired two editors , sat in the room with them while they pieced it together frame by frame . " Make it dirtier , " I ordered . " I want her mouth on his shoulder . I want her to laugh while she says she hates me . Loop the moans if you have to . Make it undeniable . " One of them looked up , uncomfortable . " But ... won't people know it's fake if they- I slammed my hand on the table . " You're not here to think . You're here to follow orders . Do it . " They did . And then , the maid . Sweet little idiot . She almost cried when I shoved the bag of money at her . " I can't , Miss Fresca . If Sir Beckley finds out- " " Finds out what ? " I snapped , pushing the money into her trembling hands . " That your planted a few condome in a trash can ? That you slipped a man's shirt into Claire's drawer ? Don't act like you're too holy . Everyone has a price . And this ... is yours . " She stared at the cash like it was her salvation , then nodded . Chapter 10 34.5 % 8:57 Thu , Oct 16 ... she says she hates me . Loop the moans if you have to . Make it undeniable . " One of them looked up , uncomfortable . " But ... won't people know it's fake if they- " I slammed my hand on the table . " You're not here to think . You're here to follow orders . Do it . " They did . And then , the maid . Sweet little idiot . She almost cried when I shoved the bag of money at her . " I can't , Miss Fresca . If Sir Beckley finds out- " " Finds out what ? " I snapped , pushing the money into her trembling hands . " That you planted a few condoms in a trash can ? That you slipped a man's shirt into Claire's drawer ? Don't act like you're too holy . Everyone has a price . And this ... is yours . " She stared at the cash like it was her salvation , then nodded . Back in the present , I almost laughed out loud . Finally , Claire's ghost was buried . Beckley's grief had turned to hatred . His heart belonged to me now . And the 400 million he handed me before ? A tip . I didn't just want his money . I wanted . the man . His name . His empire . His unending fortune . Now that Claire was rotting , I could have it all . The door opened again and Beckley came back with his arms full - flowers , gifts , jewelry , the works . He set them on the table like an offering . " From now on , " he said , his voice thick with guilt , " I'll shower you with love and gifts . You and my child . " I tilted my head , feigning uncertainty . " But ... what about Claire ? You lover her . " His eyes turned cold . He grabbed his phone , dialed his men right in front of me . " Take Claire's body . Drop it in the underground aquarium . Let the piranhas eat . They'll do more with her than she ever did for me . " The words sent a shiver down my spine , but not of fear . Excitement . bit my lip , leaning closer . " Are you serious ? You'll really let those monsters tear her apart ? Isn't she the woman you loved once ? Not me ? " His voice was steel . " Not anymore . She cheated on me . She lied when all I did was try to save her life . She's a whore . Only my piranhas deserve her . " I wanted to clap out loud , but I kept it inside , curling my toes under the blanket instead . Oh , I was satisfied . More than satisfied . My plan worked . Beckley was mine . All of him . ' Oh poor Claire You should have seen it all . Pity you died ' Chapter 10 3/3 35.7 % 8:57 Thu , Oct 16 The door opened again and Beckley came back with his arms full - flowers , gifts , jewelry , the works . He set them on the table like an offering . " From now on , " he said , his voice thick with guilt , " I'll shower you with love and gifts . You and my child . " I tilted my head , feigning uncertainty . " But ... what about Claire ? You lover her . " His eyes turned cold . He grabbed his phone , dialed his men right in front of me . " Take Claire's body . Drop it in the underground aquarium . Let the piranhas eat . They'll do more with her than she ever did for me . " The words sent a shiver down my spine , but not of fear . Excitement . I bit my lip , leaning closer . " Are you serious ? You'll really let those monsters tear her apart ? Isn't she the woman you loved once ? Not me ?" His voice was steel . " Not anymore . She cheated on me . She lied when all I did was try to save her life . She's a whore . Only my piranhas deserve her . " I wanted to clap out loud , but I kept it inside , curling my toes under the blanket instead . Oh , I was satisfied . More than satisfied . My plan worked . Beckley was mine . All of him . ' Oh , poor Claire . You should have seen it all . Pity , you died . ' 8:57 Thu , Oct 16