Chapter 1 The Woman Who Was Never Chosen Out on the ocean bridge, two cars raced neck and neck across the slick asphalt, locked in a heart-pounding chase that felt straight out of an action movie.

Gripping the steering wheel with all the strength she had left, Dayna Murray pushed through the stabbing pain that burned deep in her abdomen. Her foot slammed down on the gas pedal again, urging the car forward with everything it had.

But in the rearview mirror, the kidnappers' vehicleloomed closer and closer.

They were gaining on her fast. Another few seconds, andthey'd ram her off the road.

Only three hours earlier, she and Madison Reid had been abducted. Breaking free had pushed Dayna past every limit, but somehow, she'd pulled it off.

But what she didn't expect was the sheer persistence. The men were glued to their tail, refusing to let them escape for good.

In the passenger seat, Madison was visibly shaking, hercomplexion paper-white. Her voice cracked with fear. "Dayna, if I die out here, Declan will never forgive you!"

Dayna's grip on the wheel tightened and she threw a freezing glare her way. "Shut up."

Calculating the distanceand speed in her head,she made a snap decision.

"Open the door," she ordered sharply. "We're jumping."

Even as the words left her mouth, she was already reaching for the handle of her own door.

"I-I can't!" Madison's voice rose inpanic, her breath coming in shallow bursts. "I'm scared. I can't do it!"

"Then stay here and die," Dayna hissed, her gaze sharp and unflinching.

Up ahead, the bridge curved into a sharp bend right as they neared the tunnel exit.

"Jump now!" Daynashouted.

She didn't wait. She let off the gas and threw herself from the speeding car. Madison, shaking, leapt after her.

The turn was sharp and sudden, and their jump had caught the kidnappers completely off guard.

A thunderous crash followedd together, metal on metal.

Dayna's body hit the road hard,tumbling over and over until she skidded to a breathless stop.

The pain was blinding, like her bones had all been shattered under a massive weight.

And then came the blast. One of the cars burst into flames behind her, the blast wave tossing her like a rag doll.

Coughing, she clutched her chest and swallowed hard, pushing the rising blood back down.

Then she heard the low roar of a car coming closer.

Dayna lifted her head,hope sparking faintly in her exhausted eyes.

It was her husband, Declan Foster.

Dressed sharply in black, he came rushing toward them, his expression tight with a wild desperation she had never seen from him before.

Bracing herself on trembling arms, she called out softly, "Declan..." and stumbled toward him.

However, he didn't even glance her way.Without hesitation, he moved right past her and pulled Madison into his arms.

Dayna's eyes went wide.Of course, it was always her. Always Madison.

Her heart twisted, and she suddenly felt cold all over, like the wind had been knocked out of her.

Declan was her husband, but time and again, no matter what, Madison always came first.

Even now, after barely making it out alive, he didn't check on her-he ran straight to Madison's side.

A wave of relief crossed Declan's face as he held Madison close and began fussing over her.

"Maddie, are you hurt?" he asked, concern filling his voice.

Madison leaned on his shoulder, sobbing softly. "You got here just in time. If you hadn't shown up, Dayna would've gotten me killed."

Declan's expression darkened as he turned to Dayna. "You set all this up, didn't you?" His voice was sharp with fury.

Dayna looked stunned. "We wereboth taken! I nearly got myself killed trying to save her!"

Madison had only slowed things down.If Dayna hadn't been stuck helpingher, she wouldn't be hurt this badly.

And now, instead of being thankful, Madison was blaming her?

With fake tears in her eyes, Madison hissed, "This was your plan all along. You worked withthe kidnappers-one of them told me everything!"

Dayna's jaw clenched as she stared at her, stunned. She always knew Madison had no shame, butthis? This was beyond anything she'd imagined.

Honestly, at this point, she wouldn't be surprised if Madison had staged the entire kidnapping herself.

After all, it was Dayna who'd been beaten by those kidnappers, not Madison.

Holding back her fury, Dayna met Madison's gaze with cold steel in her eyes. "You'll pay for every filthy lie that just left your mouth."

"Dayna!" Declan jumped in front of Madison like a guard dog, his voicefilled with nothing but contempt. "How could you be this cruel? I can't believe I married someone like you! We'll settle this when I return!"

And just like that, he turned his back on her andwalked off with Madison.

Dayna didn't move. The bruiseson her body were nothing compared to the agony in her chest.

It was as if something inside her hadcracked wide open.

What was the point of defending herself when Declannever believed her anyway?

Just a whimper or one tearful look from Madison, and Declan would take her side-without question, every time.

Dayna's arms hung stiff at her sidesas she watched him lift Madison effortlessly and hurry toward the car.

Madison leaned against him gently, her movements soft and graceful, but even then, she managed to throw Dayna a smug, mocking glance.

It was the middle of June, yet Dayna had never felt such a chill run through her before.

Her mind drifted back to that night years ago when Declan crashed his car and she had risked her own life to drag him out of the wreckage with her own hands.

After that, sheblacked out from the effort.

When she came to, the story was already twisted-Madison had claimed she was the hero.And no matter how hard Dayna tried to tell the truth, Declan never listened. In hiseyes, Madison had saved him, and Dayna was just a bitter liar desperate for attention.

From day one, Dayna had understood that this marriage wasn't about love. It was a cold transaction between two powerful families. And as for Declan's affection? That had always been reserved for Madison.

In three long years of their marriage, Declan hadn't given Dayna a single ounce of warmth. Even the basiccourtesy owed to a spouse had been too much to expect.

The very night before they were to wed, Madison had set Dayna up to look like she'd cheated on Declan. Nothing had really happened, but Declan had seen Dayna as dirty ever since.

And from that moment forward, Dayna's world turned into a nightmare.

Her father was suddenly accused of drug abuse and locked away in rehab. With no one left to run Murray Group, Declan stepped in-seizing control without hesitation.

Dayna's mother had passed years ago, the poor woman's heart broken by her own husband's betrayal. Dayna had grown up resenting her father, believing he had earned his fall from grace.

So at the time, when Declan offered to step in and save the company, she had been grateful, blindly so.

But it wasn't until much later that the truth dawned on her-none of it was coincidence. It had all been a trap.

Her father's downfall had been carefully staged by Declan. The company hadn't been rescued-it had been swallowed whole. Every part of it was part of Declan's scheme.

And once he'd gotten everything he wanted, all that remained was loathing. He stopped coming home. And on the rare occasions they crossed paths, it always ended with her dignity in pieces.

The memories came flooding back, crashing over Dayna likea storm she couldn't escape.

Dayna stumbled forward before her strength gave out completely. Blood spilled from her lips, and then everything faded into darkness.

Chapter 2 Mr. Hudson, Why Don't We Make A Deal Inside a private hospital suite, Dayna remained unconscious, trapped in a dreamless slumber as monitors quietly tracked her condition.

Seated silently next to her was a man in a wheelchair, dressed in a perfectly cut black suit that spoke of wealth and precision.

He was twenty-seven, with a face so flawlessly carved, it almost felt unreal-like a statue touched by the hands of gods. Everything about him exuded power, the kind that didn't ask for attention but commanded it effortlessly.

"Mr. Hudson... your health," the elderly doctor began, pausing before his voice turned grim. "The paralysis is progressing. If we can't stop it, permanent immobility is certain. At this stage, your only chance may lie with... the Wraith Physician."

That man was Kristopher Hudson-CEO of Hudson Group and the reigning figure of the powerful Hudson family.

The Hudson lineage was long-established and deeply influential, cloaked in both prestige and mystery.

As for Kristopher, in the eyes of the city's elite, he wasn't just powerful-he was unreachable.

At the mere age of six, he cracked the cyber defenses of a global crime ring, retrieving billions in stolen funds in under ten minutes and bringing the entire syndicate to its knees.

By ten, he held multiple national patents in cutting-edge energy technology, giving Hudson Group a commanding grip on the sector.

And at fifteen, he was already working alongside his father to take the family empire global, reviving a waning legacy and turning it into a force that demanded the world's attention.

But now, the same man who once seemed unstoppable was confined to a wheelchair, left paralyzed from the waistdown after a devastating accident three years earlier.

However, mobilitywasn't the onlyconcern anymore.

Kristopher looked up, his voice calm, eyescold as frost. "With my current condition... is fathering a child still an option?"

It wasn't pride or ego behind the question. His grandmother, frail and nearing her end, had only one wish left-to see a great-grandchild before leaving this world.

The doctor was stunned."Excuse me?"

...

Dayna couldn't remember how long she had been lying on that bridge. She had no cluewho had found her or when help had arrived.

Her memory was a haze of scattered fragments-fleeting images slipping through her grasp like fog.

One memory stood out-a pair of eyes.

They were cold, unreadable... unfamiliar yet hauntingly recognizable.

And then suddenly, they morphed into Declan's face-burning with hatred.

"Why won't you die already, Dayna?" She heard Declan scream. "Once you're out of the way, Maddie and I can be happy. You're worthless! Just die!"

No!

If she gave up now, itwould be the victorythey were waiting for.

All her mother's life work-years of sacrifice-would be handedto Declan on a silver platter.

She wouldn't allow it.

Not in this lifetime.

Dayna jolted awake with a sharp inhale.The first thing she saw was a bright,sterile ceiling-one she knew too well.

The sharp stench of antiseptic hit her like a punch. Her stomach twisted, and she curled forward, dry heaving with no strength to fight it.

But this time felt different.

For once, she was thankful-thankful that she was still breathing.

"You're awake?"

A calm, deep voicedrifted to her, slow and unhurried.

She froze instantly, her whole body going stiff as sweat dampened her back.

His features were striking-so sharply defined they bordered on cruelly handsome. But it wasn't his face that truly unsettled her. It was his eyes. Cold and still, like the surface of a deep, motionless lake. There was no warmth in them, only a quiet, unspoken threat that pressed against her chest.

"Kristopher Hudson?" she blurted in shock.

Why on earth was he here?

Was he... back?Really?

"Afraidnow?"

Kristopher's stare was intense, cutting through her like a blade. Yet when he spoke, his voice was calm and deliberate. "You had no fear when you plotted against me for the Foster Group. Interesting how that bravery seems to vanish now."

The air around him was stifling. Dayna felt as though she'd plunged into icy waters-paralyzed, breathless, freezing.

Three years ago, Hudson Group and Foster Group had clashed in a ruthless corporate battle.

Back then, Dayna had already sealed a deal with Kristopher, promising him a critical patent project.

He'd poured in millions, countless hours, and a full marketing campaign in anticipation.

But in the finalhour, she gaveit all to Declan.

Because she'd let her heart lead. Because Declan had begged, and she couldn't bring herself to say no.

In a single move, everything Kristopher had invested went up in smoke.

She had offered apology after apology, bracing herself for the inevitable fallout. But the retaliation never came. Kristopher simply vanished. She told herself he must've been too busy, caught up in other priorities.

But now, three years later... seeing him right in front of her again... Was this what he'd been waiting for all along? Revenge?

No, thatcouldn't be it.

If that were his goal, she wouldn't be alive to wonder about it.

Taking a slow breath, Dayna steadied herself. "You were the one who saved me."

Kristopher gave a cold laugh, tapping his temple. "You're not entirely useless. If I hadn'tpassed by and intervened, you'd be dead by now."

Indeed.

She had come that close to dying.

Dayna bit down on her lip, rage flickering in her eyes.

Back then, she had convinced herself that giving her mother's legacy to Declan was a gesture of love-a sign of unwavering trust. But now, that very trust felt like poison in hergut. It turned her stomach to think of how easily she'd foolishly handed over everything.

She was done being the fool.

She had made up her mind. If she was going to reclaim her life, she had to take back every single thing that had been stolen from her as well.

A soft cough pulled her back from her thoughts.

It wasKristopher.

She turned toward the sound, and onlythen did it hit her. He wasn't standing. He was sitting in a wheelchair.

She looked at him, shocked."Your legs..."

And then it clicked. "That's why you disappeared... three years ago..."

His gaze narrowed."So? You going to laugh at me now?"

She quickly shook her head. "No. I wouldn't."

But her voice faded as she looked at him-still commanding, still unreadable, still every bit a force even in a wheelchair.

In all of Arkmery, there was only one man left who could rival Foster Group, and he was sitting right here.

Her thoughts raced, analyzing every possible angle.

Then she slowly balled her fists, lifted her chin, and said with a quiet calm, "Mr. Hudson, why don't we make a deal?"

Chapter 3 Let's Just Get Married The hospital room turned oddly quiet, like even theair was holding its breath.

Dayna stayed still, barely breathing, waiting for Kristopher's response.

But instead of a nod ora rejection, she was met with a sharp scoff.

Kristopher's voice was low and laced with ice. He lifted his gaze, and in that one look, the temperature in the room dropped several degrees. "Dayna, what makes you think you have the right to bargain with someone like me?"

But Dayna didn't flinch. She tilted her head ever so slightly, her expression calm, unwavering.

Her naturally striking features were now touched by a delicate vulnerability, making her look hauntingly beautiful.

"What if I told you... I could help you walk again?"

That caught him off guard.

His expression flickered, if only for a heartbeat. His hand gripped the armrest tighter.

Was she insane? Or worse-was this some cruel game meant to dangle hope infront of him, only to snatch it away?

What kind of game was sheplaying now?

Fury bubbled just under Kristopher's skin, pounding at his temples.

Before he could utter a word, Dayna slipped out of bed and lowered herself calmly in front of him.

"Start now, and I promise you'll see results in three months," she said gently, reaching out as her hand moved toward his leg.

But right when her fingertips were about to touch him, Kristopher's body reacted on instinct.

With lightning speed, he grabbed her wrist, squeezing tightly enough to make her wince.

Dayna looked up at him, her eyes wide but unafraid.

He was furious and his grip punishing. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" He spat the words out through gritted teeth, barely restraining the storm churning inside him.

Pity? Tricks? More lies? He wasn't having any of it.

His grip tightened, harsh enough to leave marks.

His presence was suffocating, and Dayna foundherself gasping for air.

Her lashes trembled. Her already pale face seemed more delicate now, and her eyes were faintly red as though she were on the edge but holding on.

Something in him tensed. With a growl, heshoved her hand aside.

She staggered but steadied herself quickly, and this time, reached again without pause.

Her fingers were elegant yet steady. She moved with confidence, pressing expertly along key nerve points on his calf like someone deeply familiar with the human body.

Then, something unbelievable happened.

A surge of feeling shot through his leg-sharp, electric, and alive.

Kristopher's brows shot up in disbelief.

He could feel it-his leg. Real sensation.

And it was her doing.

Dayna looked up at him withcalm certainty. "So? How does that feel, Mr. Hudson?"

Kristopher didn't respond right away. He stared at her like he was seeing her for the very first time. Like he couldn't quite decide if she was a liar, a miracle, or both.

Finally, his voice came, low and even. "What do you want in return?"

Dayna's eyes turned steely, her voice low but pulsing with long-buried rage. "Help me crush Foster Group and reclaim everything my mother was robbed of."

Was she seriously asking him to dismantle Foster Group from the ground up?

A short, humorless laugh escaped Kristopher's lips. "You want me to go after your dear husband's empire? Is this another one of your twisted games? Don't forget-you betrayed me once. That project you backed out of and handed to Declan? It cost me tens of billions. Wasn't that stab in the back deep enough for you?"

Dayna lowered her gaze, her lashes trembling faintly. She didn't argue because there was nothing she could say to undo the past.

In truth, that single loss should've been a blip on Hudson Group's radar. But when Kristopher vanished after the project failed, the company pulled out of every joint deal, and the cracks widened from there.

That was when Foster Group slithered in, seizing the chaos as an opportunity and rising overnight as a corporate juggernaut.

She didn't want to rewind the clock. The past was poison. With quiet resolve and a clear gaze, she said, "Give me three months. I'll have you walking again. That's all I ask."

Kristopher didn't blink. His expression was still impossible to read.

She bit down on her lip, fighting the urge to retreat. Shewasn't backing down either. "If you don't believe me, wecan write it up. Sign a contract. If I can't do it, I'll..."

She hadn't even finished her thought when Kristopher's voice cut in sharply.

This time, his tone had shifted-measured, calculating, still laced with coldness.

"We can strike the deal you want, but what I need from you now is an heir," he said flatly.

The words hit her like a slap. Her eyes widened, her body tensing in disbelief.

An heir?

Did he mean... she had to leave Declan, marryhim, and bear his child?

He caught the hesitation in her eyes and gave a dry, mocking laugh.

Of course. She was still shackled to Declan-emotionally, mentally. Pathetic.

"You can't even handle onecondition? Then there's nothing more to talk about."

With that, Kristopher spun his wheelchair around and headed for the exit.

"Wait!" she called out.

Panic clawed at her throat. She moved to go after him, but her knees buckled-still too frail to hold her up.

Her sight blurred.

She could feel herself collapsing-fast and unsteady, headed toward the wall.

However, Kristopher moved on instinct and caught her by thewaist before she hit the floor.

In that moment, the distance between them disappeared completely.

His crisp, woodsy scent, like cedar in snowy winter, surrounded her, strangely comforting, almost addictive.

Somehow... it felt familiar,though she couldn't place where she'd smelled it before.

When she glanced up, the cold rage in his eyes sent a chill down her spine.

"Are you finished putting on a show?" he said sharply.

Dayna's body shook slightly. After a few breaths, she regained control, straightened up in his arms, and stepped back. "No, I'm not done. I wasgoing to say that I agree to your condition. Let's just... get married."

Chapter 4 How Could Anyone Have Tracked Her Down Kristopher tensed up the secondhe heard Dayna.

Behind those cold, unreadable eyes of his, something dark started to stir.

What was she trying to pull now? Did she really just say that? Was this another one of her lies? Another trap?

He squinted at her for a few seconds, and then let out a dry laugh. "You really don't get scared of anything, huh?"

Dayna simply shrugged like itwas no big deal.

She grabbed the test results from the table and tossed them to him. "After you've almost died once, nothing really scares you anymore."

Kristopher didn't respond. He just turned his wheelchair and started rolling away.

Dayna frowned, unwilling to let himwalk away just yet.

"Whether you trust me or not, I will marry you," she said firmly. "Just give me a little time-I'll wrap up everything here with Declan first. After that, he's out of my life for good."

Kristopher didn't glance back. But in the shadowy light, the corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly.

"One month," he said coldly. "Play me again, and you'll realize death was the easiest way out."

Dayna watched him leave, feeling a cold shiver run through her.

If there was any other way to take down Declan, she wouldn't have teamed up with someone like Kristopher.

But right now, she didn'thave a choice.

...

Meanwhile, Declan was already back at the house.

The maids had scrubbed the living roomuntil it looked untouched, like the abduction had never even happened here.

He'd spent the entire day putting out fires over Madison's abduction, but thankfully the kidnappers let her go unharmed once they got the ransom. She didn't even have a scratch.

Tired, Declan loosened his tie and called out like he always did,"Dayna, bring me a glass of water."

In the past, Dayna would've already handed him the water and hungup his jacket without being asked.

However, this time, silence echoed back at him.

His face tightened. He pulled off his tie, clearly annoyed. "Where is she?"

A housemaid quickly came in with water, looking nervous. "Mr. Foster, Mrs. Foster hasn't come back yet."

"What do you mean she hasn't come back?" Declan snapped, unable to believe it.

The servant flinched. "S-since Miss Reid got kidnapped... we came back fromthe break and haven't seen her since..."

Since the day Madison got kidnapped?

Declan's face turned icy. Then a sneer twisted his lips. "So she finally grew aspine? Tried some pity stunt, didn't work, and now she storms off playing thevictim? Let her sulk all she wants. She can stay away for good, for all I care."

He'd already been kind enough not to pursue thematter that she was behind Madison's kidnapping, and now she had the nerve to act like this?

Right then, another servant by the window suddenly calledout, "Sir! Mrs. Foster's back!"

Declan's smirk curled in icy satisfaction. Of course she'd come crawling back.

She always did.

Without him, she was useless.

And sure enough, the quietwas pierced by the soft click of the door unlocking.

Dayna had barely stepped inside when Declan's voice, dripping with sarcasm, cut through the room like a blade. "Well, look who finally remembered where she lives. What's the matter? Coughing up blood wasn't dramatic enough for you? Had to put on a full show for the crowd, huh?"

She didn't respond but insteadwalked past him toward the stairs like he didn't even exist.

Declan's eyes narrowed. That silence-her blatant disregard-set something off inside him.

She wasignoring him?

How dare she?

"Dayna!" His voice thundered now, echoing inthe hall. "Did you suddenly go deaf, or are you just pretending I'm not standing here?"

He moved swiftly, stepping into herpath, his eyes glinting with furyas he blocked her way up the stairs.

Her chest throbbed with a dull pain that had long since faded into numbness. Every second in his presence felt like poison.

"Move."

The word was lifeless, void of emotion,but to Declan, it landed like a slap to the face. His brows furrowed tightly.

"Dayna!" He seized her wrist, his voice low and strained through clenched teeth. "Try me again, and I swear you'll regret it."

Her expression didn't waver. Then slowly, her lipslifted into a cold, mocking smile. Her eyes looked straight through him-empty, frigid, unreachable.

"Oh, really?" Her voice was a quiet accusation. "You already watched me bleeding on the ground and walkedaway. Were you planning to finish the job next time?"

The words sliced through his armor, stunning him into silence. For a moment, he couldn't breathe.

This wasn't the woman he remembered. Not even close.

The old Dayna had been obedient to a fault-soft-spoken, desperate for scraps of his attention. This stranger before him... she was ice.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he snapped, his temper rising fast. He was certain this was just another one of her calculated games.

Straightening up, he slipped right back into his usual tone of authority. "I've already done you a favor by not making you pay for what you did to Madison-and now you're pulling this stunt?"

"You actually believe I orchestrated that? No wonder you're so easy to manipulate-calling you dumb would be generous."

She let out a bitter chuckle, thick with years of swallowed pain and self-loathing.

God, how stupid she had been to love a man like him!

She didn't dignify it with another word. Turning away, she headed for the stairs with the kind of calm only heartbreak could teach.

Declan's blood boiled. But it wasn't her words that cut the deepest. It was the indifference in her eyes, like he no longer mattered at all.

She had never looked through him like that before.

His hands balledinto fists, trembling with rage.

"Get back here, now. Three seconds, Dayna, or I'm filing for divorce!" he barked.

She froze. Her shoulders tensed, but she didn't turn around.

A victorious smirk played at Declan's lips. He thought he'd won. Again.

But before he could bask in it, her voice floated back-quiet and detached. "Then let's go get it done. I'm ready."

Funny, wasn't it? Legally, she washis wife. But in his world, she'd always been invisible. Disposable.

Her mind flashed back to the night he grabbed her by the neck and spat those words like venom. "You make me sick. Cheating on me right before our wedding day? You'resuch a cheap whore! I wouldn't touch you even if you were the last woman on earth."

And still... she'd stayed. Clung to hope.

She believed that if she just loved him a little more andendured a little longer, maybe he'd finally see the truth-that she hadn't betrayed him. That she was always his.

But in his eyes, she was always tainted-beyond redemption.

And now, all she could do waslaugh-at the girl she used to be. Naive. Loyal. Pathetic.

"Fine," Declan snapped."You want a divorce? Let's make it official."

Declan then stomped to his study and came back slamming a divorce agreement onto the table like it was a winning card.

His expression oozed cruelty, like he was sure she'd never sign it.

But then, Dayna calmly picked it up and scanned the pages. She was listed as the one at fault, and for that, he wouldn't be paying her any alimony. Still, she didn't even blink.

Money had never mattered to her. With one smooth, deliberate stroke, she signed her name.

Just like that, the marriage-built on nothing more than convenience-was done.

Declan stared at her,speechless.

What the fuck? She actually signed it?

His expression souredimmediately.

"You-"

He barely got the word out before his phone rang sharply from his pocket.

Irritated, he glanced at the screen,and then shifted his eyes back to Dayna, already halfway up the stairs.

For a moment, he hesitated-but then answered. "This better be important."

There was a brief silence as Declan listened to whatever the caller had to say, and then his entire expression shifted. "What? You found the Wraith Physician? Stay where you are. I'm on my way."

Dayna's steps faltered mid-stride. The Wraith Physician?

Her eyes narrowed, a deep crease forming between her brows. That shouldn't have been possible. How could anyone have tracked her down without her knowing?

Chapter 5 Was She Really Wraith Physician Declan was halfway out the door when hestopped abruptly. He turned back, hiseyes sharp and voice colder than frost.

"This divorce can still be undone," he said, each word slicing through the air. "If you still want to be my wife, show up at the hospital by eight tomorrow. Apologize to Maddie-or we're through for real."

There was no softness in his tone. No room for negotiation.And before Dayna could respond, he slammed the door shut behind him, leaving the house in sudden, suffocating silence.

Dayna stood still for a moment, her hand tightening around the stairrailing to keep herself from crumbling. Her body was shaking, fragile and drained, but her mind was clearer than it had been in years.

Hiswife?

That title didn't mean a thing to her anymore. Anyonewho wanted it could take it.

What she craved now wasn't reconciliation or redemption-it was a clean break. A final severing of every toxic tie.

Her eyes slowly scanned the living room, the familiar space soaked inthree years of memories-some sweet, most bitter. Every corner of this house had witnessed her silence, her sacrifices, her slow undoing.

It was time to let it go.

Goodbye, and goodriddance.

She packed only what mattered. Documents, essentials. Everything else? She left it behind without a second thought. Then she headed straight to her private villa.

The irony made her laugh, though there wasn't much humor in it.

Declan had always believed her strength came from the Murray Group-an empire hehad snatched from her hands with pride.

He had convinced himself she was nothing without him, that she'd been clinging to his name like a lifeline.

But the truth? He neverhad a clue.

Dayna had stayed, playing the doting housewife, not because she was weak, but because she loved him.

She gave up everything-her ambition, her future, her pride-allfor a man who never saw her for who she was. But from now on, she was done with love. No space for it in her life anymore.

Within the next few weeks, the divorce was finalized.

Declan didn't take it seriously. In his mind, this was just another one of Dayna's elaborate games. He didn't even spare her a second look. His days were now consumed with long morning walks and late-night chats with his dear Madison.

There was a time when Dayna would've been a mess-begging, crying,doing anything to make him stay.

Butnow?

She stood quietly outside the city hall, calm as ever.

Sitting ahead of her was a man in a clean white shirt, relaxed in his wheelchair. The sunlight came through the trees andgently lit up his face, making him look less cold than usual.

Dayna raised an eyebrow in surprise. She hadn't expected Kristopher to show up, especially not before her.

A few young women nearby were sneaking glances at him, whispering to each other.

Holding her documents tight, Dayna tooka breath and walked up to him, givinga polite nod. "Good morning, Mr. Hudson."

Kristopher's eyes immediately looked up. As soon as he saw her, his fingers tightened a little on the armrest.

His expression gave nothing away, but there was a tiny shift-something she couldn't quite read.

Dayna caught the look and hesitated, puzzled by the way he was staring. Instinctively, she glanced down at her shirt, wondering if something was off. "What? Is there something on my face? Or my clothes?"

He looked away fast and narrowed his eyes. "Let's go."

He still couldn't wrap his head around it.

She'd really done it. She actually went through with it.

Thanks to his connections, the whole process was quick-papers signed, confirmed, and filed. Just like that, they were legally married.

As they stepped out of the establishment, Dayna felt a weird mix of relief and excitement bubbling up inside her.

"Mr. Hudson, let's hope this partnership goes smoothly." She offered a gentle smile and extended her hand toward him, but Kristopher didn't move.

Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but distant. "You're moving into my downtown villa today. No delays."

Dayna blinked, totally confused.

Wasn't this supposed to be a contract marriage? So why did they have to live together?

His expression didn't waver. "Don't forget your role. You're Mrs. Hudson now."

Her heart skipped a beat. That sounded way too much like something Declan used to say.

Declan always told her to "know her place," be a quiet wife, and never ask for more.

Maybe that was just how richfamilies were. Cold, strict, and impossible to escape.

But then Kristopher's deep voice broke her train of thought. "There's no divorce with me. Only death do us part. You married me, so don't even think about walking away. From now on, I'll protect you. You won't have to suffer again."

Dayna stared at him, stunned.

She couldn't believe what she'd just heard.

For a split second, her heart gave an involuntary flutter, unguarded and sudden.

No. She shook the feeling off quickly. She couldn'tlet herself overthink it.

It was probably just words-empty and meaningless.

Before she could dwell onit any further, a car pulled up in front of them.

"Get in," Kristopher said. His voice was sharp and firm, stripped of emotion,making it clear this wasn't a request.

Dayna paused, unsure, but got into the car anyway. This wasn't the time to upset her new business partner.

As she looked away, Kristopher's eyes stayed onher. His fingers brushed the ring on his pinky without thinking, and his expression darkened.

Was she pretending? Or... had she really forgotten everything?

In the backseat, Dayna pulled out her phone, hoping to distract herself.

The screen lit up instantly, and with it came a flood of missed callsand angry messages. All from Declan.

"Dayna, I told you to apologize to Maddie. And it's been almosta month! Where the hell are you?"

"Pick up yourphone!

"Now. Don't make me lose it!"

Dayna's eyes flashed with sarcasmas she calmly blocked his number and erased the entire call log.

Up front, Kristopher had caught it all with a single glance. His eyes narrowed, and a faint, knowing curve touched his lips.

He was just about to say something when her phone litup again with another call.

This time, there was no name, just a number. But the moment Kristopher saw it, he went still. Completely frozen.

That number... he remembered it clearly. He never forgot numbers. It belongedto Nell Mason-Wraith Physician's agent.

And this woman sitting next to him-who had skills that even most licensed professionals would envy-she'd actually made him feel something in his legs.

Could it really be her?Could Dayna... reallybe the Wraith Physician?

Chapter 6 Tiger's Cage Dayna paused for a moment, sneaking a quick look at the man next to herbefore hitting decline on the call.

She rarely saved numbers unless necessary, and this one was just another unsaved string of digits. Hopefully, Kristopher hadn't paid attention.

Until she knew for sure she could trust Kristopher, there was no way she was telling him who she really was.

The funny thing was, she'd once trusted Declan with everything. She was ready to tell him all of it. But he never had the patience to listen, so those secrets stayed hidden.

Looking back now, maybe his cold impatience had been a blessing in disguise.

She took a calm breath and quickly sent a message to Nell.

"What's up, Nell? Can't talk at the moment."

Before she could even turn the screen off, Nell's reply lit it back up.

"Huge case! My dear Wraith, they're tossing money like it's confetti. The first offer'salready in the millions. Are you in or not?"

Dayna... was the famous WraithPhysician that everyone had been desperately searching for.

The legendary doctor who, accordingto rumors, could save someone even when they were hanging by a thread.

Her skillswere beyond value.

But for the last few years, she'd set everything aside to be Declan's wife. She hadn't accepted a case in years unless it was truly urgent.

Her gaze sharpened as the memory of Declan's phone call yesterday surfaced. Suspicion growing, she quickly typed another message. "Is it Declan?"

She was so caught up in herphone that she didn't notice Kristopher watching her.

Kristopher's lips pressed into a thin line. The way she angled her phone, clearly trying to block his view, it was obvious she didn't want him seeing anything.

Was she keepingsecrets?

Could it actuallybe true?

Was Dayna actually... the Wraith Physician?

Her phone buzzed once more. Sheglanced down at the screen and saw another message from Nell.

"Ugh, you're seriously my golden goose. Sharp as always. That fool didn't even know his wife was the miracle doctor and paid me millions to go find you!"

Dayna exhaled softly, half amused. She could practically see Nell's theatrical eye roll just from the message.

"Not interested, Nell. I'm over it.Trash like him doesn't deserve a second more of my time," she replied.

Her face turned colder,bit by bit.

She hadn't realized the full extent of therot until after she married Declan. His entire family was just as twisted as he was.

His parents barely spoke, each living their own life under the same roof. His father, even in his old age, was still dragging women into the house like they were shiny new prizes. Years of reckless living had wrecked his health, and worse, he picked up STDs no doctor wanted to touch.

They'd exhausted every option. When things got desperate, they began searching for the elusive Wraith Physician.

Dayna had thought about stepping in. She really had. But every time, Declan would shoot her down with a look of disgust and tell her to stay out of it.

So, in the end, she sent Nell to reach outto the Fosters since everybody knew Nellwas the Wraith Physician's trusted agent.

On that day of the treatment, Dayna was wearing a mask and trying to handle things quietly. But even with heridentity hidden, Declan had recognized her right away.

He'd accused her of orchestrating the whole farce. He even said that she had paid Nell off to put on a show. She'd tried explaining herself until her voice gave out, but none ofthem had cared. Declan's mother and sister had gone as far as to insult Dayna to her face.

But that was all in the past now. None ofit mattered anymore.

Nell's text came through not long after. "Didn't youalways say you wanted to help them? Why are you backing out now that they've finally tracked you down?"

"I left him and got remarried, Nell. I'm Mrs. Hudson now." Dayna typed the message and hit send without hesitation.

Almost immediately, her phone buzzed again, and this time, not with a text.

Kristopher, seated beside her, happened to glance at her screen. He didn't say anything, but Dayna caught the slight shift in his expression.

Her stomach tensed. Nell wasn't exactly knownfor her patience, and if she was calling again so soon, she was probably about to lose it.

Still, Dayna had no choice. She declined the call and started typing a message, but before she could hit send, Nell fired off another one.

And just reading it, Dayna could practically hear Nell shouting in her head. "Mrs. Hudson? Seriously? Which Hudson are you even referring to? Cuz' not many big shots in town have that name. Don't tell me you mean Kristopher Hudson!"

Dayna's fingers paused over the keyboard. She sighed and typed, "It's him."

It only took a second for Nell to completely blow up.

"Have you completely lost it? You barely made it out of the wolf's den, and now you're walking right into the tiger's cage? Do you even know what Kristopher Hudson is truly capable of?"

Dayna's hand trembled slightly. She didn't even need to look to know Kristopher was watching her now-closely.

A jolt of panic surged through her chest. She hurried to type a quick reply. "I'm busy right now. We'll talk later." She hit send, silenced the phone, and shut off the screen.

But when she looked up... Kristopher was still staring at her. His expression had darkened.

Her heartbeat picked up.

Had heseenit all?

Then came his voice-low, smooth, and edged with something dangerous.

"So," he said slowly, "mind telling me exactly what 'tiger's cage' means?"

Suddenly, the car felt colder, the air heavier, as if the temperature had dropped all at once.

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The mag-lev train roared beneath me, wind tearing at my hair as I clung to the side of the carriage, blood trickling from my lip.

Three hours ago, I was kidnapped.

Two hours ago, I broke free.

Now, the rearview mirror showed headlights closing in fast—those men weren't giving up.

"Open the door," I ordered Madison, my voice raw.

"We're jumping."

"I can't!" she screamed, trembling.

"Then stay and die," I spat.

Up ahead, the bridge curved sharply into the tunnel.

No time.

I let go of the wheel and threw myself into the air.

Pain exploded through my body as I tumbled across asphalt.

Behind me, metal screeched—then fire bloomed in the sky.

Coughing, I pushed myself up, ribs screaming.

That's when I saw him.

Declan.

My husband.

Dressed in black, rushing toward us.

Hope flared—until he sprinted past me, sweeping Madison into his arms.

"Maddie, are you hurt?" he murmured, brushing her hair back.

I stared, numb.

Blood dripped from my chin.

He didn't even look at me.

"You set this up," he accused, turning.

"Admit it, Dayna."

Madison sobbed. "She wanted me dead."

My fists clenched.

Lies.

All lies.

But I knew—no matter what I said, he'd never believe me.

The engine of his car purred to life.

He lifted Madison gently, shot me a final glare of disgust, and walked away.

I collapsed to my knees.

Not from the pain.

From the silence.

The absence.

The realization: I was already gone to him.

That's when the other car arrived.

Black.

Silent.

Out stepped a man in a wheelchair—Kristopher Hudson.

Our eyes locked.

Three years ago, I betrayed him.

Now, I had nothing left to lose.