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.
