Chapter 1
On the day my boyfriend proposed to me, he gave away my bone marrow to his first love.
He lied to me that I had a stomach illness and played the perfect boyfriend.
But behind that tender smile was a man who had been cheating on me and even had a child with his first love.
Tears blurred my vision. How could I have been so stupid?
Maybe marrying Colin Rioux–his sworn enemy–was my only way out.
***
“Dylan, are you out of your mind? You donated Carolyn’s bone marrow to Alana without even telling her?”
In a private hospital in Boston, Sheryl Brassard stormed into the ward, eyes blazing. She jabbed a finger at Dylan, who sat quietly on the sofa like nothing had happened.
Dylan looked up slowly. His handsome features were drawn in shadows. “Sis, Lana’s only match was Carolyn. I didn’t have a choice.”
Sheryl snatched the medical report off the table. Her hands trembled as she read it. Carolyn had been hospitalized for over six months due to complications from surgery. In truth, it had been the donation.
“No choice?” she snapped. “Carolyn was weak enough as it was! You lied to her, Dylan. Told her she had stomach problems just so you could trick. her into the hospital and put her life on the line!” She threw the papers
back onto the table.
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“Has Alana cast a spell on you? You wrecked yourself in that car race just to impress her! You ended up paralyzed for five years, Dylan! And who stayed by your side? Carolyn did! She took care of you every day, gave up her life for you.”
Dylan looked away, but Sheryl didn’t stop. “Now you’re back on your feet, and Alana suddenly returns–pregnant, sick, and conveniently heartbroken and you donate Carolyn’s bone marrow behind her back? Are you seriously planning to have a test–tube baby with Alana next?!”
Just outside the door, Carolyn Sutton stood frozen, the discharge papers still in her hand.
Half an hour ago, Dylan had proposed to her when she’d just been told. she was healthy enough to leave the hospital.
She was so overjoyed and cried. And she even posted it on Instagram: “Happiest day of my life.” Now, every word felt like a cruel joke.
Inside, Dylan lowered his head. His dark hair fell over his eyes, hiding whatever guilt or lack thereof–he held.
“Sheryl, just help me cover it up. Don’t let Carolyn find out,” he muttered. “Lana’s grandma doesn’t have much time. Her only wish is to hold Lana’s baby. I just… want to help her.”
Sheryl’s jaw dropped. Her voice cracked with fury.
“And what about Carol? Everyone knows she’s been in love with you for eight years!
“I still remember–eight years ago, Alana confessed to Edwin Woods and got rejected. You wanted revenge for her, so you flirted with Carolyn, just to make him jealous! She was the collateral damage.
“Now Alana’s back and pregnant, and Carol–who’s been with you through everything–you’re just going to use her again?”
After a long silence, Dylan whispered, “I’ve handled it. Carolyn will never know about Lana’s pregnancy. As for the rest… it’s been eight years. I’m used to having Carolyn around. I’ll marry her.”
Carolyn didn’t wait to hear more. The nurse was coming, so she quickly. lowered her head and walked in, pretending she’d just returned from paperwork.
Dylan looked up, eyes meeting hers. She smiled weakly.
Sheryl gave Dylan’a furious look and dragged him out of the ward.
On the drive home, Dylan talked excitedly about wedding plans. Carolyn heard none of it. The world outside the car window blurred into grey.
She felt nothing but cold.
She’d met Dylan when she was fifteen, at one of her father’s business parties. He was aloof, noble–unattainable.
She was impressed and couldn’t forget about him.
At sixteen, she joined an underground car race under the name “Soundless.” That night, she saved Dylan’s life and began her endless
crush on him!
At twenty, when Edwin Woods started pursuing her, Dylan suddenly appeared at a party and asked for her number. She was over the moon.
That year, she found out Dylan and Alana Ricard were childhood. sweethearts. But Alana had never cared for him. Rebellious and wild, she had dozens of boyfriends–none of them Dylan.
At twenty–one, Dylan confessed his love. Carolyn said yes.
At twenty–two, Dylan crashed during a race. He ended up paralyzed. Everyone left him–except Carolyn.
Her parents wanted her to move abroad, but she stayed. She took care of him through the darkest years even though he became strange and furious, like a totally different man.
At twenty–seven, Dylan finally recovered. His grandfather, Joe Brassard, announced him as heir to the Brassard empire.
Later that year, Carolyn fainted at home. The doctor said it was a stomach disease. She was hospitalized and had surgery.
Looking back now, she saw it for what it was. However, the love she’d poured her life into had been a lie from the beginning.
More than six months ago, the hospital had drawn vial after vial of her blood. Dylan had said it was for “tests.”
But in reality, it had all been for Alana.
