Chapter 4Choosing a Deceased Fate

The iron bar landed with a sickening thud. Once, twice, three times…

Fifteen times. I could hear the crack of my own bones.

The pain finally dragged me into unconsciousness. I was dumped like trash at the gates of the Stark estate.

The antiseptic smell of the hospital was overwhelming. From the VIP suite next to mine, I could hear Lily’s voice. "Ian, you've been here with me every day. You must be so exhausted!"

My heart felt like it was being crushed. Ian. To get revenge for Lily, you were capable of this.

"My daughter!" My father rushed in and hugged me, his voice shaking. "Who did this? I swear, I will make them wish they were never born!"

"Dad, it's okay," I said, forcing a smile through the pain. "Just… hire me a new security team." I took a breath. "And by the way, Kai is alive. When we get married, he'll protect me too."

After my father left, I hobbled to the window on my crutches. In the garden below, Ian was spinning Lily around in his arms. She leaned in and whispered something in his ear that made the tips of his own turn red. He was smiling, a tender, genuine smile I had never once received.

The day before the wedding, Kai arrived, looking like he’d just stepped out of a dust storm. He carefully pulled a smooth, warm piece of jade from his pocket. "Miss Stark, a wedding gift!"

"The groom is finally here," I said with a smile, my voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

Kai froze, his eyes instantly turning red. His lips trembled, but no words came out.

My assistant quietly informed me that Ian hadn't been seen for days. I scoffed. He was waiting for me to break, for me to come crawling back and beg him to marry me. He was in for a disappointment.

That night, my phone buzzed. It was a video from Lily. The shaky footage showed her and Ian, tangled together in bed. It was disgusting.

A moment later, the video was deleted.

"Pathetic," I muttered, turning off my phone. Their games were laughable now.

From my window, I saw Kai standing alone under the stars, looking up at my room. He gave me a small wave, his smile warm and steady. In that moment, a profound sense of peace settled over me for the first time.

On the morning of the wedding, my phone rang.

"If you apologize to Lily right now, I will come and marry you," Ian said, his voice as arrogant as ever.

"Not necessary," I replied, hanging up without another word, a cold smile playing on my lips.

At the venue, the guests were whispering amongst themselves.

"Where is Ian Taylor?"

"Is the wedding going to be canceled?"

I ignored them all, taking Kai’s arm and walking down the aisle. His bicep was tense, but he held me so gently, careful not to hurt my still-healing leg.

"Let us congratulate Mr. Kai Donovan and the heiress of the Stark family!" the officiant's voice boomed.

At that exact moment, the grand doors to the hall were thrown open.

Ian stood there, his face as white as a sheet. The bouquet of flowers in his hand fell to the floor with a soft thud.

I smiled, and under his stunned, disbelieving gaze, I pulled Kai closer and kissed him.