The quiet beeping of medical machines filled the private hospital room.
Boyd Malone slowly opened his eyes.
His body felt heavy and weak, as if every movement required effort. The last thing he remembered was collapsing in his office after a sudden sharp pain shot through his chest.
Now everything felt distant and slow.
The door opened softly.
A nurse stepped inside, noticing the movement.
"Mr. Malone, you're awake."
Within minutes, the room filled with people.
Kyle rushed in first.
"Dad!"
Behind him stood his mother, her face filled with relief.
"Boyd… thank goodness you're awake."
Boyd slowly turned his head, his sharp eyes landing on his son.
His voice was weak but firm.
"What happened?"
Kyle quickly stepped closer.
"You had a stroke, Dad. But the doctors stabilized you."
Boyd frowned slightly.
"Who handled the treatment?"
Kyle hesitated.
Then he answered quietly.
"Ryan Smith."
Boyd's eyes sharpened immediately.
"Ryan Smith?"
Kyle nodded.
"Yes."
Boyd looked confused for a moment.
"Why would he help?"
The room became strangely quiet.
Kyle avoided his father's gaze.
Boyd had spent decades in business.
He immediately sensed something was wrong.
"What aren't you telling me?"
Kyle remained silent.
Boyd's voice grew firmer.
"Kyle."
His mother stepped in quickly.
"Boyd, you should rest first—"
"No," Boyd snapped weakly.
His eyes remained locked on Kyle.
"Answer me."
Kyle finally spoke.
"I made a deal with Ryan."
Boyd waited.
"What deal?"
Kyle swallowed.
"For a contract between Smith Group and Malone Group."
Boyd frowned.
"And?"
Kyle hesitated.
The silence stretched too long.
Boyd's eyes slowly darkened.
"What did you give him?"
Kyle's voice dropped.
"…Hazel."
The room froze.
For a moment Boyd didn't move.
Then his expression twisted with anger.
"You did what?"
Kyle tried to explain quickly.
"It was necessary. Shareholders were pulling out, and the company needed stability. Ryan wouldn't agree unless—"
Before he could finish, Boyd raised his weak hand and slapped him across the face.
The sound echoed in the quiet hospital room.
Kyle stumbled back in shock.
His mother gasped.
"Boyd!"
Boyd's chest rose heavily with anger.
"You traded your own fiancée for business?!"
Kyle's face burned with humiliation.
"It was just temporary!"
Boyd laughed bitterly.
"You fool."
His voice shook with rage.
"Do you have any idea what kind of man Ryan Smith is?"
Kyle clenched his fists.
Boyd pointed a trembling finger at him.
"You handed him the woman who was supposed to marry you."
Kyle looked away.
Boyd's voice became colder.
"Bring her back."
Kyle froze.
"…What?"
"Bring Hazel back to the Malone family."
Kyle laughed bitterly.
"That's impossible."
Boyd glared at him.
"Why?"
Kyle finally said the truth.
"Ryan won't give her back."
The room fell silent again.
Boyd leaned back slowly against the pillow, breathing heavily.
His mind raced.
Ryan Smith.
A man known for controlling everything he touched.
Boyd suddenly understood something terrible.
Kyle hadn't made a deal.
He had made a mistake.
A dangerous one.
Boyd looked at his son again.
"If Ryan keeps her…"
His voice became grim.
"…then we've made an enemy we cannot afford."
Kyle remained silent.
But deep down, he knew something worse.
Hazel might not even want to come back anymore.
And that thought unsettled him more than he expected.