Chapter 1 Crisis is Coming

"Dad, I read the email you sent me. Is it for real or what?"

Freya Walton darted home the instant she landed, her mind reeling with disbelief. In just a matter of days, her mother had fallen gravely ill, slipping into an unconscious state, while the Healthbridge Hospital she founded hit rock bottom.

"Mom poured her heart and soul into that hospital, Dad. We can't let it wither away like this. You must have a solution up your sleeve, right?"

With a frown, Fletcher Walton set aside his newspaper, and sighed heavily. "Listen, Freya, let's take a deep breath and sort things out."

Just as Freya was about to say something more, a sweet, feminine voice cut in. "Don't go giving Dad a hard time. Let's face it. Healthbridge is in a shambles. No amount of money can fix it. It's better to declare bankruptcy and be done with it."

Freya's gaze shifted to the source of the voice.

A young girl, her age perhaps, stood before her, garbed in a flowing dress, exuding an air of haughtiness that made Freya's hackles rise.

Something about the girl gave Freya a sense of foreboding. "And you are?" she asked, her tone guarded.

The girl's lips curled into a smile, but her voice dripped with honeyed venom. "I am your younger sister, Hailey Walton."

Hailey, with her cherubic features, bore an uncanny resemblance to Fletcher in his youth. Her smile was disarmingly sweet.

Yet, her eyes glimmered with malice and repugnance as she leveled a gaze at Freya.

Before Freya could even blink, a middle-aged woman, decked out in a mink coat and heavy makeup, sauntered out of the kitchen, assuming the air of a gracious hostess.

"You must be exhausted, Freya. I've whipped up a little something for you," the woman said, setting the plate on the table.

She then strolled over to Fletcher, seating herself beside him and casting an indifferent look over Freya. "I'm Helen, and I'll be taking care of you and Fletcher from now on."

Freya's mind reeled in shock as she looked to Fletcher for an explanation. But he averted his gaze, clearly avoiding her questioning eyes. In that instant, Freya's worst fears were confirmed.

It was clear that Fletcher had been unfaithful, and his illegitimate daughter, sired from his mistress, was almost as old as her. In his wife's hour of need, he brought his mistress and their love child home.

Freya was overcome with a maelstrom of emotions—grief, sadness, and anger for her mother. She had been living abroad all this time, completely unaware of her family's turmoil. She never imagined things would take such a drastic turn when she returned home.

The urge to march up to them and slap them senseless coursed through Freya's veins, but she knew it wasn't the time to be impulsive. She had more pressing matters at hand.

Freya took a deep, steadying breath and said, "Dad, we can discuss these two women later. But the issue at hand is Healthbridge and it can't wait any longer. You've been in business in Leryport for so long; you must know how to save the hospital."

Fletcher averted his gaze, remaining tight-lipped.

Helen put on a show of faux sympathy and sighed. "Freya, you should think about your father's well-being as well. Healthbridge is in a financial abyss of hundreds of millions. If we don't act soon to sell it, we won't even be able to afford your mother's medical bills."

Freya curled her lips in a sneer, her patience wearing thin. "Shut up! Our family matters are none of your business!"

However, she had to admit that Helen had hit the nail on the head.

Her mother's health was rapidly deteriorating. Now she was in a coma, dependent on equipment and expensive medicine to cling to life. The medical bills were astronomical, and the Walton family's savings would soon be depleted.

In this dire situation, the best option was indeed to sell the hospital.

But Freya had grown up with her mother and witnessed her tireless efforts to build and expand the hospital to its current scale.

If her mother ever woke up to the news that Healthbridge had been sold, it would be a fatal blow, akin to signing her death warrant.

"Be kind to Helen, Freya!" Fletcher interjected out of the blue. "There is a way to salvage the situation, but it depends on your willingness to help."

Freya remained silent, as she anticipated his solution would not be one she would like.

Fletcher went on to say, "You're familiar with the Hayes family, right? They're one of the most influential and wealthy families in Leryport. If we could get them to assist us, Healthbridge will be saved. But of course, nothing comes for free."

He made an intentional pause, relishing in the tense silence that followed.

Knowing that he was waiting for her reply, Freya asked through gritted her teeth, "Well, what do I have to do?"

"It's very simple. All you have to do is marry Brennan Hayes."

Freya's heart dropped. So that was what he wanted from her.

Hailey cackled. "Have you heard of Brennan's ugly face and his track record? His previous three fiancees have all died, and he is in a vegetative state now. If you marry him, your marriage will be sexless and joyless."

Freya now understood why her father would make such a proposal. If there wasn't anything wrong with Brennan, she wasn't even qualified to marry him.

"Freya, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. As your father, I don't want you to suffer. We'll just have to sell the hospital," Fletcher said, feigning concern.

But the threat was clear in his words, and Freya wasn't fooled. She looked at the trio, and her eyes filled with contempt.

They were all good at acting, but Freya knew their true intentions.

She couldn't help but think that leaving this toxic environment was probably not a bad idea. After all, she had a chance to save Healthbridge Hospital and her mother, and that was all that mattered.

Taking a deep breath, Freya made her decision. "Fine, I'll marry him," she said, her voice steady but her heart racing.