“I'm sorry, we've just lost your mother.”

“What?”

“She didn’t make it after your decision to remove her from life support.”

My head reeled. I never asked for mum to be removed from life support.

“Miss Hart? Are you there? I’m sorry, we tried our best but unfortunately she didn't survive. Please come to the hospital to complete some formaliti—“

The phone slipped from my hand and landed on the ground with a thud loud enough to knock the breath out of me.

“No. No, no, no!”

I kicked off my heels and broke into a run, tearing at the bottom of my gown just to move faster. As if the whole universe wasn’t done with me yet, the sky rumbled and bolts of lightning flashed, reminding me of the day everything went wrong.

I was only eight when I watched my father die.

“Happy birthday, my pumpkin!”

He’d said that night, ruffling my hair like he always did,“I can’t believe my princess is all grown up.”

I’d spent the whole day pestering him to take me out. That evening, he, mother and I had gone to celebrate my birthday.

We went to the park, rode all my favorite rides, even stopped for my favorite ice cream before heading back home.

Everything had been perfect— until the attack.

My father was killed in front of me and while fleeing, my mother and I got into a car accident.

She never woke up after that.

“St Richard’s hospital.” Tears blurred my vision as I stumbled into the first taxi I saw. “Hurry!” I yelled as the taxi sped into the night.

I must have looked pathetic— that I was sure of.

A woman in a wedding gown, drenched from head to toe, makeup smeared, body trembling with sobs in the back of a taxi.

Today was supposed to be the best day of my life.

Everything had been planned.

I was supposed to marry Bryan, get my inheritance and finally afford the best care for my mom.

Until now, Gemma had me wrapped around her finger because she was footing the outrageous bills for mother’s treatment. After my father’s death, she took control of his company, his assets and everything else.

Even though it all rightfully belonged to me, I wasn’t given a single penny. I was only told I'd inherit once I turned twenty.

I laid low all these years and did everything Gemma and her family wanted afraid they would back out and let something terrible happen to my mother.

But today, along with losing my dreams, I lost my mother too.

“Forgive me for failing you mother.” I whispered, clutching the hem of my gown.

The taxi slowed as we reached an intersection when suddenly, loud horns blared. Bright light flooded my vision. And I watched—in what seemed like slow motion—a massive truck slammed into us.

Shards of glass ripped across my skin as the impact sent the taxi tumbling across the road. We rolled across the road before landing upside down with a sickening crunch.

The stench of gasoline filled my nostrils. Warm liquid trickled down my forehead as my body screamed in pain.

As I slipped in and out of consciousness, I heard heavy footsteps. A pair of boots stopped before the wreckage.

”The work is done, There is no way she’ll survive after tonight.” A man said, his voice calm as though he was talking about the weather.

And as my eyes fluttered close, only one thought remained on my mind.

Who the hell wanted me dead?

***

After what felt like forever, my eyes finally opened. Stark white walls stared back at me.

Where was I?

Was I dead?

Was this what heaven looked like?

No. The strong smell of chlorine and beeping of machines told me otherwise.

I was in a hospital.

I groaned as I tried to sit up, my body aching and nausea threatening to knock me back down.

“You’re finally awake.” A deep husky voice made me jump.

“Fuck, you scared me!” I snapped, locking eyes with the most intense green eyes I’ve ever seen.

“Okay, who the fuck are you and what are you doing in my room?”

He raised a brow, head cocked slightly as though he was amused. Or annoyed.

“Your room?

“Your room?” His voice was bored, and eyes unreadable. “Get your facts straight woman, you're in my hospital.”

I scoffed. Rude huh?

And then he moved. Rising from his chair, the tall man took long deliberate strides towards me.l and stopped right besides the bed.

“Besides,” He murmured, his tone low and rough, “That is way to walk to the man who saved your life.”

“As If I asked.” I croaked, clearing my parched throat. I needed water.

As if the man knew, he handed me a glass of water which I gulped down gratefully.

“It’s not like you were in the position to ask, Kayley Hart.”

I choked, coughing loudly. My head snapped towards him as I set down the glass.

“How… how do you know my name?”

“Who doesn’t know the dead heiress whose fiancé ditched her at the altar to marry her best friend?”

My throat went dry. “Dead?”

He smirked. “You’ve been unconscious for two years now, Ms Hard. Everyone believes you died that night. After all, no one could possibly survive being in such an accident. The car you were in exploded minutes after your accident. Someone obviously wanted you dead.”

I clasped my head as another wave of dizziness hit me. The information was just too much to process, “Two years? Exploded? Wh–What are you saying?“

“I’m saying I saved your life so you owe me one, Kayley Hart. You have to pay me back.”

“Pay you back? How—“

“Here’s the deal,” The dark haired man bent over, closing the distance between us.

My breath hitched in my throat as I stared into his striking green orbs.

I stuttered, “D–Deal?”

He nodded. “I’ll help you get revenge on everyone who’s ever hurt you.”

I gulped. Revenge?

Revenge sounded perfect.

I would do anything to make every single one of them pay for what they’ve done to me. But the more I stared at him, the more I wondered why a drop-dead gorgeous man like him would want to help me.

There had to be a catch.

“And in return?” My heart raced as he inched closer.

But what he said next made my jaw drop.