Chapter 1
"Ms. Dawson, you still don't remember anything? You've been in the hospital for three days now. We need your family to settle the hospital bill ASAP," the nurse said.
Lena Dawson, her head wrapped in bandages, gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry, but I just can't remember my phone's password."
The nurse continued, "Do you have an emergency contact?"
"I..."
Lena hadn't even thought of an answer when the door suddenly swung open with a bang. A handsome young man walked in, his face full of impatience.
"Seriously? Again? What game are you playing this time?" Hayden Reid snapped. "You took Leah out, and then a car accident happened. She could've been disfigured if it weren't for her luck. Listen up, I'm calling off our engagement. Stop trying to get my attention. Even if you threw yourself into a river, I wouldn't give a damn!"
Leah Dawson stood right behind him, looking meek.
She tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Hayden, I'm really fine. Lena didn't mean it. I'm all healed now. Don't get on her case. Luckily, when the windshield shattered, it didn't damage my face, or else..."
A trace of confusion crossed Lena's eyes as she touched the bandage on her head.
She had just woken up this morning. The nurse told her she had almost died, and her family couldn't be reached.
Hayden frowned. Dressed in a refined suit, he looked striking.
Holding Leah close, he added, "Lena, Leah is the girl I like. Although you and I grew up together, I never had feelings for you. You've been chasing me like a fool for five years. Don't you find that pathetic? Leah's loved me for so long, but she never dared to confess her feelings because of you. Today, I wanna make it clear: what you've done sickened me. Leah and I have already been intimate, and I won't abandon her."
Leah seemed touched. She clung to his arm, a flicker of triumph in her gaze. "Hayden..."
Lena lowered her gaze. Their PDA brought a dull pain to her heart, leaving her breathless. The surging grievances almost suffocated her, her eyes burning with unshed tears. However, she still forced herself to cut them off.
"Sorry, but... I don't think I know either of you. I do seem to have a boyfriend, though. Do you know his number? Please ask him to come over."
Somewhere in the back of her mind, a blurry figure surfaced.
Hayden's eyes flickered with confusion and shock. After realizing what was happening, he sneered. A new trick, huh?
At that moment, the TV mounted on the wall was playing financial news. "The youngest leader of the Reid Group, Hunter Reid, had returned from abroad. Rumors had it that he suffered severe injuries in a car accident, leaving him crippled and disfigured. Since then, he has rarely appeared in public..."
Hayden pointed at the TV and said, "That's my uncle, Hunter. He's your boyfriend. Here, I'll give you his number. Go find him."
He snatched Lena's phone, effortlessly unlocked it, and typed in Hunter's phone number.
Leah covered her mouth, her eyes brimming with amusement as she softly asked, "Hayden, are you sure this is okay? Two years ago, it was because of her that he..."
Hayden cut her off with a firm grip around her waist, his gaze filled with disdain.
He thought, "After simping over me for five years, she definitely wouldn't give up just like that. She's just playing hard to get.
"Since that's the case, I might as well play along. Let her get in touch with the guy she hates the most."
Hayden spoke, "Lena, I've given you his contact info. You'd better keep this up for more than one week. Otherwise, I won't spare you a glance even if you kneel before me."