He Chose Her in ER... I Chose His Liquidation

Five years together. Five years of love, trust, and plans for a future—shattered in an instant. Just as we were about to walk down the aisle, my company hit a financial crisis. Desperate to save a deal, I pushed myself beyond my limits, drowning in alcohol until my stomach gave out. And where was my fiancé? Not by my hospital bed. No, he was too busy comforting Evelyn Harper.

I called him—again and again—only to be met with the cold click of rejection. Then, like salt in an open wound, Evelyn's Instagram post appeared: a photo of them kissing, captioned, "He is my knight, my prince." And beneath it, his reply: "I will always protect you."

I stared at the screen, my fingers numb, my heart frozen. That was the moment I made my decision.

"Dad," I said, my voice quiet but steel-edged, "I'll go through with the arranged marriage."

His smile was warm, relieved. "I knew you'd make the right choice, sweetheart. Don't worry—we'll handle everything. Just come home and be our beautiful bride."

He didn't press for details, but I knew he understood. A lump rose in my throat. "I've been so stubborn," I whispered.

"As long as you're happy," he murmured, "that's all that matters."

I barely had time to hang up before my door slammed open. Liam stormed in, fury twisting his face. Without a word, he grabbed me, yanking me off the bed.

"Let's go," he snapped. "You're apologizing to Evelyn. Now."

The IV tubes tore from my arms, clattering to the floor. He froze, staring at me like I was some kind of fraud.

"Ava, cut the act," he sneered. "It's just a stomachache. You really dragged a doctor into this?"

Just a stomachache? The doctors had told him—gastric perforation. Possible partial stomach removal. But when Evelyn called, he'd bolted without hesitation. And now, post-surgery, he still thought I was faking.

Something inside me shattered.

I clenched my jaw against the searing pain and shoved him back. "What the hell are you talking about?"

His lip curled. "Why are you picking fights with Evelyn? I'm marrying you. What else do you want?" His voice dripped with disgust. "If you're that jealous, why not drink yourself into another deal? Chain me down the way you always do. Feed that control freak side of you."

So that's what he thought of me. Not love. Not devotion. Just manipulation.

I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat, my chest hollow. Meeting his glare, I forced icy calm into my voice. "Fine. I'll apologize to her—after I'm discharged."

And then I'll give you back to her for good.