His Debt of Five Hundred Million

The car door flew open, and a familiar, imposing figure emerged.

But I couldn't hold on any longer. The blood loss was making my vision tunnel to black. My blood-soaked hand pressed tightly against my abdomen, the dark red stain blooming like a wilted rose across my wedding dress.

"Wyatt, save me!" I cried out with my last ounce of strength.

Wyatt sprinted toward me, and Tessa's gaze shifted to him. She sneered, "Is that your brother or your lover? This is Julian Monroe's territory. No one dares to touch me here."

Wyatt ignored her, rushing to my side and gently scooping me into his arms. His hands were trembling with rage, but his movements were steady.

"I'm Wyatt Caldwell! Who the hell hurt Cordelia?" his voice boomed with menace, his icy glare sweeping across the room.

The crowd's jeers died instantly. The bridal shop fell silent, save for my muffled groans of pain.

Tessa froze for a moment, then puffed out her chest. "I did it, so what? My husband is Julian Monroe. Touch me, and he'll destroy your entire family!"

I coughed, splattering blood on Wyatt's shirt, a stark crimson against the white fabric. "You didn't bring security?" I asked weakly.

The pain was unbearable, and my consciousness began to fray, but I pressed on. "Her weapon was glass. I can't hold on much longer."

Wyatt's voice softened, but it still had a sharp edge. "I was closing a deal nearby and came straight here. Dad's on his way with backup. He'll be here in ten."

His gaze locked onto my wound, his eyes filling with murderous intent. "Who dares to touch an heiress of the Caldwell family?"

He started toward Tessa. "Julian Monroe, is it? You're his wife?"

"That's right!" she retorted, smugly pulling out her phone. "You think I'm scared just because you drop the Caldwell name? I'll call him right now and have him come break your legs."

I grabbed Wyatt's sleeve and shook my head. I had to see it. Would he choose his mistress, or his interests?

"Hospital first," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Tessa blocked our path, cooing into her phone, "Honey, some guy named Wyatt Caldwell is claiming I bullied his sister, and now he wants to kill me. Come save me!"

Julian's voice came through the speaker. "Who has the gall to mess with you? Where are you?"

"At the bridal shop you set up for me," Tessa replied, a malicious gleam in her eyes. "He said he's going to make the Monroe family pay."

Julian paused. "Who? Wyatt Caldwell?"

"Yes," Tessa said, lifting her chin. "He's with Cordelia, and he said—"

"Impossible!" Julian's voice was sharp with disbelief. "You got into a fight with Wyatt? Are you sure it was him?"

I let out a bitter laugh. The pain in my abdomen was nothing compared to the ache in my heart. He hadn't mentioned me once. He was only afraid of the scandal hitting the news.

Our entire relationship was a joke. A cruel, seven-year-long punchline.

My body went limp, and I nearly slipped from Wyatt's arms. He tightened his grip, his voice a low snarl into the phone. "She stabbed Cordelia, and you're calling this a misunderstanding? Get your ass over here. Now."

Tessa smugly hung up the phone. "Some nobody trying to shake down the Monroes? Julian doesn't even know you."

With a flick of her wrist, she motioned to several thugs armed with metal rods. "Even if you are some distant relatives of the Caldwells, you think you can take us on?"

Wyatt set me down and turned to face them, but I staggered to my feet, grabbing a heavy brass letter opener from a nearby design table. "Anyone who takes another step is finished!"

I pointed the letter opener at Tessa, blood dripping from my hand, but I couldn't feel the pain anymore. My heart hammered against my ribs, my eyes burning with pure venom. "You want me dead? Then I'm taking you with me!"

I lunged forward, smashing the heavy brass into her shoulder. Tessa's scream ripped through the shop like the wail of a banshee.