When Venom Blossoms

I checked the time on my dashboard; the hospital was just ten minutes away.

"Relax, I'm flying solo from here on out. See you at the wedding tomorrow."

I ended the call, feeling a weight lift off my chest.

However, as I was about to make a turn, a car I knew all too well rammed into me from behind.

The crash sent my car tumbling, pain exploding in my legs, the world turning a bloody hue.

Through the cracked window, I saw Trevin walking up, his eyes seething with bitterness.

"Yara, you've brought this on yourself. Wren can't be hurt!"

Ignoring my desperate state, he snatched my phone.

I tried to stop him, but I could not even muster the strength to get out of the wreck.

"Stop!"

"Stop?" Trevin sneered, playing with my phone as if I were nothing.

"Yara, to think you'd leave someone to die! I'm just locking in some good luck for you!"

I stared him down, teeth clenched in anger. "That's the serum my granddad's been waiting on for five years!"

Trevin gave me a dismissive look. "It's just a serum. Order another one. I'm sure the Lawrences have a backup plan. Don't be so stingy!

And really, your granddad had his time. Wouldn't we get a bigger cut of the inheritance if he were gone? You're so naive!"

Despite the pain, I could not help but laugh.

My loyalty, my granddad's life, they meant less to him than Wren.

However, he seemed to forget, his power and pride came from me.

"So, we're still on for the wedding?"

Trevin caught a glimpse of the text I had sent to my assistant and let out a derisive laugh, flipping his phone down in front of me.

"Looks like you're dead set on tying the knot with me. Now that we've got what we need, I guess marrying you isn't off the table, huh?"

I did not get a chance to respond before he started laying down his terms, his brow furrowed in thought.

"First off, once Wren's out of the hospital, she's living with us. I'm not comfortable with her being on her own.

"Second, you're going to transfer all your assets to Wren, to make sure she's taken care of. You can hang onto one of your companies.

"Third, I want a kid with Wren first, then we can talk about you and me having one. The Hoffman family line has to continue, after all.

"Small stuff, right? Can you handle that?"

His eyes bore into mine, filled with a confidence that seemed to say he knew I would say yes.

"Wren and I go way back, and since I can't marry her, I owe her that much in material support."

With that, he dashed off towards the hospital, leaving me staring at his back.

Struggling to get help, I passed out just as the ambulance sirens grew near.

I came to the hospital bed, nursing a broken right leg and a moderate concussion.

The doctor told me I was lucky to have called for help when I did. Any later, and the car explosion could have been catastrophic.

My assistant stood by, documents in hand, looking uncertain.

"Ms. Lawrence, about your marriage to Mr. Graham…"

I inhaled deeply. "Keep it on track."

......

Trevin was a constant presence by Wren's hospital bed, tending to her every need.

The phone by her side stayed quiet, no new messages lighting up the screen.

He tried to shrug off the nagging feeling in his chest, convincing himself,

'This is just Yara playing games, trying to reel me in. If I bite, she'll have me wrapped around her finger.'

His mind was a whirlwind of unease, so much so that he did not even notice when Wren stirred awake.

He flicked on the TV, hoping to find some distraction from his thoughts.

Trevin was rooted to the spot as he watched the Lawrence family's wedding of the century unfold live on TV.

The venue was a vision straight out of his dreams, stunning in every detail.

However, there, in bold letters, was the name 'Edward Graham' as the groom.