The beeping sound from the monitor filled the room, steady and soft.
Videl sat there, stunned,still caught in the intensity of what Dawn had just said. Her heart was thumping, and with him standing so close, she barely even breathed.
After a long, heavy moment, Dawn finally leaned back, exhaling slowly, as if giving her space.
He straightened, slid his hands into his pockets, and spoke calmly.
"My family has been on my neck for years about settling down," he said. "Too many years. They've reached a point where they don't care what I want anymore."
His gaze shifted slightly, annoyance flickering in his amber eyes.
"They even went as far as threatening me. If I don't bring my girlfriend home on my birthday, they'll choose a woman for me. And I know them… they will not take no for an answer."
Videl blinked, absorbing every word.
He took a small step back from the bed, giving her room to breathe.
"I've been thinking of who to hire to act the part," he continued. "Someone who won't complicate things. Someone who doesn't expect anything from me."
His eyes softened just a little.
"But then you… offered yourself. Without even knowing it."
Her heartbeat quickened.
"I'm not asking for romance," Dawn said, voice low but steady. "Don't think too deeply about it. It's a simple arrangement."
He paused, then added with absolute sincerity:
"And on your side… you won't be alone anymore. I can protect you. I can shield you from the Walkers and Pamela. And if you ever want revenge for what they did to you… I have the means to make that happen."
Silence.
Videl didn't speak. She just stared at him, trying to understand, trying to breathe, trying to think.
Dawn watched her quietly.
Then—
His phone rang.
The shrill sound broke the tension like a blade cutting through thick air.
Dawn frowned when he saw the caller ID. His jaw tightened as he answered.
"Yes?"
A pause.
"Fine. I'll be there."
He ended the call and slipped the phone away.
Then he looked at her steady, controlled, unreadable.
"Think about it," he said. "I'll expect your answer when I return."
Without waiting for her reply, Dawn turned and walked out of the ward, the door clicking shut behind him.
The room fell into quiet again, the rhythmic beeping the only sound left to keep her company.
Videl let out a slow breath, sinking against the pillows as the weight of Dawn's proposal wrapped around her like a storm cloud. Her thoughts chased each other until exhaustion pulled her under.
Hours passed.
By evening, nurses came and went. They checked her drips, adjusted her pillows, dimmed the lights.
Videl barely spoke. Her mind was too full.
Eventually, night settled over the hospital, quiet and heavy.
---
The next morning, soft sunlight slipped through the curtains.
A nurse helped Videl sit up, checked her vitals, and left her to rest.
Needing a distraction, Videl picked up the remote and turned on the TV mounted on the wall—just for background noise.
But the first thing she saw froze her completely.
BREAKING: ERIC WALKER FINALLY SPEAKS OUT ON FIANCÉE'S SCANDAL
In a brief but emotionally charged statement this morning, billionaire entrepreneur Eric Walker addressed the controversy surrounding his former fiancée, Videl Fredericks.
"This has been a difficult time for me. I won't lie. I was hurt, and I'm still trying to come to terms with everything. But regardless of what happened, I don't support the way her private life has been dragged through the mud. The images that surfaced were deeply personal. Yes, I feel betrayed... but I still believe everyone deserves dignity. Please respect her privacy."
His response, coming days after explicit images of Videl went viral online, has already sparked heated debate. While some criticize Videl, others now praise Eric for showing "grace under fire."
A cold laugh escaped her.
"Hypocrite," she muttered.
The word tasted bitter.
He didn't support the way she was dragged through the mud?
He called for dignity?
As if he hadn't been the one who destroyed her reputation first.
Her fingers curled tighter, nails digging into her palm, the urge to rip off his perfect, fake mask burning in her chest.
A calm voice cut through the quiet before she realized anyone was there.
"Funny how he cleans his image while smearing yours," the voice said, measured and smooth.
Videl's fist tightened instantly. Her eyes shot up and there he was. Dawn, standing near the doorway, amber eyes steady, watching her. He had been there all along.
"If it's revenge you want… I can give you that," he continued, voice low but deliberate.
Her silence stretched. She didn't answer. She didn't flinch.
Dawn studied her for a long beat, then finally asked, calm and unwavering:
"So… what's your answer?"
Videl lifted her head, met his gaze without hesitation.
"I'll be your woman."
A slow, satisfied smile tugged at the corner of Dawn's lips.
"Good. Very good."