Chapter 3

I stood in front of the towering headquarters of the Mercer Group, my heart a mess of emotions.

This glass-and-steel skyscraper wasn't just a monument to wealth; it was the starting gate of my new life. My father wanted me to learn from the best, and there was no one better in the business than the Mercer Group's young CEO.

Ever since I married Julian, I had isolated myself in my own little bubble of fertility clinics and domestic duties. I had cut ties with the industry, only attending the occasional family dinner.

Looking up at this bustling corporate world, a wave of anxiety hit me.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, and walked inside.

As I stepped out of the private elevator on the top floor and opened the door to the CEO's office, my jaw dropped.

Sitting behind the desk was Christian. My childhood best friend. The brilliant heir to the Mercer empire.

He looked stunning. He wore a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, his broad shoulders and sharp jawline exuding a quiet, effortless confidence.

After college, we had taken completely different paths. I had chosen Julian and a quiet marriage. Christian had gone to Europe to get his MBA and expand his family's global reach.

We hadn't spoken in years. Julian had always been incredibly insecure about Christian, constantly begging me to cut him off because he "couldn't bear the thought of losing me." I had foolishly complied.

I never expected to see him here.

"Christian?" I gasped, my voice trembling slightly.

He spun his chair around. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a second, he just stared. Then, a warm, breathtaking smile broke across his face.

For a moment, the years melted away. I saw the boy who used to steal my diaries and chase away my bullies.

"Sera," he said softly, walking over to me. He gently squeezed my shoulder. "It’s been too long."

We sat down, and the conversation flowed as if we had never been apart. I found myself laughing and relaxing for the first time in months.

"Your dad called me," Christian said, his eyes filled with a mixture of tenderness and respect. "He told me you wanted to get back into the game. I’m incredibly proud of you, Sera. I’ll do whatever it takes to help you succeed."

"Thank you, Christian. Seriously," I murmured.

He didn't ask about Julian. He didn't ask why I was suddenly coming back. He just gave me the safe space I desperately needed.

"Come on," Christian smiled, standing up. "Let me show you around. We have a major board meeting in ten minutes. You should sit in."

I smiled and followed him down the long hallway. But as we reached the double doors of the boardroom, a sudden, violent wave of dizziness hit me.

The floor tilted. My knees buckled, and my vision went black.

"Sera!"

Christian’s voice cracked with panic. Before I could hit the cold floor, his strong arms caught me. Without a second thought, he scooped me up into his arms and sprinted toward the private elevators, yelling for his assistant to get the car ready.

I was too weak to even open my eyes.

In the back of his car, he held me close, his voice a soothing whisper against my hair. "Don't worry, Sera. I've got you. We're going to the hospital. You're going to be okay."

Leaning against his chest, listening to the steady, frantic beat of his heart, a profound sense of safety washed over me. Just like when we were kids, as long as Christian was there, nothing could hurt me.

At the hospital, Christian handled everything, barking orders at the staff and getting me admitted immediately.

But the doctor's diagnosis left me completely paralyzed.