Fiona went to sleep but later woke up with fire in her veins.

Her body felt heavy, drenched in sweat, yet she was shivering uncontrollably. The room spun when she tried to sit up. A sharp, throbbing pain pulsed behind her eyes, and her throat felt raw and swollen. She reached for her phone on the nightstand, but her hand trembled so badly she knocked it to the floor.

"Mom..." she croaked, her voice barely audible.

Elara appeared in the doorway within seconds, still in her robe. One look at her daughter and her face paled.

"Fiona! You’re burning up." Elara rushed over, pressing the back of her hand to Fiona’s forehead. "You’re on fire. We’re going to the hospital. Now."

Fiona tried to protest, but the words dissolved into a weak cough. The room tilted again. She felt Elara’s strong arms helping her up, wrapping a coat around her shoulders, and guiding her toward the door.

Caleb arrived minutes later after a frantic call from Elara. His face was tight with worry as he helped Fiona into the backseat of his car.

"I’ve got you," he murmured, buckling her in carefully. "Just hold on."

The drive to Aurelia Bay General Hospital felt like an eternity. Fiona drifted in and out of consciousness, her head resting against the cool window. The baby fluttered weakly inside her, as if sensing her distress. She kept one hand protectively over her belly the entire way.

When they reached the emergency entrance, Caleb lifted her out of the car and carried her inside. Elara handled the paperwork while nurses rushed Fiona into an examination room.

High fever. Possible infection. Dehydration. They hooked her up to an IV, took blood samples, and ran tests. Fiona lay on the hospital bed, exhausted and scared, her mind foggy but still sharp enough to remember one crucial thing:

No one could know she was pregnant.

She had specifically asked the intake nurse to keep any pregnancy-related notes private and not to mention it unless absolutely necessary. The nurse had nodded understandingly, but hospitals were busy places. Secrets had a way of slipping through cracks.

After nearly two hours of tests and fluids, a doctor finally came in.

"Your fever is coming down, but we’re keeping you under observation for a few more hours," the doctor said kindly. "You’re stable, but we need to be careful with your condition."

Fiona’s eyes widened slightly. She glanced at the curtain, hoping no one outside had heard.

Elara, who had been sitting beside her, squeezed her hand.

"We’ll be careful," she said firmly to the doctor.

Caleb stood guard near the door, arms crossed, his presence a quiet shield.

Fiona was starting to feel slightly better — the fever had broken, and the chills were fading — when she asked to use the restroom. Elara helped her walk down the hallway toward the facilities.

That was when she saw her.

Clara was coming out of the pregnancy and maternity section, adjusting the strap of her designer handbag. She looked polished as always, but there was a smug, satisfied expression on her face. The moment her eyes landed on Fiona, that expression sharpened into pure malice.

"Well, well," Clara said, stopping directly in front of them. "If it isn’t the traitor herself. What are you doing here, Flare? Come to hide another secret?"

Fiona’s heart slammed against her ribs. She instinctively placed a hand over her stomach, trying to keep her face neutral despite the fear spiking through her.

"I’m sick," she said flatly. "Not that it’s any of your business."

Clara’s gaze dropped briefly to Fiona’s midsection, then flicked back up with a knowing glint.

"Sick, huh? Funny how you suddenly disappear from Voss right after the Moonshine drama and end up in the hospital. Especially near the maternity wing." Her lips curled into a cruel smile. "You wouldn’t be hiding anything, would you?"

Elara stepped forward, positioning herself protectively between Clara and Fiona.

"That’s enough," Elara said sharply. "My daughter is unwell. She doesn’t owe you any explanations. Move along."

Clara laughed softly, but her eyes remained cold.

"Oh, I’m moving along. But the rumors are spreading fast, Flare. Everyone at Voss is talking about how you sold us out. And now you’re here, looking like death warmed over. Interesting timing."

She gave Fiona one last lingering look — the kind that promised she would dig deeper — before sauntering away down the hallway.

Fiona’s legs felt weak. She leaned heavily on her mother as they continued to the restroom.

"She saw me near the pregnancy section," Fiona whispered once they were inside. "She suspects something. If she starts spreading that rumor too..."

Elara rubbed her daughter’s back soothingly.

We’ll handle it. One thing at a time. Right now, you need to rest and get better. For yourself and for the baby."

When they returned to the room, Caleb was waiting, his face etched with concern. Fiona told him what had happened. His expression darkened.

"Clara," he muttered. "She’s becoming a real problem."

Fiona nodded, exhaustion pulling at her again.

"I just want this to be over. The rumors. The whispers. The fear that someone will find out about the baby."

Caleb sat on the edge of the bed and took her hand.

Caleb sat on the edge of the bed, his hand gently covering hers. He had stayed by her side the entire time, only stepping out briefly when the nurses needed space. Elara had gone to get them both some tea, giving them a few minutes alone.

"I know," Caleb murmured, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. "You’ve been carrying so much for so long. The scandal at Voss, Katherine’s accusations, Martin showing up at your door... it’s too much. But you’re not alone anymore. We’re going to get through this."

Fiona looked at him, her eyes glistening.

"Clara saw me near the maternity wing. She suspects something. If she starts spreading that on top of the ’sellout’ rumors..." Her voice cracked. "I’m scared, Caleb. What if Moonshine hears everything and pulls the offer? What if I have nowhere left to go?"

Caleb leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

"They won’t pull it," he said with quiet certainty. "But before we move forward with anything public, I need to tell you something important."

Fiona searched his face, a flicker of curiosity cutting through her exhaustion.

"What is it?"

Caleb took a slow breath, his fingers tightening gently around hers. His expression was serious, almost nervous something she rarely saw in him.

"I am going to announce our engagement," he said, "but before I do that, I need to tell you something."

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

"I haven’t been completely honest with you about my work. The architecture firm... it’s real, and it’s successful. But it’s also a cover. I own Moonshine Empire, Fiona. I’ve owned it for years. I built it in the shadows while Martin built Voss in the spotlight. The rivalry between our companies... it’s personal for me. It started back in university when he undermined my project. I’ve been competing with him quietly ever since."

Fiona stared at him, her lips parting in shock. The words took a moment to sink in.

"You... own Moonshine?" she whispered. "The company that just launched the Lumina Glow collection? The one that sent Voss into panic mode?"

Fiona sat frozen on the hospital bed, the IV line suddenly feeling too tight against her arm. The room, which had felt like a safe haven just moments ago, now pressed in on her from all sides.

Caleb’s words still echoed in her ears.

She stared at him, her lips parted, trying to make sense of what he had just said. The man who had been her anchor, her safe place, the one who had promised her a future without secrets... had been hiding the biggest one of all.

"All this time..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, "you were the one behind Moonshine. The rival everyone at Voss is terrified of."

A shaky, broken laugh escaped her lips. It wasn’t joyful. It was raw, edged with disbelief and rising panic.

Caleb reached for her hand, concern flashing across his face.

"Fiona, I "

She pulled her hand back gently, shaking her head. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"Can you please leave? I need a moment."

Caleb hesitated, pain flickering in his eyes, but he nodded slowly. He stood up, respecting her space even though it clearly hurt him to do so.

"I’ll be right outside," he said softly. "Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere."

He walked to the door, glanced back at her once with deep worry, then stepped out into the hallway, closing the door quietly behind him.

The moment he was gone, Fiona let out a trembling breath and buried her face in her hands.

She couldn’t believe it.

Caleb owned Moonshine.

The company that had timed its massive Lumina Glow launch to perfectly overshadow Voss’s biggest event. The company that had sent the entire Spire into panic mode. The company everyone at Voss was now convinced had received insider information possibly from her.

And now she was going to be engaged to its owner.

A real sellout.

The thought made her stomach churn. She could already imagine the headlines, the whispers, the accusations that would follow once the news broke. Fiona Flare didn’t just resign she ran straight into the arms of the enemy. She sold out Voss and took their secrets with her.

Tears slipped down her cheeks.

She had left Voss to escape the drama, the accusations, the suffocating weight of Martin’s world. She had chosen Caleb because he made her feel safe, because he had promised her a fresh start. Now that safety felt tainted. Had he been using her all along? Had the job offer, the proposal, the gentle support — had it all been part of some larger plan to hurt Martin?...