Sebastian—my Sebastian—lay there pale, hooked to machines, tubes in his mouth, his chest rising like a dying tide. I clutched the metal bedrail and slid to my knees.

“No—no, no, no—” The tears came in waves, violent and uncontrollable. My sobs were so loud a nurse stepped in before backing out, her eyes wide with pity.

“You said you’d be back. You kissed my forehead,” I whispered, “You always keep your word, Seb…” I buried my face into the side of the bed, my hands clenching the sheets so tight my knuckles turned white. I felt like my chest was being ripped open from the inside out.

“I can’t do this without you. I don’t want to be strong if it means doing it alone. Please—please just open your eyes. Squeeze my hand. Anything…”

But he didn’t move. Only the machines spoke. Only the cold. And somewhere, in the back of my head, something dark and ancient cracked open.

The truck. The black tulips. The perfume I despised. This wasn’t an accident. This was Jacob.

Jacob—watching me at the gala, the scent on the balcony, the same obsessive look he used to have in Milan, when he thought love meant owning. And if it wasn’t Jacob, it was someone close to him. Lavenia. Luther. The perfect trio of rot. He tried to take my life back.

I stood slowly, wiped my tears with the back of my shaking hand, and stared down at Sebastian. “You hold on, alright?” I whispered. “Because I will find who did this. I will bury them. I swear it on every diamond on my name.”

The monitor beeped beside me, slow and steady, like a broken lullaby. Sebastian hadn’t moved in hours. Tubes in his arms. Wires on his chest. His face bruised but still so beautiful. My fingers curled around his limp hand as I sat beside him in the white sterile quiet, refusing to leave. I hadn’t slept. I didn’t want to.

And then the air changed. The scent of smoke and expensive cologne—one I used to know too well—hit me before I even heard the steps. I turned slowly.

Jacob. Standing in the doorway of the ICU room like he belonged there. Like this was a goddamn social call. A bouquet of blood-red roses in one hand, a smug little smirk on his face like he hadn’t tried to destroy my life piece by piece.

“Pearl,” he said, walking in like I’d invited him. “You shouldn’t have to suffer alone. Not now. Not like this.”

I stood. “I told the guards not to let you in.”

He set the roses on the counter like we were in some soap opera reunion. “I heard what happened. And it hit me like lightning. He’s not coming back to you, Pearl. You know that. But me… you and I, we still have time.”

I stared at him, stunned. “What?”

He stepped closer. “We were meant to be. I see it clearly now. I loved you before he ever touched you. Before he bought your name and wrapped it in diamonds.”

I stepped back. “Jacob, stop.”

He reached for my face. And the bastard tried to kiss me. I slapped him so hard my palm burned. He froze, blinking.

I was shaking—part rage, part horror. “I don’t want you. I don’t love you. You’re not my past, you’re not my future. You’re the shadow that keeps chasing my name. And I’m sick of running.”

His eyes changed. That glint of entitlement slipped into fury. “You think he’s better than me?” he hissed. “He’s nothing without that empire. You were mine before he bought you—”

“Don’t ever say that again,” I snapped.

He raised his hand—he actually raised it like he was going to grab me—and I didn’t flinch. I pressed the emergency button behind me so fast the siren shrieked into the hall. Seconds later, two uniformed guards came in. I didn’t look away from Jacob once.

“ESCORT HIM OUT. NOW.”

He struggled. “You can’t do this to me!”

I walked toward the guards as they took him by both arms. I leaned in, ice in every word. “If Jacob Wright ever shows up here again, shoot first. Ask never.”

They nodded. Jacob screamed behind him. “You’ll regret this, Pearl! You always come back! You always do—”

I turned away before he was dragged off like a mutt with too many fleas. I hadn’t even caught my breath when my phone rang. Unknown number. I picked it up.

“Pearl,” Luther’s voice. Smooth and stupid. “I had to pull strings to get your new line. After what my brother just showed you—his heart, his loyalty—and this is how you repay him? By throwing him out like he’s trash?”

I laughed. “You pulled strings? What else is new? The Wright brothers always clawing through filth to invade what isn’t theirs.”

“Don’t be cruel—”

“No, Luther. You don’t get to call me cruel. You and your brother burned everything I had. Jacob and you threw me to drown in the sea. You two left me stabbed in the street… And now he shows up here like this?” I gripped the edge of the windowsill and screamed, “Go to hell, Luther! Both of you! Maybe Satan can cure whatever psychotic brain disease you Wright men carry like a badge.”

Silence. Then I hung up. And threw the phone across the room.

I went back to Sebastian’s side, hands trembling. “I swear to God,” I whispered, “I won’t let them come near you again. Not even as ghosts.”