Chapter 7 

Hannah stared at him, completely thrown. “Wait, seriously? I can’t talk about Chace?” 

“Just… don’t. Okay?” Kaden’s jaw tightened, clearly struggling with something he couldn’t–or wouldn’t–put into words. 

Hannah studied his face. Five years of marriage, and he still managed to surprise her. She let it go 

with a tired sigh. 

“Whatever. For the next week, I’ll keep his name out of my mouth. Happy?” 

Kaden’s eyebrows pulled together. “A week? Why just a week?” 

“Because after that, the divorce is final.” 

Before Kaden could process this, the bedroom door banged open. 

“God, are you still playing nursemaid?” Phoebe leaned against the doorframe, rolling her eyes dramatically. “What about me? You actually made me skip tiramisu because of her. Do you know how many calories I’ve burned just from stress today?” 

For once, Kaden didn’t soften at her entrance. “Not now, Phoebe.” 

Phoebe’s face transformed instantly, her eyes welling up like a professional actress hitting her mark. “Wow. So that’s how it is now? You’ve changed.” Her voice cracked perfectly. “I can tell when I’m not 

wanted.” 

She whirled around, tossing her hair for maximum effect as she stomped away. 

Kaden pinched the bridge of his nose, the universal gesture of a man at his limit. 

“I need to…” He gestured vaguely toward the door. 

“Yeah, go ahead.” Hannah didn’t even bother hiding her eye roll. “Not like this is anything new.” 

She waited for their footsteps to fade before swinging her legs out of bed. Her body ached as she shuffled toward the kitchen for water. She’d barely reached the hallway when the horrible sound hit her ears–the unmistakable thud of a body meeting metal, followed by screeching tires. 

– Contract: When Regret Comes Too Late 

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Chapter 7 

Her blood went cold. She stumbled outside and froze at the nightmare scene unfolding on the street. 

Phoebe lay crumpled on the asphalt, blood soaking through her designer clothes. A Range Rover idled nearby, the panicked driver already on the phone with 911. 

Kaden had already dropped to his knees beside Phoebe, his face chalk–white. The always–composed businessman was gone–replaced by a terrified man cradling his sister’s broken body. 

“Phoebe, hey, stay with me.” His voice shattered as he scooped her up. “Someone help me get her in 

the car!” 

Hannah couldn’t move, transfixed by the sight of Kaden completely undone. In five years, she’d never seen a crack in his polished exterior–now it had shattered completely. 

By the time she snapped back to reality, Kaden’s Audi was already screeching away. She grabbed the first rideshare she could find and followed them to New York–Presbyterian. 

By the time she made it to the trauma floor, Phoebe was already in surgery. Hannah found Kaden pacing the waiting room, his shirt stained with Phoebe’s blood. 

A surgeon in scrubs approached, his expression grim. “Mr. Humphrey, your sister’s hemorrhaging severely. We need to transfuse immediately, but we’re critically short on her blood type. The blood bank’s sending what they have, but it won’t be enough.” 

Kaden didn’t hesitate. “Take mine. We’re the same type.” 

The phlebotomist worked quickly, drawing the standard donation amount, but the surgeon shook his head. “It’s not enough. We need more time than this will buy us.” 

When they moved to disconnect him, Kaden grabbed the technician’s arm with surprising strength. “Keep going,” he ordered, his voice raw. 

“Mr. Humphrey, I can’t. It’s against protocol-” 

“I don’t give a damn about your protocol!” The veins in his neck stood out as he shouted. 

The flustered technician turned to Hannah. “Mrs. Humphrey, please–he’s already at the maximum safe limit. Any more could cause hypovolemic shock. He could pass out, his heart could-” 

Hannah crouched beside Kaden’s chair, searching his face. “Is she worth your life? Because that’s what you’re risking here.” 

kor answered before his words did. “In a heartbeat.” 

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Chapter 7 

Hannah held his gaze for a long moment, then straightened up. “He’s not changing, his mind. I’ll sign whatever waiver you need.” 

The technician protested weakly, but Hannah’s cool authority prevailed. They continued drawing 

blood. 

By the time they’d taken over a liter–dangerously beyond medical guidelines–Kaden was gray–faced and swaying in his chair. Still, he dragged himself to the OR waiting area, refusing the 

wheelchair they offered. 

Hannah watched him grip the wall for support. “This is insane. You need to lie down before you crack your skull open on this floor.” 

Kaden’s bloodshot eyes never left the operating room doors. “Not leaving,” he slurred. 

Hannah sighed, settling into the chair beside him. What choice did she have but to keep this stubborn man from falling over? 

Three excruciating hours later, the surgeon finally pushed through the double doors. “She’s stabilized. The next 24 hours will be critical, but the transfusion bought us enough time. You likely 

saved her life, Mr. Humphrey.” 

The relief that washed over Kaden’s face was visible–and then his eyes rolled back. 

“Kaden!” Hannah lunged forward, but she was too late. His body hit the floor with a sickening thud, finally surrendering to what he’d put it through. 

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