I gripped the edge of the rooftop, my fingers digging into the cold stone as my mind spun, faltering like a cog slipping from its gears. "Caden, you can't be hurt ... " I murmured, my voice trembling, panic creeping through every nerve. As I fumbled for my phone, ready to call Yale, ready to summon help to search for Caden, a familiar, deep voice cut through the air from behind me. "Rosaline." Caden? I whipped around. There he was, sitting in his wheelchair, calm as ever. "Caden!" I nearly collapsed with relief. "Thank the gods, you're alright!" I rushed to him, my steps unsteady with the weight of my fear. I crouched beside him, burying my face in his lap, the flood of relief too overwhelming to contain. His hand reached out, fingers threading through my hair, the warmth of his touch grounding me. "Silly girl," he said, his voice smooth, "what did you think happened to me?" I closed my eyes, breathing deeply, steadying my heart, but a sense of unease wormed its way into my chest. When I'd first come up here, he hadn't been here. He'd been gone, nowhere in sight. And now, mere minutes later, he was back in his wheelchair, no one else around. Hadn't he been paralyzed? How was this possible? A chill ran through me, suspicion rising like a dark tide. This whole crippled thing was an act. I stood up, a quiet determination settling in my bones. I needed to test him. "Rosaline, what are you doing?" Caden's voice snapped with a sudden edge. "It's dangerous, come back!" "I think I dropped the ring you gave me," I said casually, turning toward the edge of the roof. "I'll go look for it."I made a show of losing my balance, then screamed, "Ah! Help!" "Rosaline, don't worry! I'm coming!" His voice broke through the silence, filled with urgency and fear. And in a heartbeat, as if his legs had never been broken, Caden was standing. He moved with the speed and strength of someone who hadn't been trapped in a wheelchair for weeks. He rushed toward me and caught me in his arms, his grip fierce. He was faking it. I pulled away, my fury igniting like wildfire. "Caden, you bastard. How dare you lie to me!" He stood there, awkward, caught in the act, his face flushed with discomfort. I glared at his legs, the frustration seething in my veins. "Caden, what the hell is wrong with you?" I was beyond furious now. Why lie to me? Why act like you're crippled? "Caden, were you trying to manipulate me into marrying you by playing on my guilt?" My voice was cold, dark with anger. "Is this some twisted game to you?" Nothing enraged me more than being lied to. "Rosaline, please, let me explain—" Caden began, but I cut him off, my patience long spent. "Caden, you've really let me down," I said, my tone sharp as steel. Without another word, I spun on my heel, my anger propelling me forward as I stormed away. Didn't he understand how much I worried for him? The moment I learned of his paralysis, my heart had shattered into pieces. How could he dare lie to me like this? That damned bastard! I stalked back into the hospital room, my eyes narrowing as I glanced over my shoulder. The hallway was empty—he hadn't even bothered to chase after me. Not a word of explanation? Not even an attempt? I entered the room, anger still burning inside me, and found Queenie standing there, cool and collected. "Queenie?" I demanded, my voice sharp with disbelief. "What are you doing here?"She didn't hesitate, shooting back with a tone to match. "What's wrong with me being in my cousin's room? But you—what are you doing here at this hour?" It hit me all at once—I'd walked into the wrong room, lost in my fury. But I wasn't about to let Queenie gloat over my mistake. I lifted my chin, meeting her eyes with a look that could freeze fire. "I'm Caden's fiancée. Do you have a problem with that? Or do I need an outsider like you to manage what goes on in his room?" "Fiancée?" Queenie blinked, caught off guard. "Didn't you two call off the engagement already?" A smirk curled at my lips, sharp and biting. "We're getting re-engaged. Didn't you hear?" Queenie froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. "That can't be right. How did I not know about this?" I raised an eyebrow, ready to respond, but before I could, a voice cut through the tension from the doorway. "Because you don't need to." Queenie's gaze snapped toward the door, and her face shifted as Caden entered, his footsteps slow, deliberate. "Caden," Queenie spat, pointing a finger at me, "Grandpa's still unconscious because of her, and you're going to marry this woman?" "Queenie," Caden's voice was sharp, tinged with irritation, "It's late. You should go." "I—" She opened her mouth to protest, but Caden's icy stare silenced her. "I don't appreciate you coming over at this hour. Do not do this again." "Fine," she muttered, her voice tight with anger. She shot me one last glare before storming out, her heels clicking with finality. Once she was gone, Caden walked toward me, his presence filling the room like a storm cloud. He cleared his throat, the sound cutting through the silence. "Rosaline, I know you're furious with me right now, but think about it. If I hadn't done this, you'd still be avoiding your feelings. How long would we have to wait before we could be together?" "So this is your excuse for lying to me?" My voice dropped, colder than ice. Caden shifted uncomfortably, his gaze drifting away. He cleared his throat again. "I meant to tell you, but I wanted to see how you'd react when you found out, so ... " My eyes narrowed, the anger still simmering deep inside me. Without another word, I turned and stormed back into my room. I wasn't listening to his excuses. If he thought he could calm me down, he had another thing coming. Let him try in the next life.