One year, one love by Aurora Miller

Chapter 16

After three days of recuperation, the wounds on Doris’s back had mostly healed..

She decided to request a discharge slip from the doctor for the following day. Although the doctor advised her to

rest for another two days, she persistently pleaded for an exception, assuring him that she was perfectly fine.

Seeing that her condition had indeed improved significantly, the doctor relented after a thorough check-up.

The thought of leaving the hospital tomorrow brightened Doris’s mood considerably. She wandered into the small

garden behind the hospital, finding herself in a long corridor adorned with vibrant blooms. Spring had painted

the world in bursts of color, and the sight was breathtakingly beautiful.

Doris sank onto a bench, closing her eyes as the gentle spring breeze brushed against her skin. The soothing

warmth carried the faint fragrance of flowers, wrapping her in a cocoon of tranquility.

But the peace didn’t last. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her, blocking the sunlight and halting the breeze.

Doris opened her eyes to find the person she least wanted to see-Ryan.

“Doris, fancy meeting you here,” Ryan said, his voice tinged with mockery as his eyes swept over her blue-

striped hospital

“What's this? Got yourself injured and ended up in the hospital?”

gown...

Doris didn’t dignify him with a response. Her immediate reaction was to stand and leave, but Ryan was quicker.

He gripped her shoulder, forcing her back onto the bench.

“Ryan, don’t touch me,” she snapped, glaring at him with open disgust.

Unbothered, Ryan smirked and casually twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers. “You still smell the

same-just like | remember, he said.

Doris felt a wave of humiliation crash over her. Yanking her hair out of his grasp, she shot him a scornful look. “I

haven't showered in three days.”

Ryan’s smirk only widened. “Doris, | call this way just to see you. So, how does it feel to get whipped by a

cane?” His voice dripped with mockery, the corners of his lips curling into a smug grin.

Doris’s eyes widened as her gaze snapped to his face. “How do you know about that?”

“Your brother told me,” Ryan taunted, his tone gleeful, his eyes sharp with malice. “All | wanted was for your dad

to give you a little lesson. Who would've thought he’d go this far and land you in the hospital?

“You see, without me, you're nothing. When you were with me, did your dad ever lay a hand on you?”

Doris’s fingers dug into the edge of the bench, her nails pressing against the wood as anger simmered beneath

her calm facade. “Stop pretending to care, Ryan. These injuries are all thanks to you.”

“And yet,” Ryan said, his arrogance radiating from every pore, “you still think you can resist me? Stop fighting. In

Hampstone, who can hold a candle to me?”

Doris raised a brow, her voice sharp and unyielding. “What, you think you can possibly compare to the Hartman

family heir?”

The Watson family, while wealthy, was nowhere near the apex of Hampstone’s social hierarchy. At the very top

stood the Hartman family-a storied dynasty with a legacy spanning more than a century, their wealth and

influence unmatched.

Their ancestors had even held noble titles, making them true aristocrats.

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Ryan’s expression faltered for a brief moment before he laughed, brushing off her remark. “Doris, did | mention

that the Hartman heir happens to be a good friend of mine?

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Chapter 16

“He’s hosting a grand party to celebrate being hole in the enemy and raking sthe fairly bone and | rea

family is on the guest list. | was planning to introduce you to his hot your gut the men aged

her

Feigning pity, he added, “If your beg me, for | might rendering you that come

Doris scoffed, a cold smile curling her lips. “You wantin beg your Keep dexansing

Ryan’s gaze darkened, the faint smirk on his lips replaced by a chilling ear Brake This ton the ssays to

guess what it'll be next time? Crossagain, and there won't be anyone who can you

aa

The lawyer's letter Ryan had sent to Doris’s parents was warring, threer writer noms of hey the the eyes the

rebellious, and rebellion had to be punished

Unbeknownst to them, their tense interaction was being lonely okerred from nearby tree, Lewis took in the scene

with an expression as cold as ice, he treaty

die Sonding the date of or fed on the nes

He didn’t linger. Without a word, Lewis turned and strode hack to his waring Rolle Rogue the cinched note toot

the thermos he’d been holding into the driver's hands. “Get rid of it,” he redend curly

The driver glanced at the thermos, sensing something was off, but wisely kept his mouth shor

By the tLewis arrived at Hartman Group headquarters, his focus hard already shifted to the mountain of

work rating him. As always, his demeanor was calm, calculated, and utterly unreadable-a form of corres

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Daniel, his assistant, stepped in and reponed eagerly.Hat I've

done sdigging into the man in the photo you sent me. His nis Ryan Watson, the CEO of These Gesus

Interestingly, he’s also Mrs. Hartman's ex-boyfriend.

“Mrs. Hartman cfrom a modest background, which is why Ryan’s parents never approved of their

relationship dengine the three years they were together. The Watson family has always favored someone more

compatible

“Specifically, Leia Martin, heiress to the Martin family fortune and their long-tfamily ally. Ryan's mother even

approached Mrs. Hartman personally to pressure her into ending things”

Daniel added, “Word in the circle is that Mrs. Hartman, realizing the Watson family would never accept her

agreed to breakup settlement-one million dollars. Ever since, she’s been labeled a gold digger. And Leis was

actually Ryan brother Jake's girlfriend before their engagement.

“Word has it that Leia and Jake broke up just before Jake's car accident put him into a coma. But the timing

seemed convenient, likely orchestrated to save face. Otherwise, how would it look if the future sister-in-law had

been moled with her fiance's brother?”

He sighed tically, shaking his head, “Poor Jake. Not only did he lose the CEO position during his coma, but

his girlfriend ended up with his little brother. And Kyan? What kind of man steps into his brother's shoes and

mares his future sister-in-law like that?”

Daniel's disbelief was palpable, his expression practically begging for confirmation that the world hadn't gone

mad.

Lewis finally looked up, the corners of his lips curling into a faint, sardonic smile. “Ryan’s a cruel pragmatist.

Marrying into the Martin family secured his position as CEO, giving him both power and a lovely wife. Gotta meet

this guy in person one day”

“True.” Daniel agreed, his cynicism now matching Lewis's. “To men like him, when it comes to power, women are

just another bargaining chip.”

The inteon Lewis's desk buzzed, interrupting the conversation. Pressing the speaker button, Lewis heard his

secretary, Alyssa Evans, announce. “Mr. Hartman, Ryan Watson, the CEO of Watson Group, is here for your ten

o’clock appointment. It was scheduled last week”

Lewis didn’t even hesitate. “Cancel it. Find an excuse to send him away.”

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Chapter 16

He leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable save for the faint glint of disdain in his eyes. He wants to

meet me? As if it's that easy, he scoffed inwardly.

But as his thoughts returned to the hospital garden, where Ryan had dared to approach Doris, a sharp pang of

irritation clawed at him. In his eyes, Doris might not mean anything to him emotionally, but she was his wife

now.

That role cwith responsibilities and boundaries. The very idea of being disrespected by her actions, or v

cheated on, was utterly unacceptable to him.

or worse,

being

Lewis's thoughts were a storm of disdain and calculated fury as he pondered, “Doris and | are already married,

yet she still dares to tangle with Ryan? If she’s trying to play both sides, then her scheming runs far deeper than

| thought.

And as for Ryan, he is already engaged to another woman, yet he’s still trying to meddle with my wife. Then he

shouldn't blme when | take things to the next level!

“Mr. Hartman, didn’t you just say you wanted to meet him? Isn't it the perfect chance now that the enemy is

handing himself over on a silver platter?” Daniel was eager to see how Lewis would handle this.

Lewis leaned back in his chair, exuding an air of aloof superiority. “Do | seem that easy to meet? Don’t give him

more credit than he deserves.”

Daniel blinked, then nodded quickly, catching on to his boss's calculated approach. “You're right, Mr. Hartman.

Best to cool down his arrogance first.”

Lewis barely raised an eyebrow and looked up, a cryptic smile playing at the corners of his lips, like the calm

before a storm.

Daniel felt a chill of anticipation. Ryan has no idea what he’s up against. This is going to be brutal, he thought.

For the past two days, Lewis had maintained a routine of dropping off meals at the hospital for Doris, leaving

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almost immediately afterward.

Meanwhile, Doris had decided not to tell him she was being discharged. She quietly handled the paperwork and

was ready to leave when she bumped into Ivan in the lobby.

Ilvan’s sharp eyes landed on the documents in her hand, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Doris, you're on your

own? Where's Lewis?”

She smiled softly, “Yeah. He's at work.”

“Well, that works out. I've got nothing on my schedule right now. Lettake you hfor him.”

“That's really not necessary. Ill just grab a taxi.”

“Not a chance. If Lewis finds out, he'll chewout for being irresponsible.”

Doris hesitated at his earnestness but eventually relented, allowing Ivan to escort her to his car. As they drove,

Ilvan’s warm voice filled the air.

He glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his enchanting eyes crinkling with an easy, charming smile. Doris,

Lewis might have a sharp tongue, but deep down, he’s got a good heart. Don’t hold his words against him too

much.”

Doris shook her head lightly, her tone calm. | know. | won't

Ivan gave her a grin and a playful thumbs-up. “You're really something else beautiful inside and out.”

The unexpected compliment drew a small laugh from Doris. “How do you know Mr. Hartman?” she asked,

curious.

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Chapter 16

He answered, “Lewis and | go way back. We were classmates in middle and high school, and now we're

coworkers. We've always had a solid bond.

Doris mused silently. ‘No wonder someone like Lewis would have a friend like Ivan!

Ivan noticed her thoughtful expression and raised an eyebrow, worried that he might've said the wrong thing.

“Why did you

askthat?”

“Nothing,” she said. “I was just curious. That's all.

Before long, they arrived at Greenlake Hill. Doris stepped out of the car, nodding politely. “Thank you, Mr.

Mitchell.”

“No worries.” Ivan watched as she disappeared into the gated community before pulling out his phone. He dialed

Lewis, his tone easygoing.

“Lewis, | ran into Doris at the hospital and gave her a ride home. By the way, she didn’t look very well. Is she

sick? You need to show her more care, man. Focus too much on work, and your wife might-

Lewis ended the call with a curt click before Ivan could finish.

Staring at the “Call Ended‘ message on his screen, Ivan shook his head with a helpless smile. “He’s got such a

bad temper. Only Doris would have the patience to put up with it, he pondered

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