(10 days before the wedding, 11 days before GMS) When Jane entered the private hospital room in a hurry, she saw her grandfather lying motionless beneath the white sheets, his eyes tightly closed and his face pale. Several tubes ran from his body while the machines beside his bed continued to produce soft and steady beeps. She stood beside the bed for a long time without speaking. Only staring at the man who had been the strongest, most respected, and whose presence alone carried an intimidating aura that made everyone hesitate to meet his eyes, for as long as she could remember. Yet seeing him so helpless now made something inside Jane tighten painfully. After receiving a message from her eldest uncle, Frank, informing her that her grandfather had suddenly been involved in an accident and lost consciousness, with his condition declared critical, her world seemed to crumble around her.  Without a second thought, she abandoned everything she had been doing in Paris and rushed home as quickly as she could. "Grandpa..." she whispered, reaching out to hold his cold hand. There was no answer. And Jane swallowed the fear rising in her throat. Jane looked at Frank with sadness in her eyes. "We were still talking a few days ago. How did he end up like this?" "The doctor said the most likely cause was a heart attack or stroke, which had caused him to suddenly lose consciousness and fall. The head injury he suffered from the fall down the stairs made his condition even more serious." Jane found it hard to believe that such a terrible thing had happened so suddenly. "You may be sad, but even in difficult times like this, we still have to think clearly. There will be a General Meeting of Shareholders with the board of directors to appoint an Interim Chairman while your grandfather is still unconscious. You don't need to come. Because that day, you will be getting married. Both families have already agreed on the date, so I will attend the ceremony once I've settled the company's affairs." "What? Wait-" Jane seemed to have heard wrong. "What marriage are you talking about?" "I have arranged your marriage to the youngest son of T&T Law Firm. He is a French citizen and lives in Paris. That way, you can stay there permanently. You like Paris, right? Now you can be there forever." Jane stared at him in disbelief. "You think I stayed there because I liked it? I stayed there because all of you sent me there! You were always trying to keep me away from Grandpa!" "It was all for your own good. You got the best art education there, just as you wanted. Now you need to think about your future, Jane. Your grandfather's condition is getting worse, and we don't know what could happen in the future. You need a new protector and guardian. And this marriage is the best thing I can do for you." "I can take care of myself!" Jane hissed angrily. "Listen, this marriage will secure your future. The Thompson family is powerful, wealthy, and respected. You should be grateful." "Grateful?" Jane gave a bitter laugh. "Jane!" Suddenly, the voice of a girl carrying a bouquet of flowers was heard. It was Brianna. She entered the room and approached them. "You finally came. We've been waiting so much for you. We were so afraid and sad that you might not get the chance to see Grandpa..." "Grandpa is still alive. Don't say things like that." "Well, we were just worried, in case-" "Remember what I said," Frank interrupted Brianna. "You should think carefully before you make things difficult for everyone." His expression darkened for only a second before he turned away. "You're leaving already, Dad?" Brianna asked. But Frank had already stepped out and closed the door behind him. "Well, bye, I guess." Jane watched him leave, then looked back at her grandfather with an indescribable feeling of turmoil. "I heard you're going to be arranged to marry the illegitimate son of L&L Law Firm?" "Illegitimate son?" What kind of other information was this? "But don't worry, Jane. After all, it's a big and famous company. I'm so jealous of you." Brianna put the flowers she had brought into a vase and arranged them. "That's not something to be jealous of," Jane muttered sarcastically. "I'm also getting married at the end of this year. Well, I guess while you're being taken to some corner of the world by some nobody, I'll be marrying the handsome and incredibly wealthy only heir, William Thundermond." Brianna smiled proudly, enjoying every second of Jane's silence before adding. "I really want you to see me on my happiest day, but unfortunately, that won't be possible, right? So I suppose I'll just send you pictures instead. Just make sure you don't block me." The girl simply left, leaving Jane unable to understand her inappropriate behavior in such a sorrowful situation. That night, when Jane went down to the lobby to get some coffee so she could stay awake and accompany her grandfather through the night, she found Uncle Frank and his wife, Aunt Barbara, sitting on one of the chairs in the cafeteria. "I need to do this quickly," Uncle Frank said. "That old man wants to announce his successor at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in a few months, and I can't let that happen." Jane stopped walking. She had intended to approach them to say hello, but as soon as she heard what he had just said, she stopped and hid herself behind a pillar. Hidden from their sight, but still able to hear their conversation. Aunt Barbara lowered her voice as she asked, "Are you sure this is the only way?" "I have already taken every risk," Uncle Frank answered bitterly. "This is a big thing, and it isn't easy, but I'm the eldest son now, yet he has never truly considered me." There was a long silence before Frank continued. "No matter how stubborn he is, he is still my father, but what else can I do? I have to find a way to save my own life. I have to make the executives and shareholders give me the position of chairman before he wakes up." Jane's blood ran cold as she pressed herself against the pillar's wall, afraid that even the smallest movement would reveal her presence. She had always known Uncle Frank wanted to inherit the Myers Company, but she had never imagined that his desire could go so far that he would be willing to use his own father's condition as part of his plan. Aunt Barbara then asked something Jane could not hear clearly, and Uncle Frank gave a low and humorless laugh before answering. "As long as Father remains unconscious, he cannot announce Jane as his successor, and that gives me enough time." "What if Jane finds out? We have to make sure Lester, that crazy lawyer, is truly on our side." "I'm one hundred percent sure Lester is on our side. We gave him a decent amount of money. And Jane is the easiest part," Frank said. "Once she marries Thompson's son, she will have to leave New York. And once she leaves, she won't be able to interfere with the company anymore. After that, I'll be free to change Father's will." Jane covered her mouth to stop herself from gasping. Frank continued, "For now I only need to make sure she accepts the marriage while Father is still unconscious, because this is the perfect opportunity." Jane quietly stepped away from there. Her heart was pounding as she walked back toward her grandfather's room. Her uncle wanted to completely remove her from this family. And he was using her grandfather's condition as an opportunity to become the heir to the company. How if her grandfather's sudden and suspicious accident also has been his doing to make his plan go smoothly? Jane was wondering if her Uncle Tony knew about all of this? Jane forced herself to think carefully instead of allowing her anger and fear to take control. If she left New York after marrying Thompson, Uncle Frank would have exactly what he wanted. Meanwhile, she needed to stay so she could protect her grandfather from that greedy man, who was acting suspiciously. She also couldn't let him take total control of the company. She had to find a way to stay in New York for her grandfather and the family company.

Later that dawn, an early-morning news program played quietly on the television, and her attention was caught by a report about Thundermond Group's latest business matter. It said that the company had been trying for months to secure a major deal with Maison Auvé, a prestigious French couture house. But despite several negotiations, the two sides had still failed to reach an agreement. Several other retail groups also seemed to have failed to bring the brand into the US market. Jane stared at the television screen. "Thundermond Group...? Maison Auvé? William Thundermond?" She remembered Brianna's boastful words about her fiancé. She immediately took out her phone and searched for him. Scrolling through business articles, photographs, interviews, and reports about the young only heir who was currently responsible for a growing part of his family's empire. Thundermond Group was not an ordinary company. It belonged to a family with generations of wealth, power, and influence. The old money. If Brianna married William Thundermond, Uncle Frank would gain powerful backing from Thundermond Group, further strengthening his position within Myers Company. With that, he would become impossible to defeat. Jane stared blankly at her grandfather's face. The company her grandfather had built through years of hard work would simply fall into the hands of the very son who had caused his condition to become like this. She would not let that happen. ◆◆◆ (3 days before the wedding, 4 days before GMS) "Can I meet Mr. William Thundermond?" Jane spoke to the receptionist in the lobby of Thundermond Group's headquarters. "Have you made an appointment?" Jane forgot that she couldn't just meet someone that important. "Can you just tell him that Miss Myers wants to see him? He must understand." She tried to use Brianna's existence to get a meeting with Liam. It wasn't right, but she had no choice. Other than this, she didn't know another way to meet the man. The receptionist looked a little hesitant, but eventually nodded. "I'll try to inform his secretary. Please wait a moment." After hanging up the phone, the receptionist became friendlier toward her. "Miss Myers, I'll escort you upstairs. Mr. Thundermond is already waiting." Jane thanked her and followed her until they reached the door of the room in question. The moment she stepped inside, her eyes fell on the man seated behind a large desk-the broad-shouldered figure with a commanding presence and a face she remembered all too well. Liam frowned as he looked at her. "Oh, well. You're not the Myers I was expecting. Did Brianna or Frank send you here-or?" "No. I came here myself because there's something important I want to discuss with you." Jane's expression became more serious. "I don't know what this is about, but please, have a seat." Liam got up from his chair and moved to sit on the sofa across from Jane. "I want to make a deal with you, Mr. Thundermond." Jane clasped her hands tightly in her lap. "But first, allow me to reintroduce myself. I believe it's time we can make a fresh start, a better one. I'm Jane Myers, Brianna's cousin and Frank Myers's niece." There was a brief silence, and a curious frown appeared on Liam' s face. "What kind of deal?" "I know the Mason family very well personally. They are like my own parents, and their only daughter is my best friend." The confidence in Jane's voice made him interested and listened carefully. "I can make sure you get their cooperation. Thundermond Group might become the first and only company that can bring Maison Auvé to the US." She paused, letting the words settle before adding, "And in return, I want you to marry me instead of Brianna." Maison Auvé was indeed an offer Liam could not simply ignore. But to barter a marriage for it seemed too ridiculous. "You're still a Myers," he said. "Why should I marry another Myers when I already have enough trouble with the one I'm supposed to marry?" "Isn't the deal with Maison Auvé enough for you?" "It's certainly interesting. But I don't know if it's worth a marriage. It ties two powerful families together, and I can't just do it carelessly because it will affect my company as well." He studied her for several seconds before leaning back on his sofa. "Well, tell me. What exactly do you want from me by asking me to marry you?" "I need someone who can help me stay in New York." "Is that all?" Liam almost laughed. "And to ensure my grandfather's safety." "I don't understand. Please explain it." His expression grew serious, and his gaze turned sharper. "My Uncle Frank is trying to take over the Myers Company. He caused a lot of problems in the company before. Grandpa was hard on him because he is greedy and incompetent." Liam's eyes narrowed. "My grandfather is in a coma. And he is using my grandfather's condition to make the board of directors support him as a chairman. The only obstacle he has left is me. He is forcing me to marry a French man so that I will leave New York permanently. That way, he can prevent me from interfering with the company." Jane's eyes filled with tears. Her chest felt tight. "What I'm most afraid of is my grandfather's safety. I don't believe my grandfather's accident happened naturally. He was still healthy a few days ago, took his medication regularly, and was under his doctor's close supervision. It's highly unlikely that he suddenly had a heart attack or stroke and fell down the stairs like they said. I suspect Uncle Frank is behind my grandfather's accident." "You really believe Frank did something to him? That's a serious accusation, Miss Myers." "I don't have proof, yes," Jane continued, forcing herself to keep her voice steady. "But last night, I heard my uncle talking to his wife. He said my grandfather wanted to announce his successor at the next Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, and he said he couldn't allow it to happen. That was enough to make me suspicious." She looked directly into Liam's eyes. "He also said he would make sure my grandfather remained unconscious long enough for him to take over the company." Jane's voice trembled slightly despite her effort to remain calm. "I can't just leave my grandfather with Uncle Frank or my other uncle. I don't trust them. I'm afraid they might really go as far as killing my grandfather. He's the only real family I've had." After remaining silent for a while, as if contemplating something, Liam finally spoke. "Actually, I don't want to marry Brianna either. I caught Brianna's parents threatening my father." Jane's eyes widened. "They threatened your father?" "They made it clear that if I refused the marriage, they would use their trump card against the Thundermond Group. My father agreed because he thought sacrificing my marriage was easier than risking the company and the whole family's reputation. The problem is, I still don't know what they used to threaten my father with, to make him bend to their demands like that." Liam curled his lips into a faint smile. "But that doesn't automatically put me in a weaker position. I can do many things to turn the situation around. So, Miss Myers, if you're desperate enough to ask for my help, would you give me one additional advantage besides Maison Auvé?" "What do you want?" "Issue new shares and sell them to me at a low price. Make me the largest shareholder and give me full control over the management." Jane froze. She stared at him in disbelief, her expression shaken. This was not what she had expected. She had come to Liam because she wanted to prevent Uncle Frank from taking over the company, but now Liam was asking her to make him become the person who controlled it instead. "You benefit because Frank loses his chance to become chairman, as my voting power will prevent him from taking the position." That was exactly what she wanted, but it also terrified her. It felt like escaping one problem only to walk straight into another. She was trying to protect the Myers Company because it was the legacy her grandfather had built. Handing control to Uncle Frank would be terrible, but handing it to Liam meant trusting a man she barely knew-and she had no idea how dangerous that could be. Jane finally looked back at him. "I have conditions." Liam nodded. "Alright. Tell me." "First, you save my grandfather. Move him to a hospital where no one can find him. And I want the best doctors available. I want you to help make sure he has a real chance of waking up." "I'll arrange it." "Second, You must guarantee that I can stay in New York for an indefinite period. I will not leave the city while my grandfather is unconscious. Third, my shares and inheritance rights must be protected. I will sell you enough shares to make you the largest shareholder, but I remain the second-largest voting shareholder. You also have to listen when my voting rights are involved." "Fine. That's easy." Jane extended her hand. A smirk appeared at the corner of Liam's lips as he took her hand to seal the deal.

Jane told her plans to the only person her grandfather trusted-Ernest Hall, her grandfather's secretary.  His concern for Jane's situation also made him willing to agree when she pleaded with him to help her arrange the issuance of the new shares. With Ernest's help, Jane could also count on several executive directors who remained loyal to her grandfather to stand on her side. So she finally could form an alliance with them. Liam managed to acquire the shares only two days before the General Meeting of Shareholders to appoint the chairman was held. And a day after, Liam was standing beside Jane at the Manhattan Marriage Bureau to get their marriage license. There were no flowers, photographers, or relatives waiting outside. Only the two of them, with Ernest serving as their witness and taking an official photo to document the finalization of their marriage contract. Jane looked down at the paper after signing her name and felt an unfamiliar weight settle in her chest. She was married. Sadly, this was not the kind of marriage she had dreamed of all her life. It was only an alliance that could provide protection for her grandfather and herself. "You can go with my people to prepare for Mr. Myers's transfer. We'll follow you there after informing my parents about this marriage." Liam gave Ernest his instructions. "All right, Mr. Thundermond." Liam gathered their documents and turned to Jane. "Let's go. We'll go to my house first." After Jane climbed into Liam's car, they headed toward the Thundermond residence. She wondered how both their families would react after discovering what they had done. The moment the car stopped in front of the Thundermond residence, Jane was stunned. The house was enormous, surrounded by carefully trimmed gardens and tall iron gates, and everything about it looked designed to remind visitors that the family had possessed wealth for generations. She, herself, had been surrounded by luxury since birth, but the Thundermonds were truly on a different level. This was enough to explain why Brianna was so determined to marry Liam. Jane stepped inside beside Liam, trying to ignore the uncomfortable feeling in her stomach. Both of Liam's parents were in the main living room. His father looked up first. The moment he saw Jane, his eyes narrowed as he wondered who his son had brought home. "Who is she?" Liam answered calmly. "Jane Myers. My wife." For several seconds, there was only silence in that enormous room. Then his mother stood and approached them. She stared at Jane as if she had just heard something impossible. "I must have heard wrong. Liam? You just said she's your-wi-wife?" "Yes, Mom." Liam's father suddenly stood as well. "What the hell is this? Don't go too far with your jokes!" "We just made our marriage official." Liam handed their marriage certificate to his father. His mother, who was shocked, immediately snatched the document from him and read it over and over again. "Tell me this isn't true, Liam..." Liam's mother frowned, looking confused, hurt, disappointed, and furious. "There's no way you would get married out of the blue without telling us! And... to someone we don't even know?!" "What kind of nonsense is this!" Liam's father rubbed his forehead in frustration. "You're Brianna's sister? What is your father planning by doing all of this, huh?!" His shout made Jane flinch. "I'm not Brianna's sister, sir. I'm Brianna's cousin, Uncle Frank's niece. And this has absolutely nothing to do with him." "What?!" Liam's father was even more shocked. He looked at her more carefully before asking sharply and angrily, "You're Frank's niece? Which niece? Whose daughter are you? Tony's?" Jane hesitated for only a moment. "I'm the daughter of the late James Myers." Liam's father stared at her, twice as shocked as he had been before. "You're James's daughter..." Jane didn't understand why those words sounded like an accusation. Before she could answer, he suddenly shouted. "She is James's daughter!" His voice echoed through the entire room. "This is even worse than marrying Brianna, that damn Frank's daughter! Liam, you're out of your mind!" Jane froze at Liam's father's hysterical reaction. Liam immediately stepped forward. "Dad. Please, stop." "What the hell were you thinking?" His father's face turned red with anger. "You have no idea what you've done!" "I know exactly what I've done." "You married James Myers's daughter!" The anger in his father's voice was so intense that Jane could only stand there in confusion. She looked at Liam, expecting an explanation. "We'll talk again later when you're both calm." Liam turned from his parents to Jane and took her hand. "Come with me." He led her upstairs before his parents could say anything else. Once they entered his bedroom, Liam closed the door behind them. Jane immediately turned toward him. "What was that?" Liam removed his jacket and placed it over a chair. "My father doesn't like your family." "That much is obvious. But why does your father hate my father? He's been dead for decades." Liam chose to remain silent. He couldn't answer Jane's question. "And why did he say marrying me was worse than marrying Brianna? He looked like he wanted to throw me out of the house!" He walked toward his desk and opened his laptop. "I don't know. How would I know? Maybe your family really does deserve to be hated? You can see Frank is a cunning man. What do you think his siblings are like?" "My father wasn't like that!" Jane snapped, feeling offended. Liam let out a breath, realizing he had spoken too harshly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I'll explain it to you when I find out their reason." He looked serious as he typed something. "I added a few things to our marriage contract. Read it first, and if you agree, I'll finalize it." Liam wrote down every condition both parties wanted. And after he finished, Jane read each section carefully. "Don't forget to include the hospital arrangement and the best possible care for my grandfather. That's the most important thing," Jane reminded him. "I said I would." "And the voting rights." "I've already written it down." Jane continued reading until she reached the final page. "This is better than I expected. You even added extra boundaries. No interference in personal matters... Not controlling each other's daily lives... Not involving personal feelings... No physical contact unless necessary in public or to convince others..." Jane let out a low laugh. "I'm not that easy, Mr. Thundermond." "I'm just taking precautions." He leaned back in his chair. "Next, it's your turn to make the deal with Maison Auvé." "Alright." She took out her phone to call Esmée. And the call was answered shortly after. "Jane? Hey... How's your grandfather?" "He's still unconscious, but I think things are under control now. Um, Esmée, I'm calling because I need a favor from you." "Well, that usually means trouble." A chuckle came from the other end. Jane smiled. "I want you to meet someone." "Who?" "My husband. William Thundermond." "Your what?!" The girl sounded genuinely surprised. "You got married?! What kind of joke is this?!" "I'm not joking. I suddenly had to get married. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to tell you before..." "You made a huge mistake, girl! What am I to you? I feel like such a fool who knows nothing." "Things are really complicated here. I'll explain everything to you when we meet, okay?" "Of course you have to explain it to me!" Esmée sounded genuinely angry. "What favor do you want anyway? Is this for your husband?" Jane explained that Liam wanted to discuss the Maison Auvé deal and that she hoped Esmée could arrange an informal meeting between her parents and him. She deliberately avoided making it sound like a formal negotiation because she knew the Maison family disliked aggressive corporate approaches, especially when someone tried to pressure them into signing a deal. "Okay, I can help you. That's easy. You should come back to Paris first. I'll arrange the right time for you to meet Maman and Papa. I'm sure they'll scold you too for not telling them about your marriage." Jane laughed brightly. "I'm really sorry. All of this was out of my control." "What do you mean? Is this a forced marriage?!" Esmée's voice suddenly became concerned. "Not really." Jane glanced at Liam, who was quietly listening to their conversation. "By the way, when do you think we can meet you?" "As soon as possible, of course." "Okay. I'll let you know when we get there." After that, she and Esmée chatted a little about some trivial things before ending the call. Jane looked at Liam. "We're going to Paris." "Good. I'll arrange the flight after the board meeting tomorrow. I have to stop your uncle from taking over the company." Jane felt a little relieved that their plan was going quite well at the beginning. "Thanks."