Chapter 1
The young master of Boston’s elite circle, Kevin Hill, finally recovered after three years of paralysis. His crew threw a celebration banquet at a private club.
Jennifer Walker stood at the club entrance, clutching a carefully prepared gift. Just as she reached for the door, she overheard Kevin and his buddies talking inside.
“Kevin, Jennifer’s been absolutely devoted to you. Without her these past three years, how could you’ve recovered this well?”
“Seriously, that girl massaged you daily, joined every rehab session, barely slept through nights worrying you’d have midnight breakdowns… You owe her a lifetime for that.”
“She really is an amazing person.” Kevin’s voice came out low and gentle.
Jennifer’s fingertips trembled slightly, a wave of warmth rising in her chest.
The next second, someone asked, “So when are you planning to marry her?”
The private room fell into terrifying silence.
Jennifer’s hand froze mid-air, her heartbeat quickening unconsciously. She held her breath as if awaiting a verdict.
After a long pause, Kevin’s voice sounded calmly: “I see her as a sister.”
“A sister?!” The brothers’ voices rose sharply. “She’s been by your side for three years, and you only see her as a sis- ter? Kevin, don’t tell me you’re still hung up on Emily Martin? When you were in trouble years ago, she ran off with- out a single word of concern! Now that you’re back on your feet, she comes crawling back. Even if you like someone, it can’t be her!”
Kevin remained silent.
Jennifer stood outside the door, her heart clenched like a fist.
Silence itself was the clearest answer.
She’d thought three years of shared days would earn her his heart, only to realize he still held a place for the one who’d walked away.
Three years ago, Kevin was the untouchable golden boy.
An Ivy League graduate, heir to a family empire, skilled in skiing and polo-even his face seemed carved by divine hands.
Jennifer? Just a scholarship student the Hills sponsored.
She first saw him at the university awards ceremony.
He stood onstage, eyes frosty, posture straight as an untouchable pine.
She sat in the last row, clutching her scholarship envelope, not even daring to clap too loudly.
Back then, Emily stood by his side-the campus beauty from an equally prominent family.
Everyone said they looked like a prince and princess straight out of a fairy tale.
Until the car accident.
Kevin’s spine was damaged. Doctors said he might never walk again.
Emily didn’t even step into his hospital room. She just sent a breakup text and vanished.
Overnight, the eldest son of the Hill family-once everyone’s favorite-plunged into rock bottom.
He grew volatile, withdrawn, and even attempted suicide.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill wept helplessly.
Then Jennifer stepped forward.
She crouched before his wheelchair, whispering, “Kevin, everything will be alright. I’m here with you.’
For the next three years, she mastered every massage technique, surviving on two hours of sleep nightly, terrified he might harm himself after midnight.
When he smashed a stool against his own leg in a rage, she threw herself between them, taking the blow without hesi- tation.
Year after year, she stayed by his side, becoming the anchor of his existence.
Everyone knew Kevin could only find sleep when Jennifer was near.
Now healed, the world expected their wedding.
Jennifer had dreamed it too.
But how could she misunderstand his silence now?
Now that he had recovered, Emily was back, and it was time for her, this “sister”, to exit the stage.
She took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
The laughter and chatter in the private room abruptly ceased, everyone looked over, a group of brothers looking guilty.
“Jennifer? When… when did you get here?” someone asked tentatively.
“Just now,” Jennifer smiled, pretending she hadn’t heard anything, and handed the gift to Kevin, “Congratulations on your recovery.”
Kevin was about to take it when the private room’s door was pushed open again-
Emily stood at the door, her eyes slightly red: “Kevin, I heard you’ve recovered. I came to congratulate you.”
The atmosphere in the private room instantly froze.
“What are you doing here?” Kevin’s brothers scowled. “When Kevin was in trouble, you ran faster than anyone. How dare you show your face now?”
Emily flushed red, eyes welling up. She shoved the gift at Kevin and turned to run.
Kevin suddenly grabbed her wrist. “Since you’re here, you might as well stay.”
