He Let Our Daughter Die, I Became A Tycoon's Bride

As soon as the call ended, Bethany's knees buckled. She collapsed onto the floor again and stared blankly at the closed emergency room doors.

The person she'd called was Trevor Harding. He'd once been one of her father's closest friends, even though he was only a few years older than her.

Memories of her father's final moments returned. He had held her hand tightly and warned her that Brian could never be trusted. The only way he could die without worrying about her was if she married Trevor.

Bethany had been too consumed by love to listen. She rejected her father's arrangement and even called Trevor herself to make her feelings clear.

"Get that idea out of your head, Trevor. I'm already with the man I love, and I'll never marry you. Not now or ever!"

Her words hadn't angered Trevor. He had only laughed and told her that she could turn to him if she ever needed help. His assistance came with one condition. She had to marry him, and he wouldn't care if she'd been married once.

Bethany had thought he'd lost his mind. After responding angrily, she had ended the call.

At the time, she had believed Brian would always be beside her and she'd never need Trevor's help.

But now, the man she'd rejected so harshly was Charlotte's only chance.

Forty minutes later, a helicopter bearing the Harding family insignia touched down on the hospital's rooftop helipad.

Neal Sterling, Trevor's personal butler, rushed from the aircraft with the blood cooler in his hands. Five medical staff followed him straight into the emergency room.

The rescue continued as each minute dragged painfully by. Every second left Bethany's heart twisting with fear.

An hour passed before the emergency room doors finally opened.

Bethany rushed toward the doctor and grabbed his arm. "Is my daughter saved?"

"I'm sorry." The doctor shook his head with a remorseful expression. "Getting the blood and medical specialists here from Leacrest in such a short time was already a miracle. But... they arrived too late."

Bethany stumbled backward as a loud ringing drowned out everything around her.

"If someone hadn't forcibly redirected the blood and specialists from Slenale, her condition wouldn't have become this critical..." The doctor sighed helplessly and held Bethany's gaze. "Ma'am, you should say goodbye while you still can."

Bethany passed through the emergency room doors without fully understanding how she'd moved.

Charlotte's small body rested on the bed. Even with the ventilator, her stomach strained with every weak breath.

All color had disappeared from her face, and unshed tears glistened in her eyes as she looked at Bethany.

"Mommy..." Charlotte glanced past her toward the empty doorway. Her voice was barely loud enough to hear. "Didn't Daddy come?"

Bethany's nose stung, and tears burned behind her eyes.

She held Charlotte's tiny hand tighter and struggled to keep her voice steady. "He has a lot of work..."

"He's with Lexie again, isn't he?" Charlotte looked up at Bethany with a seriousness no six-year-old should have carried. Her voice faded to a whisper. "Mommy, I know I'm going to die. Daddy doesn't love either of us. I don't want him to be my daddy anymore. Will you promise me something?"

Sobs kept Bethany from answering. Tears ran freely down her face as she nodded again and again.

"Divorce Daddy." Charlotte's clear eyes remained fixed on her. "I hate that he buys Lexie all those bags. I hate that he never picks me up from school. And I hate that he slapped me... Mommy, please find someone who brings you flowers, waits for you after work, and never hurts you."

Bethany went still as more tears spilled from her eyes. "I will," she answered. "I promise."

"Great..." A weak smile appeared on Charlotte's face as she gave Bethany's hand one final squeeze. "Mommy... all I want is for you to be happy..."

Her fingers loosened. Her hand slipped from Bethany's grasp and dropped onto the sheet.

"Charlotte!"

Bethany's broken cries filled the emergency room and continued long after her daughter was gone.

Three hours later, a crematorium employee placed a small urn in Bethany's hands.

A trace of warmth still clung to it.

She pressed the urn against her chest, but no tears came. She had none left.

When Bethany walked out of the crematorium, Neal came toward her. He placed a small wreath on the urn before offering her a phone with an active call. "Mr. Harding wants to speak with you."

Bethany accepted it and spoke through her raw throat. "Hello?"

Trevor kept his voice gentle, almost as though speaking louder might break her. "I'm sorry. In the end, I couldn't save her."

A bitter smile pulled at Bethany's mouth. "You don't need to apologize. Your people came as fast as they could."

The fault belonged to her own foolishness. If she'd recognized Brian's true nature sooner and stopped believing he would help them, perhaps Charlotte could've been saved.

A broken sound caught in her throat. "Thank you. Charlotte didn't make it, but... I'll still honor my promise. I'll marry you. I only need a little time..."

Trevor remained silent for a moment before replying quietly, "I helped because a six-year-old girl needed saving. Your promise had nothing to do with it. If marrying me isn't what you want, don't force yourself."

"No one is forcing me." Bethany closed her eyes. "You remembered what you promised years ago and gave me everything you could when I needed help. I won't go back on my word."

Another pause followed. When Trevor spoke again, his voice sounded rougher. "I'm in Preumia to inspect a diamond mine, and I won't return for two weeks. Use that time to handle your daughter's funeral and end your current marriage. If you still feel the same when I come back, I'll give you the grand wedding you deserve."