Chapter 9

<p>At that moment, she was actually glad she hadn't given Michael a hard time today.</p><p>"Help... help me..." Claire croaked, her voice barely more than a whisper.</p><p>"Claire?" Michael frowned, concern etched across his face. "What's wrong?"</p><p>"I've been drugged..." Claire stammered, her words tumbling out in confusion.</p><p>"Emily... man... AIDS... be careful..." she managed to say, her voice shaking with terror.</p><p>Michael's expression paled instantly, his face turning icy as he shot a look at the room Claire had just escaped from.</p><p>The man chased after her, but when he spotted Michael, he stopped dead in his tracks.</p><p>"Mr. Quinn, she was the one who came on to me..." the man stammered, scrambling to defend himself.</p><p>Michael fixed him with a cold stare. "Who are you?"</p><p>"I... I'm just a waiter..." the guy muttered, his eyes darting around nervously.</p><p>Claire grabbed Michael's arm, her voice shaky. "Please... take me to the hospital... please..."</p><p>Michael gave the guy a hard kick. "I know exactly what kind of person Claire is. Don't go anywhere. I'll deal with you later."</p><p>He scooped Claire up in his arms. "Just hold on. I'm taking you to the hospital, right now."</p><p>But just as he turned to leave, Emily blocked his path.</p><p>"I was the one who drugged her. I won't allow you to take her to the hospital," Emily said, her tone icy and defiant.</p><p>Michael was stunned for a moment, and for the first time, he finally lost his temper with Emily.</p><p>"Emily, how could you do something so crazy?" he retorted, anger flashing in his voice.</p><p>He tried to leave, but Emily blocked his path again, refusing to let him go.</p><p>Emily said, her voice trembling with frustration, "I'm not being unreasonable. I'm doing this for us! Your grandmother has always been against us—that's why we've been stuck for so many years.</p><p>"Even if you divorce Claire, do you really think your grandmother will suddenly approve of us?"</p><p>Michael knew that even if he divorced Claire, marrying Emily wasn't going to happen anytime soon.</p><p>That was why he'd chosen Claire in the first place—a marriage of convenience to avoid a high-society merger that would be too messy to undo.</p><p>But Claire was different—she came from a humble background and was adored by his grandmother, whom Claire had saved.</p><p>She was the perfect candidate.</p><p>As for Emily, Miranda genuinely disliked her, and she never tried to hide it.</p><p>"Emily, this has nothing to do with Claire," Michael said, barely holding back his anger.</p><p>"If you save her, what if she turns on me and rats me out?" Emily shot back, her voice sharp with worry.</p><p>"Relax. I'll make sure Claire keeps her mouth shut. You won't be affected at all," Michael replied, his tone cold and certain.</p><p>Michael tried to walk past Emily, but she grabbed his arm, refusing to let him go.</p><p>"Michael, if Claire's scandal blows up, it'll make me look a hundred times better by comparison.</p><p>"Then you'll finally have an excuse to get your grandmother to agree to marry me," Emily pleaded, her voice trembling.</p><p>For once, Michael stood his ground, determination in his eyes. "Emily, I'll figure this out, I swear. I won't stop until Grandma finally says yes to us."</p><p>Emily released Michael, wiped her tears, her expression hardening with resolve.</p><p>"Michael, I'm out of time. My dad's making me get married within a month—I can't wait around anymore.</p><p>"Today, it's either her or me. If you take her to the hospital, I'll marry someone else. But if you let her go, we'll finally get to be together forever," Emily said, her voice icy, no room for negotiation.</p><p>A sharp pain gripped Michael's chest.</p><p>The thought of Emily belonging to someone else was unbearable.</p><p>He looked down at Claire.</p><p>If Claire's reputation was trashed, Emily would shine even brighter in comparison.</p><p>Then Miranda wouldn't have any grounds to object to him marrying Emily.</p><p>Everything would finally fall into place.</p><p>Claire fought against the fog clouding her mind, but Michael's hesitation sent a chill down her spine.</p><p>"Michael, please... get me to a hospital. I've done nothing to harm your family. I helped double Quinn Holdings' assets. I saved your grandmother's life, took care of you when you were ill—we're friends, not foes. Let me talk to her. I'll make her understand—"</p><p>Emily cut her off, grabbing Michael's hand. "Michael, let's play dirty just this once—for our future. We'll give her more money than she'd ever see in her whole life.</p><p>"It's just one night with some guy, and she'll walk away loaded. It's not like she's getting a bad deal."</p><p>"But that guy's sick," Michael said, worry tightening his voice.</p><p>Emily froze for a second, but quickly brushed it off. "Big deal, she can take some meds after. We're already in too deep to back out now.</p><p>"I can't marry anyone else, Michael. I only want you," Emily said, her voice trembling with desperation.</p><p>Michael stared at Claire, remembering her unwavering support over three long years—her warm smiles, her encouraging words.</p><p>She'd said, "You're a man of loyalty, Michael. Emily must be extraordinary to hold your heart like this. I'll help you fend off all those pesky girls. I promise, I'll make sure Emily gets a spotless you."</p><p>She had stood by him, shielded him from family pressures, and played her part flawlessly.</p><p>And now, he was about to destroy her for good.</p><p>Claire clutched the shard of the vase, but even the pain couldn't keep her vision from blurring.</p><p>The last hope faded as she watched Michael's internal battle end.</p><p>"If your grandmother learns the truth, it will devastate her. Do you really want that—" Claire pleaded, her voice shaky with fear.</p><p>"Claire, don't be so dramatic. Her health is just fine. Once she sees how pathetic you really are, she'll finally stop blocking me and Michael," Emily snapped.</p><p>She looked at Michael, her voice cold and resolute. "Michael, it's your decision. However you want to handle this, I'll respect it. Even if I never get to be with you, I'll accept it."</p><p>Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.</p><p>Claire understood then—she had already lost.</p><p>Michael was unwavering—he would choose Emily, no matter what.</p><p>"Michael, for the sake of everything we've been through together, I'm begging you... please, just pick another man... I just want someone healthy..." Claire pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.</p><p>"Michael, there's no time! If anyone comes, all our efforts will go to waste," Emily urged, urgency sharp in her voice.</p><p>Michael looked at Claire, and for a split second, a flash of conflict and pity crossed his eyes.</p><p>Conflict flashed across Michael's face—a momentary glimpse of regret, quickly buried beneath cold resolve.</p><p>"Claire, consider this my debt to you," Michael said, his voice cold and final.</p>