I Married My Cousin's Rejected Fiancé

Magnus barely spared Jones a glance as he scooped Morgan into his arms. She was so light it made his brow furrow.

"M-Magnus…" Morgan's weak voice reached him. She looked up with heavy-lidded eyes, managing only those two words before everything went black.

As Magnus left, he passed Dariel. "Take care of it," he said, his tone ice cold.

Dariel rubbed his nose, wisely keeping his questions to himself. He had the place cleared out efficiently, then made his way to the hospital, where he found Magnus posted at Morgan's bedside.

Morgan had passed out from the pain—her lower abdomen a mess of bruises, a fever born of panic and fear keeping her unconscious.

"I dealt with Jones," Dariel reported. "He's being investigated for embezzlement and bribery. Doubt he'll bother her again. Your cover's still intact."

Magnus gave a curt nod.

Dariel slipped out, giving them some privacy.

Morgan was trapped in a nightmare, locked in a room with no way out, calling for help that never came. "Let me out… Please, somebody, help me…" she begged, desperate.

Then a hand reached through the darkness, gripping hers tight and pulling her to safety.

Consciousness came in waves. She blinked her eyes open to the sound of a soft, low voice.

Magnus held her hand in one of his, phone pressed to his ear with the other. The second he felt her stir, he ended the call.

"You in pain?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"How… how did I get here? Jones… he didn't hurt you, right?" Her voice was laced with worry and disbelief. Even with her eyes shut, she'd sensed some of what went down outside the club room.

Magnus had stepped in to protect her, risked a confrontation. A regular security guard shouldn't have stood a chance against Jones, and Morgan didn't want an innocent bystander getting dragged into her mess.

"Jones is under investigation for serious embezzlement. Cops have him under surveillance. He never got the chance to lay a finger on me before they hauled him in."

"That's such a relief!" Morgan let out a breath, grateful justice was being served. "Thanks for staying here with me. Isn't this going to mess with your job?"

"It's fine. I took a few days off."

Comforted by his presence, Morgan settled into the hospital routine. Magnus stayed with her for a day before the demands of Moore Enterprises pulled him away.

"The company's dealing with a security issue—they're tightening protocols. I'll try to bring you lunch if I can. If not, make sure you eat something, okay?"

Moore Enterprises had just launched a new project, and Magnus needed to oversee things.

"Go on. I'll be fine. It's just a few bruises, nothing serious," Morgan assured him, knowing how important his responsibilities were.

After Magnus left, Morgan decided to step outside and soak up some sunshine. The warmth on her skin lifted her spirits instantly.

Suddenly, a tap on her shoulder made her turn. A familiar face.

"Luke? Is that really you?"

Luke Collins looked just as surprised. "I didn't expect to see you here. I almost didn't recognize you from behind. You're still as tiny as ever—still not taking care of yourself, huh?"

"I thought you went abroad? What are you doing back?" she asked, remembering how he'd been the star of their fashion design program, two years ahead of her and a natural leader.

"Decided to chase some opportunities here. Nothing set in stone yet, but I'll let you know once things start moving."

Luke's voice was soft, his smile warm, making her feel instantly at ease. He'd been her idol back in college—the brilliant student who won a prestigious scholarship to study abroad and eventually became head designer for a major brand. She'd even seen him on the news when he bagged an Oscar for Best Design.

"I've always admired you," Morgan said, still in awe of his success. "What brings you to the hospital? You're okay, right?"

Luke tensed up, a flicker of worry crossing his face until he realized it was only injuries requiring a short hospital stay.

"What's your room number? I'll swing by during lunch," he offered.

Morgan gave it to him, figuring he was there to visit another patient.

When lunchtime rolled around, she was about to order when Luke showed up, thermos in hand. "You haven't ordered yet, have you?"

"I was about to," she said.

"No need. I brought something. I mentioned to my mom that a friend was in the hospital, and she insisted I bring extra. Try it."

As he popped open the container, the delicious smell made Morgan's eyes light up. "Your mom's cooking is unforgettable. I still remember how much I loved it when I visited your house," she said with a smile.

Watching her dig in with that much enthusiasm, Luke couldn't help but grin. "There's more for dinner. Mom's gonna be thrilled to hear what you think."

"Isn't it too much trouble? Cooking's no joke."

"She loves it. Coming home to empty dishes makes her day!"

"Please tell her thank you for me."

As they shared the meal, neither noticed they were being watched. Dariel Freeman stood nearby, a mischievous grin on his face. He'd come to the hospital for a meeting and decided to check in on Morgan. What a surprise to find her laughing it up with another guy.

Dariel discreetly snapped a photo, angling it just right to capture Luke's handsome face and Morgan's bright smile. He didn't rush to send it—first, he wanted a background check on Luke.

Soon enough, the report arrived, only deepening Dariel's amusement. Then he forwarded the photo and info to Magnus, with a cheeky note: "You'd better step up your game, or your wife might just run off with someone else!"

In the middle of his packed schedule, Magnus glanced at Dariel's message. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as he took in the photo and attached details.

Luke Collins shared Morgan's alma mater, major, and even her department club. He'd been the darling of the design department, studied abroad, and landed gigs at top international brands. Last year, he snagged an Oscar for Best Design as a head designer. And yet, here he was back in the country, leaving a promising career overseas.

Magnus studied Luke's gaze on Morgan—it was clearly full of tender, careful admiration.

Dariel called in a rush, afraid Magnus hadn't seen the message. But Magnus's voice was calm, betraying nothing.

"Did you see what I sent?"

"Yes."

"Then what are you doing just sitting there? Some guy's making a move on your wife!"

"Do you think a security guard who pulls in three grand a month can compete with a guy like that?"

"Uh…"

"If you were Morgan, who would you pick?" Magnus's voice held no bitterness, just resigned curiosity.

"Uh…" Dariel hesitated, completely thrown by the question.