Fiancé’s Assistant Swapped My Pills, I Flipped

Chapter 1

Damian Hale glanced at my lit phone screen, a sneer twisting his lips. "Evelyn, aren't you making a mountain out of a molehill? It was just a little spicy food. Is there really any need to use the emergency contact? If you delay this merger negotiation, can you even shoulder the responsibility?"

Simon Gray immediately stepped forward and snatched the phone from my hand. It was an emergency device that connected directly to our company's security and medical teams.

"This is really uncalled for, Ms. Shaw," Simon said. "I was only acting out of goodwill. Seeing how tired you've been lately, I just wanted to help you perk up. After all, you're always emphasizing efficiency. If you actually fall ill, wouldn't that impact the company's decision-making?"

He forced the phone to shut down and tossed it onto the sofa.

I tried to reach for it, but a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. An immense, crushing weight settled on my chest, and cold sweat instantly soaked through my shirt. Despite the air-conditioned room, a shivering chill ran through my entire body as my vision began to blur.

"Damian... my backup medicine... in the inner pocket... of my briefcase..." I forced out each word through gritted teeth.

But Damian just stood there with his arms crossed, his voice dripping with impatience. "Evelyn, how much longer are you going to keep up this act? I've known you for so many years, and I've never once heard about you having a heart condition. Simon said he did it for your own good. Why are you being so ungrateful?"

Several subordinates who had come along for the negotiations crowded around us. All of them were cronies whom Damian had personally promoted.

One of them chimed in, "Exactly, Ms. Shaw. The food here at the Crimson Lantern Bistro is indeed quite spicy, and you're probably just not used to it. Don't worry so much. Besides, Simon had the best intentions. Making a scene like this only makes you look unreasonable."

Encouraged by their support, Simon grew even more smug. He walked over to my briefcase, bent down, and pulled out the bottle of backup nitroglycerin from the inner compartment.

It was my last hope of survival.

I struggled to make my way toward him, but he shoved me away with a sudden, violent force. My back slammed against the cold wall, yet my eyes remained glued to the bottle of medicine. "Give it... to me... quick..."

Simon let out a scoff. He dangled the bottle in front of my face, leaning in to whisper, "You weren't nearly this polite to me in the past, Ms. Shaw. Just because my report was ten minutes late last time, you tore me to shreds in front of everyone. And when Mr. Hale tried to promote me, you shot it down saying I was 'incompetent.' Now you're begging me? Where was this attitude before?"

Watching from the side, Damian did nothing to stop him. Instead, he said languidly, "Don't waste your time on her, Simon. The other party is still waiting for us to resume the merger talks."

There wasn't a shred of concern in his eyes. Instead, they held a cold amusement, as if my agonizing pain were nothing more than a trivial, entertaining farce.

As if receiving a green light, Simon suddenly raised the bottle and hurled it onto the marble floor.

The glass shattered with a loud pop, sending the pills rolling in all directions.

"Oops, my hand slipped," Simon said, his voice dripping with mock apology. "I'm so sorry, Ms. Shaw. Looks like your life-saving medicine is gone."

Staring at the scattered pills, a sharp spasm ripped through my chest, forcing me to double over and gag. A suffocating tightness washed over me, making every breath an agonizing struggle.

"Oh dear, Ms. Shaw, this reaction is just from coughing on the spicy food," Simon said, looking down at me with a malicious smirk. "Why do you keep insisting it's a heart attack? Lucky for you, I have half a bottle of ice water left. Don't be picky. Drink some to wash it down."

He thrust the bottle toward my face as I desperately shook my head to evade it. In this state, drinking a large amount of water would only put a fatal strain on my heart.

But Simon clamped his hand tightly around my jaw, forcing the bottle against my lips and pouring the liquid down my throat. The freezing water went down the wrong pipe, making me cough violently.

Finally letting go, Simon smirked, still pretending he was doing me a favor. "Don't be so stubborn, Ms. Shaw! Eating spicy food is always unpleasant at first. Just drink some ice water to soothe it, and you'll be fine in no time." As he spoke, he deliberately shook the empty bottle in front of my eyes.