Chapter 7
Everyone rushed off to fuss over Cynthia, and I stumbled toward the exit.]
My breathing was getting worse and my head was spinning bad.[]
Right before I passed out, I managed to call 911.
Allergic reaction plus a cold and fever causing shock–if the paramedics didn’t get to me fast enough, I could’ve died.[]
I kept replaying that ice–cold look Arthur gave me, and my chest felt like it was getting crushed.[]
He’d seen me go into anaphylactic shock before.[]
But he still chose Cynthia without hesitation.[]
My phone buzzed with messages from my parents, who thought I’d just bailed again.
After lecturing me, they basically threatened to freeze my accounts.[]
“If you don’t get your ass home and apologize, you’re dead to us.“]
All these years, I’d always felt like an outsider in my own family.[]
I checked my savings account and surrounded by all these nasty texts, finally decided to leave the New York.]
This city had nothing left for me.[]
After sending my paperwork to the my lawyer, I took my medical report to get more tests done.]
In the hospital hallway, I ran straight into Arthur.[]
He looked surprised to see me, then his face went cold.[]
“Did your parents send you to check on Cynthia? She hurt her back because of you, and you show up empty–handed?“[]
I waved my medical chart at him. “Who says I’m empty–handed?“[]
“I’m here for my own tests, so get out of my way.“]
His eyes went dark. Just as I was pulling my hand back, he grabbed my medical report.
“What tests?”
The next second, he froze when he saw “flower pollen allergy” on the page.[]
He looked up and really studied my face for the first time–the obvious red welts finally made him realize something was wrong.
“You…” His words got stuck halfway out.]
I actually laughed at his reaction.[]
Yep, your girlfriend deliberately gave me flowers knowing damn well I’d go into shock.”
Chapter 7
“And she hurt her back because she knocked my allergy pills out of my hands in the bathroom and ate shit on the floor.“]
Arthur looked shaken by how direct I was being.[]
But he quickly licked his lips and defended her anyway.[]
“Cynthia’s got a bad memory. She just wanted to cheer you up. She didn’t mean it.“[]
“And there’s no way she’d steal your meds. There’s gotta be some misunderstanding.“]
When your heart’s broken enough, you stop feeling anything.[]
I yanked my report back.[]
“Funny how when she fell, you didn’t think there was any misunderstanding about me.‘
A long time ago, when my family wrongly accused me of something, he was the one who stood up for me. 0
He’d seen me go into shock when I didn’t have my meds.
But even knowing all that, he still made excuses for Cynthia.]
Because in his priorities, I never came first.]
I dug my nails into my palm and started to leave directly.
He looked guilty and blocked my path.[]
“Look, I honestly didn’t notice what happened back there. Let me grab Cynthia’s pain meds real quick, then I’ll come with you for your tests.”
I stared at him for a few seconds, feeling empty inside.
In fact, part of me wanted to ask him what I actually meant to him.]
Even when he felt guilty, Cynthia still came first.
I pushed his hand away and said casually, “Forget it. We’re broken up now, so you being with me would just start rumors.”
“Go take care of your precious Cynthia. After all, you only brought a coat for her when it’s freezing outside,”
all,
He seemed to remember how he’d treated me.[]
For just a moment, I actually saw regret in his expression.
He hurried to catch up with me. “I’ll come with you for the tests first. It’s on the way anyway.“[]
But we hadn’t gone two steps when his phone rang.
Cynthia was whimpering that she wanted to turn over in bed.]
Arthur automatically responded, “Isn’t there a nurse helping you?“]
“But I want you with me. You got the pain meds already, right?” Her voice was all sweetand clingy.
- “D.
Chapter 7
Arthur looked at me, his throat working, but he didn’t say anything.
Just a quiet “Yeah.“[]
After he hung up, he sounded conflicted.[]
“Her back’s really hurt. Let me get her settled first and then I’ll come find you…”
I waved him off with an understanding smile.
“Go ahead. I don’t need a babysitter–can handle it myself.”
