Chapter 4

During the premarital checkup a week earlier, I was diagnosed with an unexplained coagulation disorder. I took my medical report to Mom, but before I could even speak, Wanda called and took her away. "Is your low blood sugar acting up, Wanda? It's going to be alright! I'll be right there this instant!"

She grabbed her handbag and walked right by me without looking back. "You can just leave it in the drawer! I'll get to it when I come back!"

When I saw Mom's puzzled expression, I was certain that the medical report was still lying in the drawer, completely untouched. Struggling to catch my breath, I explained weakly, "I-I have a coagulation disorder, Mom… I can't donate my blood…"

Mom was momentarily stunned. She then reached out and touched my clothes before sneering. "Your blood on the clothes is completely dry! What do you mean you have a coagulation disorder? You're really coming up with the wildest excuses, aren't you?"

"It's because of the glass—"

Mom cut me off sharply, her expression cold and unforgiving. "That's enough, Gloria! Wanda took the injury meant for you! How dare you make a fuss about donating a little blood to her! You've really disappointed me, Gloria!"

She beckoned to the security guards and ordered, "Haul her to the trauma room!"

I was tossed onto the hospital bed like a sack of potatoes.

Wyatt's brows furrowed the moment he saw my face. "Gloria really does look unwell, Dr. Johnson…"

Mom rummaged through the medical instruments on the tray, not even turning around. "She's scared because I called her out for lying! I've practiced medicine for years. I know at a glance whether someone is genuinely hurt or just lying through their teeth!"

Wanda reclined on her hospital bed in her VIP ward, surrounded by senior doctors from every department. Unlike me, who was covered in dirt and grime, she looked clean and well-groomed, with the wound on her arm already properly bandaged.

She looked at me, her face pale, and lowered her head, appearing resigned. "If Gloria doesn't want to do it, then forget it, Mom. You've raised me so well, so taking the hit for Gloria in the passenger seat today was the least I could do. I'd gladly give my life to save Gloria's if I had to!"

She sounded so selfless, yet there was a deep sense of grievance in her voice, as if she hadn't been the one who eagerly took my place in the passenger seat that day.

Mom hurried to comfort her, then turned to me with a disappointed look. "I'd have nothing to ask for if you could just be half as sensible as Wanda!"

Wyatt walked over and held my hand. "It's alright, Gloria. It's just a quick blood draw. I'll come right back and dress your wounds as soon as it's over."

He sounded gentle, but his tone brooked no argument. He held my hand down with overwhelming force.

I felt my warm blood slowly draining through the tube, my heart—and the rest of me—growing colder with every passing second.

"There, all done!" Mom held the two still-warm blood bags and said indifferently, "You're completely fine. You should donate blood regularly since it is good for you, too."

She then turned to Wyatt and said, "Get her some water, Wyatt."

Wyatt held the glass of water to my lips.

I refused to drink a single drop, though, as drinking water could be fatal to someone with internal bleeding.

"You're throwing another tantrum, huh? Why can't you just behave for once, Gloria?" Mom saw me lying there with my eyes shut and got irritated again. She then ordered Wyatt, "Force it down her throat, Wyatt!"

Wyatt hesitated for a moment before pinching my mouth open and pouring the water down my throat, causing me to cough violently. "Please stop being so stubborn, Gloria. You've just donated blood, so the water will help you replenish your body's fluids."

He gently patted my hand and said, "Dr. Johnson and I will tend to your wounds once Wanda gets hooked up to the blood bag."

I noticed the silence settling around my hospital bed as the lively chatter over by the VIP area slowly drifted over.

"You're so brave, Wanda! You didn't even cry while getting your stitches! Didn't you say Wanda wanted to try that viral cake she saw online, Wyatt? Go buy it for her later!"

"You can rest assured that I'll get every flavor Wanda wants, Dr. Johnson!"

…

Mom, Wyatt, and Wanda were being so warm and affectionate with each other, as if they were one big happy family.

I, on the other hand, lay alone in a dark corner and suddenly coughed up a large mouthful of blood. I remembered that that day was supposed to be the day I got my marriage certificate with Wyatt, when the ECG gave a single beep in the darkness before slowly going flat.