Chapter 6

Nina laughed. "Because Declan was richer than Brandon back then. I'd do anything for money, and now that Brandon has come into his family's fortune, of course, I'm sticking with him.

"Do you even know how obsessed he was in those six years we were together? He has never wanted another woman the way he wants me. That's why none of your little seductions ever worked. He's been waiting for me. So, who exactly do you think you are to him?

"At the auction last time, the emerald bracelet I wanted cost a fortune, but he didn't hesitate before buying it. When has he ever done anything like that for you?"

Her words cut into Rosalie's heart like a dull knife, slow and painful.

"Are you just trying to prove you can win at everything?" Rosalie shot back.

Nina grinned. "Winning Brandon back from you is victory enough for me. Let's wait until he's out of surgery. We'll see whose name he calls first."

Rosalie clung to a thin, desperate hope.

Maybe Brandon still had some decency left in him. Maybe he'd spare her a single thought. At the very least, he might wonder whether she had survived the fire.

She had loved him for 6 years. Even a pet cat or dog would've earned some affection by then.

An hour later, when they wheeled Brandon out of the emergency room, he was still groggy from the anesthesia. Even so, the first name he mumbled was, "Nina..."

Nina threw Rosalie a triumphant look. "Well? Guess this round's mine too."

Rosalie watched as Nina walked over to Brandon's side, and just like that, her last bit of hope vanished.

Over the next few days, Rosalie and Brandon remained in the hospital to recover. Day after day, Rosalie watched Nina hover around Brandon, never once stepping away. She didn't give Rosalie even a chance to get close to him.

…

On the evening Rosalie was discharged, Brandon stopped by her ward. He brought her a healthy meal and handed her an exquisite gift box.

"Your birthday is in three days. There's a key inside. I left your gift in the walk-in closet. Just use the key to open the wardrobe, and you'll find the gift."

Three days later would also be the day Rosalie was set to leave.

She took the key, murmuring, "Thank you."

As she grabbed her bag to finish the discharge paperwork, an immigration form slipped out and fluttered to the floor.

Brandon picked it up, his brows furrowing. "What's this? You're moving abroad?"

Rosalie snatched it back, lying smoothly, "A friend left it with me. I was just going to give it back."

Brandon eased up a little.

After a moment, his gaze lingered on Rosalie's haggard face before he said in a low and serious voice, "I'm getting discharged on your birthday. When that day comes, I'll celebrate with you, Rosalie. Just wait for me at home."

Rosalie's heart lurched. Before she could say a word, Nina's voice echoed down the hallway. "Brandon, I made you chicken noodle soup…"

The moment he heard her, Brandon walked out of Rosalie's ward without a second thought. Rosalie could hear the low murmur of their warm, familiar exchange.

She scoffed to herself. She finished packing her clothes and got ready to leave the hospital. But the moment she stepped out of the ward, someone grabbed her and dragged her into the restroom down the hall.

Rosalie looked up in panic to find Nina standing before her, her lips curled in a sneer. "Brandon just left your ward. Don't tell me you're trying to weasel out of our bet. You lost, so why are you still clinging to him?"

Rosalie met her gaze, eyes blazing. "I'm not. I promised I'd leave him, and I won't back out now."

Nina's expression hardened. "Then stay away from him. Quit showing up everywhere he goes."

Rosalie couldn't be bothered to argue with Nina. She tried to get back up but accidentally knocked her foot against Nina's leg.

Nina flew into a rage.

"Shove her head into the toilet!" she barked at the people holding Rosalie down.

They forced Rosalie's head down into the filthy water. Nina kept flushing over and over. Rosalie gritted her teeth, barely managing to keep from swallowing any of it. They would pull her up just long enough to grab a breath before shoving her under again.

Rosalie kept count in her head—19 times. Nina had made them force her under that disgusting water 19 times. It felt like Nina was taunting Rosalie, throwing those 19 failures with Brandon right back in her face.

Suddenly, the restroom door flew open. Brandon took in the scene with a scowl.

"What's going on here?" he demanded.

Nina quickly helped the soaking-wet Rosalie to her feet and made a show of wiping off the filthy toilet water dripping from her.

With a smile, she turned to Brandon and said, "Rosalie dropped her earring in the toilet and decided to crawl in after it. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen. Right?"

The others, already bribed by Nina, nodded eagerly before seizing the chance to slip away.

Still gasping for air, Rosalie shoved Nina away and snapped, "That's a lie! You shoved my head under the water 19 times!"

Nina ducked behind Brandon, putting on her best innocent look. "Brandon, I didn't do it. You've got to believe me."

Rosalie turned to Brandon, her eyes begging him to be fair.

But he said expressionlessly, "Just get a new earring. That toilet water's gross. Stop fishing around in it."

Nina flashed Rosalie a triumphant smile, looping her arm through Brandon's as they walked out of the restroom together.

Rosalie stood frozen, disbelief rooting her in place. Just like that, Brandon had chosen to believe Nina. He acted like he didn't see the filthy water dripping from Rosalie's clothes.

They had dunked her head in that toilet 19 times. But none of it mattered, not next to Nina's lies.

Rosalie gave a bitter laugh. What a pathetic joke she was. She shut her eyes, her fists clenched in rage as tears of humiliation spilled down her cheeks.