Chapter 5

My stomach turned violently.

Even though I was pinned to the bed and overpowered, I used every ounce of strength to shove away the man reeking of alcohol and lies.

I shrank back against the headboard, trembling all over as if I had touched something filthy.

Kalen stumbled back from my push. He didn’t get angry; he just frowned at me for two seconds, then raised an eyebrow and let out a wicked laugh.

"Still mad?"

He rubbed the space between his eyebrows. That gesture, that expression—it was exactly like Gavin’s. Even his voice, soaked in whiskey, was indistinguishable from his brother’s.

If he hadn't cried out Elena's name in his lust earlier, and if I hadn't learned the secret of the twins, I wouldn't have been able to tell them apart.

He leaned in close again, his hands bracing on either side of me, the tip of his nose almost touching mine.

"Ivy, stop making a fuss. I already explained it to you today. If I really had feelings for Elena, I wouldn't have agreed to marry you."

Kalen lowered his head, intending to kiss me.

My eyes went wide, and I violently jerked my head to the side.

"Ugh—"

An intense wave of nausea surged up my throat.

I pushed him aside, ran barefoot into the bathroom, and retched violently into the toilet.

Physiological tears streamed down my face. My stomach was empty, but it felt like I was trying to vomit up my internal organs.

Dirty.

Everything was just so dirty.

Kalen watched my back, his brow slightly furrowed, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

Inside the bathroom, I slid slowly down the cold tiled wall and collapsed on the floor.

The door wasn't fully closed.

Outside, Kalen’s voice rang out abruptly, tinged with surprise: "Elena, did you hear that? This woman keeps retching. Is she pregnant? Just my luck. If she spawns a brat, and the truth comes out later, what if I get stuck with this broke woman?"

My body went rigid.

He hadn't hung up the phone.

A stunned silence came from the other end of the line.

A chill ran instantly down my spine, and my nails dug deep into my palms.

Then, Elena's hypocritical and malicious voice drifted into my ears: "Kalen, don't be too harsh... If Ivy really is pregnant, that's a human life."

"Harsh?"

Kalen’s voice came through, cold and devoid of any warmth.

"She targeted you like that in school and almost got you killed. This is the punishment she deserves."

"As for being pregnant..."

Kalen paused, his tone becoming exceptionally cruel.

"Impossible. Even if she is, we deal with it cleanly. We can't leave any loose ends, right?"

For some reason, my heart felt an inexplicable unease.

The next second, I opened the door.

I looked at him with a pale face and hollow eyes.

Kalen's heart seemed to skip a beat. He quickly hung up the phone and stepped forward, trying to support me. "What's wrong, Ivy? You look terrible. Are you feeling sick somewhere? You aren't actually..."

I stared at him, looking at this hypocritical face, and forced the corners of my mouth into a mocking smile.

"No. Just my stomach acting up. I feel nauseous."

At noon the next day, Gavin's car stopped punctually at the estate gates.

He seemed to be in a good mood, personally getting out to open the door for me.

"Ivy, I'm taking you to lunch. To make up for the unpleasantness yesterday, I booked your favorite French restaurant."

The ride was silent.

Soft jazz music echoed in the car—Elena's favorite genre.

Gavin had a smile on his lips, his fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel. He was clearly in high spirits.

As soon as we arrived at the restaurant, I saw Elena and Kalen already seated at the best window table waiting for us.

Outside the massive floor-to-ceiling windows was the bustling streetscape of Manhattan.

"Ivy! Over here!"

Elena waved enthusiastically, pointing to a delicate salad already placed on the table.

"I was out of line yesterday and made you unhappy. This is the nut and quinoa salad I ordered especially for you. It's the signature dish here, very healthy. You must try it."

I looked at the salad, my pupils constricting slightly.

I had a severe nut allergy, especially to peanuts and cashews.

Just a tiny bit of powder could cause my windpipe to swell, or even send me into shock.

Elena knew this.

Gavin knew this too.

Just as I was about to refuse, Gavin pulled out my chair and gently pressed my shoulders to sit me down.

"Eat it, Ivy. Elena ordered it especially for you. Don't reject her kindness."

"She even specifically instructed the chef to use top-tier ingredients."

I looked at Gavin's trusting eyes and Elena's expectant smile.

The words of refusal stuck in my throat.

If I didn't eat it, I would be "unreasonable" and "still jealous."

I took a deep breath, picked up my fork, and poked at the salad.

It seemed to contain only vegetables and quinoa; no visible traces of nuts.

Maybe she really just wanted to apologize?

I forked a small bite and put it in my mouth.

Seconds after swallowing, a familiar, terrifying stinging sensation exploded in my throat!

Not only were there nuts, but they had been ground into a fine powder and mixed into the salad dressing!

She did it on purpose!

"Cough... cough..."

I dropped my fork and clutched my neck with both hands.

My windpipe began to close up rapidly, breathing became difficult, and a large red rash quickly spread across my face.

"Ivy? What's wrong with you?"

Gavin frowned at me, seemingly thinking I was acting again.

I struggled to grab my handbag beside me.

Inside was my lifesaver—my EpiPen.

Because my allergy was severe, I carried it with me everywhere.

Just as my fingers touched the strap of the bag.

"Ugh... Gavin... help..."

A weak moan suddenly came from across the table.

Elena was clutching her chest, her face instantly flushed red, gasping for air in big gulps, her body going limp as she fell backward.

"I feel like vomiting... I can't breathe... is it my asthma..."

"Elena!"

Kalen, who had been watching Elena, reacted quickly and caught her.

"Brother! Elena is having an asthma attack! She looks like she's in bad shape!"

Gavin's hand, originally reaching out to me, turned sharply in mid-air.

He glanced at me, struggling to breathe with a face full of rash, and then at Elena, lying in Kalen's arms as if she were about to stop breathing the next second.

In Gavin's eyes, Elena, who had saved him from the fire, was always more fragile and in need of protection than the "strong" me.

He turned without hesitation and rushed to Elena.

"Quick! Lay her flat!"

Gavin shouted anxiously, completely forgetting about me.

I was having trouble breathing now, and my vision was starting to blur.

With trembling hands, I finally fished the EpiPen out of my bag.

I pulled off the cap, lifted my skirt, and prepared to inject it into my thigh.

This was my only chance at survival.

Just as the needle was about to pierce my skin.

A dark shadow lunged at me, and a hand ruthlessly snatched the pen from my grasp!

It was Kalen!

"Hand it over! Elena is fading fast, and you only care about yourself?"

I looked up in disbelief, trying to snatch back my lifeline.

"No... that's... mine..." I forced the broken syllables from my throat. Due to the severe allergic reaction, my fingernails were already turning purple.

I looked desperately at Gavin. He was my fiancé; he knew I would die without that pen!

"Gavin... help me..."

Gavin looked at me, struggling in pain, and then at Elena.

In that moment, a flash of intense pain and conflict crossed his deep eyes.

But he didn't stop Kalen.

He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, his voice hoarse and agonized. "Ivy... be reasonable. Elena is frail; she can't hold on. You're a doctor. You're stronger than she is."

Tears slid from the corners of my eyes.

I watched helplessly as Kalen plunged my life-saving medicine into Elena's thigh.

And my fiancé just looked at me with anguish, making a promise that sounded incredibly hollow in that moment: "Ivy, just hold on. I promise I'll get the top medical team in New York to save you right now! I'll cure you, no matter the cost!"

The medication was administered.

Elena "miraculously" caught her breath, leaning weakly into Gavin's arms and weeping.

"Gavin... I thought I'd never see you again..."

"It's okay, I'm here." Gavin hugged her tightly, like holding a regained treasure.

He scooped Elena up and strode out of the restaurant.

Kalen followed closely behind: "Brother, I'll go get the car! I'm still worried; we should take Elena to the hospital for a check-up."

The three of them left in a whirlwind.

Just as lively as when they arrived.

In the huge private room, I was the only one left.

I collapsed on the floor, my throat completely locked, only able to make a broken wheezing sound like a damaged bellows.

In my blood-red vision, I saw their retreating backs, leaving without looking back.

From beginning to end, Gavin never once looked back at me.

Then, my consciousness plunged into darkness.