Chapter 4

Rhea gritted her teeth, biting back her anger. Eventually, she forced out an apology.

I ignored her, bending down to pick up the things scattered across the floor and putting them back into the plastic bag. Then I turned to head back to my room.

Simon walked out, holding several newly released lab reports. He glanced at Mom and Rhea coldly. "If you have a problem, take it outside. My patient needs to rest. Please don't disturb her again."

Rhea's expression changed, and her voice softened. "Simon—"

"Miss Parker, please call me Dr. Litt."

Mom's gaze landed on me briefly before she asked, "Is she—"

Simon cut her off. "Please leave if there's nothing else."

Mom fell silent. She gave me a long look before telling Rhea coldly, "Let's go."

Silence returned to the hallway.

Simon glanced at the gash on the back of my hand and sighed. He led me into his office, opened the instrument tray, and cleaned the wound.

"Why didn't you fight back?"

"I didn't have the strength, and besides, I didn't find the need to do that. She was just trying to protect Mom."

Simon paused, his eyes filled with sadness.

I watched him carefully bandage my wound. Trying to choke back my sob, I said, "You'll be marrying Rhea soon, right? Congratulations."

Simon looked up at me in astonishment. "I never said yes to that."

He finished dressing my hand, then turned to the last page of the lab reports, his voice gentler now.

"Don't overthink it, okay? You're the only one I want. Your white blood cell count is low. You might develop a fever tonight. If you need anything, press the call button. Don't try to tough it out on your own again."

I nodded and returned to my room.

But deep down, I knew I had to let him go for good.

That evening, the nurses' station was ringing nonstop. With all the nurses on duty called away, the hallway was deserted.

Suddenly, a loud bang came from Mom's room.

I stopped in front of the half-open door, but in the end, I couldn't resist going inside.

Mom was struggling to adjust the IV tubing on her right arm with her left hand.

The IV fluid had almost completely run out, and blood was rushing back up the tubing. She fumbled with the line, only making the backflow worse. Irritation flashed across her face.

I walked over and pinched the lower section of the tubing. With a push of my thumb, I snapped the flow regulator shut, and the backflow stopped. I readjusted the settings. After that, I took a soft cushion from the cabinet and tucked it into the space behind Mom.

The whole process took me less than a minute.

Mom leaned against the cushion, looking at my hand with a complicated expression. "How do you know how to do all this?"

"I learned how to do it a long time ago."

Mom's expression softened. She cleared her throat and awkwardly rubbed the edge of her blanket. "Amy, since you helped me, if you're… willing to admit you were wrong, I might give you a chance."

A sharp pain spread through my stomach at that moment, and my vision blurred. I couldn't collapse in front of Mom, so I said, "I'm leaving."

I kept my head down and hurried out, trying my best to fight through the immense pain.

Mom cried out from behind me, her voice raised. "If you walk out now, you won't get another chance!"

I couldn't muster a response. I just walked along the wall, trying my best not to sway as cold sweat trickled down my forehead.

I bumped into Rhea at the corner of the hallway as she was returning with dinner. Her eyes locked onto the plastic bag in my hand that contained the shattered pieces of the thermos I had picked up from the floor in Mom's room earlier.

"Stop right there."

Rhea grabbed my arm, her eyes fierce. "You snuck out of my mom's room. What's that in your hand? Did you steal something? Come with me to the security office!"

By now, the pain was so intense that even breathing was challenging, and my vision kept going black.

"Let go…" My voice was so faint that I could barely hear it myself.

Not only did Rhea not let go, but she also gripped my arm even tighter. "I knew a pathetic pauper like you would be up to no good. I have to show Mom your true colors today so she won't go soft on you!"

My legs gave way, and I slumped down. I clutched Rhea's sleeve and pleaded, "Please let go… Let me leave…"

Rhea shoved me against the wall. "Cut your act! You're trying to flee after I caught you red-handed? Dream on!"

My back slammed hard against the tiled wall. A loud ringing filled my head as my consciousness slowly faded.

I suddenly spat out a large mouthful of blood. My body went limp, and I slid down the wall.

Seeing me collapse, Rhea was shocked and took a step back. Her hands froze in midair. "Hey, don't play dead. I'm not buying it!"

Hearing the commotion, Mom came out and immediately spotted me lying on the floor, my eyes tightly shut and my face drenched in cold sweat. Her face paled.

"Amy, what's wrong?"