Chapter 3

"Willa Stone!"

Brandon shot to his feet.

Patty flinched and backed away.

He caught himself instantly.

Closed his eyes.

Sat back down beside me.

"Willa, I'm not forcing you.

"I'm teaching you to face your problems.

"If you speak tomorrow, the wedding can still happen like we planned.

"If you hide in this hospital room, everyone's going to think I picked the wrong bride."

He leaned closer.

There it was again.

That same disappointed look.

"I fought my family for two years because of you.

"Can't you prove yourself for once and show them I made the right choice?"

I almost laughed.

So even marrying me was some kind of investment.

I had to be strong enough. Obedient enough. Perfect enough.

All so he could prove he'd chosen well.

"Whether you made the right choice isn't my problem." I looked him straight in the eye. "I'm not doing the press conference."

***

The next afternoon, Brandon dragged me out of the hospital anyway.

My doctor followed us all the way to the elevator, looking pissed.

"Mr. Hawthorne, Ms. Stone only stabilized last night.

"A severe allergic reaction can come back within twenty-four to seventy-two hours. She needs to stay under observation. She absolutely should not be attending a public event."

Brandon stopped.

"The press conference will only take ten minutes.

"The Hawthorne medical team will be there the entire time."

The Hawthorne bodyguards blocked the doctor while I was shoved into the elevator.

The livestream setup was already waiting in a private conference room on the hospital's top floor.

Brandon draped a jacket over my shoulders and fixed my hair himself.

In the mirror, we still looked like a loving engaged couple.

"Just read the statement.

"Then everything that happened yesterday is over."

I met his eyes in the mirror. "And if I don't?"

His hands froze.

"Stop forcing me to be disappointed in you.

"I've already lowered my expectations as far as they can go.

"All you have to do is sit here and say a few words. How much more do you expect me to accommodate you?"

The livestream countdown started.

At the same moment, Brandon's phone vibrated.

Patty.

Reporters had cornered Patty in the hospital parking lot, and she was crying so hard she could barely breathe.

Brandon's expression changed. He turned to leave.

I grabbed his sleeve. "Tell Ash to leave my EpiPen here with me."

He looked back at me. "You're just reading a statement."

"My throat feels itchy."

"The doctor just checked you. Everything was normal."

"Everything can look normal before a second reaction hits."

The concern in his eyes faded into disappointment.

"Here we go again.

"Every time you actually have to take responsibility, suddenly something's wrong.

"Yesterday it was an allergic reaction. Today your throat itches.

"Are you magically going to feel better if I stay here and comfort you?"

I let go of his sleeve.

"I don't need you to comfort me. Let the doctor in and give me back my EpiPen."

"The doctor's right outside. What difference does it make?"

"You took my medication."

"Because you need to learn how to handle a situation instead of letting fear take over!" His voice shot up.

"When are you going to get it?

"I'm not trying to hurt you.

"I'm scared that without me, you won't know how to survive on your own."

I looked at him, strangely calm.

"Brandon Hawthorne, if I leave you, I'll live a better life than I do now."

His face went dark.

Patty's sobbing could still be heard through the phone.

In the end, Brandon didn't say a word.

He just rushed off.