the visit

Mira’s throat tightened. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Ethan. “So,” she said quietly, “you waited until morning to come… because Chloe twisted an ankle, while I was lying here in a hospital bed?”

Chloe quickly spoke before Ethan could answer. “Mira, don’t be mad. He was only trying to help me. You know how kind he is.”

One of Ethan’s friends, Nathan, spoke up. “Come on, Mira. It’s your fault anyway. Why did you leave the party without telling anyone?”

Another friend joined in, crossing his arms. “Yeah, he’s right. You scared everyone. You should’ve told someone before walking out like that.”

Before the third could add anything, Ethan moved closer to Mira. He sat on the edge of the bed beside her and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. His voice softened. “I’m sorry, Mira. I should’ve come sooner.”

Mira turned her face away, silent.

At that moment, the door opened again, and a man in a white coat walked in, holding a tray of medical instruments. His presence drew everyone’s attention.

“Excuse me,” he said politely, his tone calm but firm. “I’ll need to check on the patient now. Please, could you all wait outside for a few minutes?”

Ethan nodded and stood up. He placed a hand on Mira’s shoulder before walking out with Chloe and the others.

The doctor set the tray down and turned to Mira with a gentle smile. His features were sharp, his dark hair neatly brushed, his eyes calm and kind.

“Are you feeling any pain?” he asked.

Mira shook her head slowly. “I’m just tired.”

He nodded. “That’s normal. You went through a lot last night.”

She looked up at him, confusion flickering in her eyes. “How did I get here? The last thing I remember was… being hit by a car.”

The doctor sighed quietly. “That’s what I came to tell you.” He hesitated for a moment, then said, “I’m here to apologize. My younger brother was the one driving. He was drunk, and he hit you. I’m truly sorry for what happened.”

Mira blinked, her lips parting slightly. “Your brother?”

He nodded. “Yes. I made sure he turned himself in. But I wanted to meet you personally and make sure you’re okay.” He hesitated again, then extended his hand. “I’m Caleb.”

Mira looked at his hand, then slowly took it. “I’m Mira,” she said softly.

“I know,” he replied with a small smile. “Get some rest, Mira. You’re lucky it wasn’t worse.”

He picked up the tray and walked to the door. “I’ll let your friends back in now.”

She nodded, leaning back into the pillow as he left.

The door opened again, and Chloe stepped in alone. Her expression had changed. The fake worry on her face was gone, replaced with a smirk that curved her red lips.

She walked toward Mira slowly, her heels clicking against the floor. When she reached the bed, she leaned forward and whispered, “Well, Mira… I have a lot to say to you.”

Chloe looked at Mira and said coldly, “Well, Mira, I have a lot to say to you.”

She moved closer to the bed, her heels clicking softly against the hospital floor.

“Mira, my dear,” she began, her tone sharp and mocking. “Are you dumb, or do you just not understand human feelings? You know for a fact that the one Ethan really cares about is me. Or are you pretending to be blind?”

Mira’s lips parted to speak, but Chloe raised her hand, silencing her.

“Don’t talk. Just listen.”

Chloe tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

“Do you remember what happened on October 13th, 2014?” she asked.

Mira’s eyes widened. “Why are you bringing back my pain, Chloe?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Chloe giggled, a soft, wicked sound.

“On that day, you lost the one thing that ever mattered to you,” she said slowly. “The one thing you wanted so badly with Ethan… a child.”

Tears gathered in Mira’s eyes. Her heart ached with the memory.

But Chloe wasn’t done. She leaned closer and said, “Have you ever wondered how your son really died, Mira?”

Mira’s eyes flickered with confusion and fear. Chloe smiled and sat down beside her.

“You see,” she began, “when I was abroad, I had a bone marrow issue. I needed a transplant. And guess what? Ethan and I were still in contact back then.”

Mira’s throat went dry. She swallowed hard but said nothing.

Chloe continued, her voice dripping with pride.

“Ethan was the one who brought up the idea of using Adrian’s bone marrow. Your son’s.”

Mira froze, her heart pounding painfully in her chest.

“Yes,” Chloe said, grinning. “He secretly brought me back to the city to get it done. And do you remember the car accident he had around that time? It was all staged. Ethan did it to cover up what happened—because Adrian couldn’t make it after the transplant.”

Mira stared at her, tears spilling down her cheeks. Her voice broke. “What… what did you just say?”

Chloe laughed softly. “Your dear Ethan killed your son to keep me alive.”

Something inside Mira shattered. She grabbed Chloe’s sleeves, her hands shaking.

“Say it again!” she cried. “Say it again!”

But Chloe only laughed harder. “Ethan never loved you, Mira. You’re just a lovesick puppy. Just leave him for me and free yourself from this misery.”

Mira was shaking, her vision blurred with tears. As she tried to stand, Chloe suddenly shoved her. Mira lost her balance and fell off the bed, hitting her head on the floor. Pain shot through her, and she felt warm blood trickle down her temple.

Chloe looked down at her coldly. “You see? You’re so weak. Always falling for pity.”

Then, hearing footsteps outside, she quickly rushed to the table, grabbed a pair of scissors, and slashed her wrist lightly. The blood trickled, and she began screaming.

Ethan and his friends burst into the room.

Chloe cried out, her voice shaking, “I was trying to comfort Mira, but she got angry and attacked me!”

Mira, still weak on the floor, tried to speak. “No, Ethan—she—”

But before Mira could explain, Ethan rushed to Chloe’s side, holding her. His eyes blazed with anger as he turned to Mira.

Mira slowly pushed herself up from the floor, swaying a little as blood dripped from the side of her head. Her voice shook as she said, “Ethan, please listen—she’s lying!”

Ethan’s face darkened. “Lying?” he repeated coldly, stepping closer to her.

Mira nodded, tears filling her eyes. “I didn’t hurt her. She—”

Before she could finish, Ethan raised his hand and slapped her across the face.

The force made her stumble backward onto the bed, her head spinning as pain shot through her cheek.

“Don’t you have feelings, Mira?!” Ethan shouted, his voice full of anger and disgust.

Mira sat there in shock, her tears falling silently. The room spun around her, and the sound of her own heartbeat echoed in her ears.