Chapter 3

Alec could tell I was giving him the cold shoulder.

For a man used to commanding everyone’s attention, being ignored got under his skin far more than any screaming match.

He was used to being the center of attention and having Lindsay revolve around him. So, he kept provoking me to reassert his control and see just how much I would tolerate.

On Friday evening, an urgent project kept me at the office until nine.

The moment I opened the door to my apartment, an overpowering floral scent hit me.

It was not perfume. It was the thick, cloying scent of lilies.

I immediately covered my nose and mouth, but it was already too late.

Alec’s jacket was lying on my usual spot on the living room couch.

Its collar and cuffs were smeared with yellow lily pollen.

My airway suddenly constricted. My breathing turned fast and labored.

Each breath scraped my throat raw.

My legs gave out. I went down on the carpet.

“My meds…”

I crawled toward the coffee table. My emergency allergy medication was in the second drawer underneath.

My vision started to blur. Angry red welts spread rapidly across my exposed neck and arms. The welts itched so badly that it felt like my skin was crawling from the inside out.

The study door flew open with a bang.

Lindsay came out with a sketch in her hand.

“Ivan? You’re home?”

When she saw me on the floor, clawing at the carpet in agony, alarm flashed across her face. She rushed toward me.

“What’s wrong? Are you having another allergic reaction?”

Just as her hand was about to touch my shoulder…

“Ow!”

A cry came from behind her.

Alec stood beside the kitchen island with a pair of pruning shears in his hand. A bead of blood no bigger than a pinprick had formed on the tip of his finger.

“Lindsay, I’m hurt!”

Lindsay’s hand, which was reaching for me, stopped dead in midair.

She turned around.

Alec held up his finger. His eyes were wet with tears as he looked at her. His body was trembling slightly.

“I accidentally pricked myself on that rose thorn you left on the counter. I’m bleeding.”

Lindsay’s body moved before her mind caught up.

She sprang to her feet and crossed the room to Alec in a few quick strides. Grabbing his hand, she examined it with a deep frown, unable to hide the worry in her voice.

“How could you be so careless? Is it deep? Did the thorn break off inside?”

I was still on the carpet. My vision was blurred by involuntary tears, but I could still see everything unfolding before me with perfect clarity.

My throat had closed too tightly for me to speak. I could only clutch the edge of the carpet. I was digging my fingers in so hard that my nails nearly bent backward.

“Help... me...” I forced the words from my throat with the last of my strength.

Lindsay turned and glanced my way.

For a moment, she seemed torn. Then, her hesitation gave way to a cold certainty that she was doing the right thing.

“Ivan, Alec has a hand-modeling shoot for a luxury jewelry campaign tomorrow. He can’t afford to have a scar on his hand.

“If this gets infected, he could face an enormous contract penalty. I have to take him to the ER and get the wound treated.”

As she spoke, she grabbed the car keys from the entryway table without even making a move to help me.

“Your allergy medication is in the drawer. Just take a pill, and you’ll be fine in no time. I’ll be back later.”

With that, she placed a hand on Alec’s shoulder and guided him toward the door without looking back.

“Lindsay, Ivan looks really sick. He keeps gasping for air.” Alec’s feeble voice drifted over from the doorway.

“He always gets like this when his allergies flare up. He’ll be fine after taking his pills. Your hand is more important. Come on.”

Bang.

The door slammed shut.

The entire apartment fell deathly silent, broken only by the sound of my ragged breathing echoing through the living room.

With the last of my strength, I pulled open the drawer.

My hand closed around the familiar plastic pill bottle.

It felt too light.

My hands trembled as I opened it. It was completely empty.