Chapter 3

Tyler was awakened by the pain. The smell of disinfectant filled his nostrils, and the bright light above him hurt his eyes. He instinctively tried to block the light with his hand, but it tugged at the IV drip needle at the back of his hand, and he hissed in pain.

"You're finally awake." The nurse changing his bandage was relieved when she saw his eyes open. "Who hated you enough to smash two bottles on your head? You had more than 30 stitches."

Tyler touched the bandage around his head and asked hoarsely, "Who brought me to the hospital?"

"Your buddy. He stayed by your side the entire night but had to leave because he had to work. He said to inform you that he hired a nurse's aide to take care of you."

Tyler was dazed for a moment. Josie was not the one who had brought him to the hospital. Where was she now?

He reached for his phone, and when he touched the screen, a notification popped up. Shane had updated his social media.

[Josie always knows how to cheer me up.]

The caption was accompanied by a video of Shane reaching his hand out to Josie and complaining, "Look, Josie. My index finger was scratched from smashing the bottles."

As the camera turned, it revealed Josie crouched in front of him. Her slender fingers were carefully sticking the band-aid around on his fingertip. After it was done, she lowered her head to kiss his finger and said in a hoarse voice. "See, it doesn't hurt anymore."

Tyler stared at the video, suddenly feeling like his head wound had just been ripped open and someone poured alcohol into it. It hurt so much that he could feel tingling in his fingers. He took a deep breath and dialed 911.

"Hello, I'd like to make a police report."

…

That night, Josie came to the hospital room. She was wearing a black windbreaker and had a cold look on her face. She was trying her best to hold back her anger. "Did you call the police? Are you pressing charges against Shane for assault and battery?"

"Yes, I did." Tyler looked straight into her eyes. "What he did was enough to open a case."

Josie's voice lowered, and a worried look appeared in her eyes. "It was wrong of him to attack you so brashly, but I've already punished him. This is all in the past."

"Punish him?" Tyler sniggered. "How did you punish him?"

"He's unpredictable, so I grounded him for one day."

Tyler was taken aback, but soon laughed so hard that it hurt his wounds. "I have more than 30 stitches on my head, and all you did was ground him for a day? Did you ground him to punish him, or were you afraid that I would give him trouble, and you're trying to protect him?"

The look in her eyes darkened. "What are you talking about? I'm punishing him, of course. I've withdrawn the police report. Don't think about making the report at other stations because no police station in Capnorth will take up this case."

Tyler stared at his bed covers as his fingers dug into his palms. He had a million things to say, but only one sentence was squeezed out of him. "I've been running circles around you for six years, Josie. What do you really take me for? If you never cared for me, why did you marry me?"

Josie frowned. "Who says I don't care about you?"

She paused before continuing, "All right, that's enough. This stops now. I'll be taking care of you at the hospital for the next few days. I'll make it up to you after you're discharged, so stop making a scene."

She made it sound like she had just bestowed something great upon Tyler, and he suddenly found it quite ridiculous.

Tyler probably should have expected this when he was the one who courted her, told her he loved her, said he wanted to be together, and let her know that he wanted to sleep with her…

Josie had never taken the initiative. Now that she was willing to take care of him in the hospital, what else could it be but a great thing bestowed upon Tyler?