019

ROSE

“Coming from you?” He raised a brow at me and walked towards the bed.

I scoffed weakly. “Well, excuse me for having personality.”

He stopped beside me and crossed his arms. His towering frame made the hospital bed feel even smaller.

“How did you even manage to set an entire kitchen on fire while boiling oil?” His tone was calm…too calm. Deadly calm.

He was calm and it made me nervous. He didn't scold me?

I almost burned down his house. In my defense, I was on call and doing rubbish while at it.

I glared at him. “I wasn’t boiling oil. I was frying prawns.”

“That makes it better?”

“It was an accident,” I muttered defensively. “I didn’t plan on flambéing myself.”

His jaw clenched like he was stopping himself from saying something harsher. “You could have died.”

“Then good thing I didn’t,” I shot back.

The silence that loomed over after I said that was very uncomfortable.

The beeping beside me suddenly felt too loud and I felt the urge to block my ears.

His eyes moved to my bandaged hand, then to the bruise on my forehead. His expression shifted barely, but enough for me to catch it.

It was a concern but he quickly masked it off with his poker face.

He reached forward, fixing the slightly tilted pillow behind me. His hand brushed my hair accidentally.

My stupid heart skipped.

Forced proximity should be illegal in hospitals.

“You’re reckless,” he said quietly.

“You’re bossy.”

“You almost killed yourself in my house.”

“I wasn’t trying to die!”

His gaze darkened. “Then stop acting like you don’t matter.”

I froze.

He must have realized what he said, because he straightened abruptly. “Just… don’t do anything stupid again.”

“That’s rich coming from you,” I muttered.

No response.

He stood up after adjusting the drop. He turned to leave.

He didn’t look back.

Typical Derek.

Good. I didn’t need him to.

…Except maybe I wanted him to.

The door clicked shut, and the room felt too empty.

I exhaled shakily. “Well. That was productive.”

Barely thirty seconds passed before the door opened again.

I assumed it was my mom or Elodie.

It wasn’t.

Jennifer walked in first, followed by Lauren.

Great.

“What do you want?” I asked flatly.

Jennifer offered a fake smile. “Just checking on you.”

“Touched,” I deadpanned.

She stepped closer to the bed, pretending to admire the IV drip. “You know, when I heard about the fire, I actually thought, finally.”

I blinked slowly. “Finally… what?”

“That you’d stop being a problem,” she said sweetly.

Lauren leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. Watching and smirking like a maniac.

Jennifer’s voice lowered. “Honestly? I wish you stayed unconscious. At least Derek wouldn’t have to deal with you again.”

Anger burned in my chest, but my body was too weak to keep up with it.

“You’re sick,” I muttered.

“Oh, spare me.” She rolled her eyes. “You walk into that house and suddenly everyone is revolving around you. News headlines, scandals…he had a peaceful life before you.”

“I didn’t ask for any of that,” I snapped.

Lauren stepped forward. “Shut up.”

I stalled, shocked at how easily she said it.

Jennifer continued, emboldened. “You know what I find funny? You failed at even burning down a kitchen properly. If you’re going to cause chaos, at least finish the job.”

I clenched my fists. “You want the house burned down? Do it yourself, coward.”

Her eyes flashed. “Maybe I will.”

I was trembling, not from fear, but restraint. I wanted to rip the IV out and slap her with it.

But my body wouldn’t move fast enough.

She leaned closer. “You don’t belong there. You never will. Derek only married you out of pity.”

I held her gaze, refusing to let my tears win.

“You finished?” I whispered.

She smirked. “Not even close—”

The door flew open.

Elodie.

She didn’t even hesitate.

She took one look at Jennifer looming over me, Lauren smirking and understood everything instantly.

“Oh, perfect,” Jennifer scoffed. “The stray dog is back.”

Wrong move.

Elodie’s expression didn’t change.

She walked calmly toward Jennifer…

…grabbed a fistful of her silky hair…

…and yanked.

“AHHH! WHAT THE HELL—LET GO!”

Elodie didn’t.

She dragged Jennifer toward the door while Jennifer flailed like she was being kidnapped by a ghost.

Lauren froze, stunned.

“Touch her again and I’ll shave your head next,” Elodie spat.

I couldn’t help it.

I smiled.

Jennifer’s screams echoed through the hallway, Elodie’s grip unrelenting.

Lauren looked at me wide-eyed.

For once…

She had nothing to say.

The hallway went quiet after Elodie’s dramatic exit with Jennifer screeching like a banshee in custody. A nurse peeked in, saw Lauren frozen like a malfunctioning mannequin, and wisely backed away.

It didn't take long and Lauren left too.

Elodie returned a minute later, brushing her hands together like she just took out the trash.

“Please tell me you recorded that,” I murmured.

“I was too busy committing assault,” she replied casually, pulling a chair beside my bed. “Now. Talk. Is that how they’ve been treating you?”

I hesitated, but her stare burned like a lie detector.

“…Yes,” I admitted quietly. “Except Derek. And his mom, Avery. They’ve been… tolerable.”

“Tolerable?” She scoffed. “Those hyenas wouldn’t dare try it again. I’ll flatten them until their ancestors feel it.”

I snorted. “You’re so violent. I love it.”

She leaned forward, suddenly softer. “You’re not alone anymore, okay?”

For the first time since I woke up here…I felt it.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

Silence lingered comfortably for a moment before she added, “By the way, your mom’s not in the room because she’s in the doctor’s office. With Avery. And Derek.”

I blinked.

“…All three of them?”

“Yep. Probably discussing medical stuff. Or planning your funeral. Who knows?”

A smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it.

So… he didn’t leave after all.

He stayed.

Not because he had to.

But because he wanted to.

The beeping beside me remained steady, but my heartbeat didn’t.

Elodie noticed my stupid smile and squinted. “…Don’t get ideas.”

“I’m not,” I lied.

“You are.”

“Maybe.”

She sighed dramatically. “Fine. Heal first. Then we’ll torment him emotionally.”

I grinned wider.