Chapter 3

I offered a desolate and sorrowful smile that sent a visible chill down Kael's spine.

"Iris, what's wrong? What are you laughing at?"

I shook my head, my voice heavy with exhaustion, "Nothing. Just go. I want to rest."

My unnatural calmness made Kael vaguely uneasy, yet he still did as he was told. Driven by guilt, Kael personally took care of everything. He was fetching medicine and listening to the physician’s instructions, and even insisting on taking me home himself, despite the urgent family matters waiting for him.

After Kael wheeled me back into the bedroom, exhaustion quickly dragged me into a deep slumber. I didn't know how much time had passed when a sharp, piercing pain jolted me awake. I opened my eyes to see Luna's face hovering above mine, a bizarre smile playing on her lips.

My hands and feet were bound. The gauze on my forehead had fallen off. I found a long surgical needle was being driven into my body.

"What are you doing?"

"Wake up?" Luna said softly, and then pushed the needle half an inch deeper with a sickening crunch.

"Don't move around, okay? I'm stitching up your wounds. You're so badly injured. You need to recover properly."

I felt a spasm of agony, trying to struggle, but Luna had my limbs tied down tight.

"Let me go!" I hissed through gritted teeth.

"How can I do that?" Luna sneered. "Iris. You said I was hired specifically to take care of you. What I’m doing now is my duty."

The piercing pain came in waves. My arms, torso, and even my neck, were all punctured and bloody. Finally seeming satisfied, Luna stood up and wiped the blood off her hands. She took a piece of painkiller, pried open my mouth, and shoved it in. Then, humming a cheerful tune, she left.

Hearing the door click shut, I let out a ragged sigh of relief. Just when I thought Luna's torture was finally over, the painkiller box carelessly tossed on the floor caught my eye. It was Aspirin, the very drug I was severely allergic to.

Almost instantly, my throat began to tighten. My breathing grew difficult, my chest feeling as if it were being crushed by a boulder. Every breath required every ounce of my strength. I tried to crawl out for help, but no one responded.

The last trace of color almost drained from my pale face. I could only muster all my remaining strength to cry out, "Help…Kael…help…help me."

My voice grew fainter, my throat gradually swelling until I rendered mute. My consciousness began to blur, and I had to stop trying to crawl outward. I felt my body getting lighter, as if my soul was about to detach from this broken body. I thought I was going to die right then and there. And I did.

When consciousness returned, I heard the doctor talking about my conditions with Kael. I realized I had been rushed to the hospital at the very last moment. If help had arrived just a few minutes later, I would have died.

Kael merely sighed. Seeing the doctor out, he turned his head and said, "Are you satisfied now?"

I thought Kael was talking to me. I was about to open her eyes when Luna’s voice sounded in my ears and freezing me in place. I could almost hear the sound of something precious shattering in my heart.

"Mhm! I'm not angry anymore, Kael." Her sickeningly sweet voice cooed.

"Are you feeling better now, Luna? Don't be like this. It's not good for our baby.”

"Iris is fine…so can you go shopping with this afternoon? I want to buy some clothes for the baby."

"But today…" Kael hesitated, words catching in his throat.

I knew what he was struggling with. Today was our fifth wedding anniversary. Yet, his silence stretched on, agonizing moment before Kael finally wrapped his arm around Luna's shoulders.

"Alright, I'll go with you." They left, leaving me alone in the ward.

A familiar and chilling flash of light filled the ward. I opened my eyes and saw Elowen.

"I'm here to take you back."

I nodded and struggled to sit up. Then, Elowe gently drew my soul from my body. I knew what was left with my corpse was nothing but the love I had held for Kael over the past five years. My soul followed Elowe toward the door, and I took one last look at the dead body left on the bed.

At that exact moment, the vital signs on the monitor suddenly turned into a straight line.