CHAPTER 091: WHO IS JUNE?

JUNE; The hospital hallway felt colder than it should have. Maybe not just from the cold air conditioners humming at the ends of the hallway; I could tell the chill sinking into my skin didn't come from the hallway's temperature. It came from somewhere much deeper. Somewhere beneath my ribs, where guilt had wrapped itself around my heart and refused to let go. I should have given him a listening ear. Ronan was lying on that bed, unconscious, and it's because of me, because I was always running away instead of fixing things. I stood beside the glass door of Ronan's room, my fingers curled around my elbows so tightly that my nails pressed into my skin. Through the narrow glass partition, I could see him, his clipped finger moving at intervals, the only assurance that he was still breathing. White sheets covered him up to his chest, a bandage was wrapped heavily around his forehead, disappearing beneath his dark hair like it was hiding a deadly secret. His face looked unusuall

CHAPTER 092: JOKES AND TENSION

JUNE;“I… I am,” the answer stumbled out. The insides of my palm had grown damp, I rubbed it against the rough denim fabric of my shorts, the ones I had pulled on hurriedly after Mom’s call. “I am June.”“I see,” the older doctor nodded, pushing his glasses up a little. “It would definitely be hard not to recognize such a pretty face even in the worst case of TGA.” The doctor's lips parted softly, I saw what he did there. Our faces looked like the word tension itself, like the world was coming to an end, that man had made a mental note to soften the air just a little. But Mr. Grayson, my stepfather, wasn't having it. He shoved forward fast.“What are you playing at, Dr. Sterling? What's the bloody TGA you're talking about?” He grunted. “That's my son lying in there. And you're…. cracking jokes?” His voice was bouncing off the roof, my face fell to the floor. Doctor Sterling straightened up. “Calm down, Victor. I have been your family doctor for years now, you should…”“Exactly why

CHAPTER 093: THE PLEA

JUNE; I sat quietly on the metal bench in the hallway, my elbows resting on my knees while both palms supported my chin. Every few seconds, another machine beeped from one of the rooms, reminding me that somewhere behind those doors, people were fighting battles no one else could see, my own battle sat heavily inside my chest. Mr. Grayson's words refused to leave my head. They replayed over and over again until I felt as though he was still standing in front of me on that balcony. "I'm not asking you to pretend, June. I'm asking you not to feel anything." How could anyone ask another person to do something like that? Feelings weren't clothes that could simply be taken off and folded away. And to top it all up, he had wanted to get me out of the mansion. Somehow, I made it easier for him. But somewhere within the past few minutes, he stood there at the balcony, pleading that I move back into the mansion, like I was a stone to be rolled in and out of a particular spot. I l

CHAPTER 094: CHOSE TO REMEMBER

JUNE;I sat in the armchair available in the emergency room, the machines beeping steadily around us. Shortly after we arrived at the hospital, Mr. Grayson had gotten a call that required his attention and had hurried off, promising to return back soon. Mom had walked out to the pharmacy too, leaving me alone with the quiet hum of the monitors, and Ronan who had not opened his eyes since we got here. My head rested on my hand, propped up against the wall. I had barely gotten any sleep last night, and this morning we had rushed back here. My eyes felt weak and heavy, begging for rest. I was dozing off while trying to stay awake, my head nearly hitting the side of the bed when his voice reached me.“You should take a nap,” I snapped awake. It was Ronan. He was wide awake, watching me with those familiar eyes. “Not comfortable, but it would help.”My words hitched in my throat, refusing to fully form. The sleep disappeared from my eyes in an instant. Then he groaned, placing his hand t

CHAPTER 095: SLUM GIRL STRIKES BACK

JUNE;I turned to look. Selene stood in the doorway, her hands tightly crossed over her chest, her mouth pouting in irritation. The hallway lights cast sharp shadows on her face, making her look even more annoyed than usual.I scoffed, not wanting to create a scene right there in the hospital. I moved to step past her, but she shifted sideways and blocked the doorway completely, her shoulder bumping lightly against the frame. “I am not done talking to you, slum girl,” she snapped, her voice low but sharp enough to cut.Anger rumbled low in my belly, hot and heavy. I was tired and fed up with her insults. I wouldn’t have her humiliating me here, in this hospital too, after everything that had already happened today.“Look around you, Selene,” I found my voice, taking one firm step forward so I stood right in her face. My shoes squeaked softly on the tiled floor. “This is not your father’s palace, nor Westbridge Uni where you have your cohorts hanging around you. You will watch your nex

CHAPTER 096: HEADLIGHTS AND HOODIES

JUNE;The front porch of the hospital was unusually crowded with people. At first, I had no idea who was who, or what was happening, but Mom’s hands circled mine tightly as she whispered the press into my ear. My eyes went wide. They swarmed around Mr. Grayson, poking microphones and cameras into the air like weapons. Was this what he meant whenever he said the press would attack? They gathered like a swarm of bees, ready to sting.Mom tugged me harder, pulling me like some secret agent toward the cars parked in the lot. I had never experienced anything like this, my feet stumbled on the pavement as I watched the reporters almost lynching my stepdad to death with their questions. Flashes went off nonstop, lighting up the evening like fireworks. We moved fast, weaving between parked cars, it was only safer because Ronan was already in one of the vehicles. The nurses and the driver had helped pull him through before the swarm of reporters arrived.Mom exhaled heavily when we got close