Chapter 74

Stella

I slowly exit the taxi cab and pay the driver, watching as he speeds away. The wind is chilly, cooling down my warm skin during the hot summer’s day. I push some of my hair behind my ear and begin my ascent up the stairs.

The hospital doors slide open and I am greeted by Matteo. He wears his scrubs, ones that are a dark navy color, and his shoes are black. I smile at him and wave.

“Stella,” he greets me, quickly hugging me before pulling away, “I already went over her patient file like you asked. Are you sure you want to go to her room and confront her about this?”

“Yes,” I nod, “I have to. She deserves to be exposed as the fraud she is.”

Matteo and I walk down the hallway. We bypass the front desk, the two of us giving a wave to the nurses as we pass by, and make our way to the elevator. We step inside and listen to the music.

I am just so grateful — and very lucky — that Matteo works at the same hospital that Clara was taken to. Well, the same hospital that she took herself to. If it was any other hospital, we probably would have gotten into some trouble with patient and doctor confidentiality and we would have been kicked out before we could expose her for what she is.

“The file said that she has primary pulmonary hypertension, PPH for short, and that it is was stemmed off from taking the wrong medication. Dr. Jones oversaw her intake and patient care but he has always been one of the…lesser respected doctors here,” Matteo fills me in as much as he can before the elevator doors open once again.

We walk out and take our time in walking down the hallway. The floor is less busy than it was on the first floor, seeing how I came through the emergency room rather than the regular entrance. We thought it would be best if nobody saw us coming.

“So, I am going to confront Clara while you inspect her body for any signs of the…whatever it is you called it.”

“Primary pulmonary hypertension,” Matteo mumbles under his breath.

“Yes, that,” I chuckle and nudge his elbow, getting a smile out of him, “and then we’ll see if she truly is lying or not.”

Matteo nods. We approach Clara’s door and I hesitate to push through. Matteo places his hand on my shoulder and gives me a single nod, giving me the motivation I need to push through.

Clara gasps as soon as she sees us. I stop by the edge of the bed with Matteo standing behind me. I cross my arms over my chest, my lips pressed into a thin line.

Adrian stands from a chair beside Clara but I ignore him, training my gaze onto hers.

“Clara,” I begin, “give up the act. You are not sick.”

“What are you talking about? Of course I am!” Clara speaks through fake coughs. She puts a hand to her chest and looks at me.

“No, you aren’t,” I turn to Matteo and nod.

My brother leaves my side and approaches Clara, ignoring both her and Adrian’s comments for him to stop. He waves them away, showing his doctor ID badge and continuing.

“What are you doing?!” Clara screeches.

“I am here to prove that you are a liar and a fraud,” I calmly say.

“You did this to me, Stella! You were the one who changed my mediation and made me sick!” Clara continues, turning to look up at Adrian.

She reaches out for his hand and I have to pretend like the sight doesn’t sting or make me feel jealous. I have to remind myself that he is no longer mine and I am no longer his. I need to get over it and him.

“It is impossible for me to have done something to you, Clara. We have not seen each other since you barged in on Adrian and I’s vacation at the resort,” I inform her with calculated ease.

Matto moves the blanket away from her feet and she squeals, drawing her legs to her chest. My brother turns to look at me and gives me a slight nod, making his way back over to me.

“Dr. Matteo,” I turn to look at him, hiding back the smug smirk that threatens to leave my face, “what is your conclusion?”

“Well, Clara and Dr. Jones are lying about her illness. She does not have primary pulmonary hypertension. Her file shows that she has taken multiple exams such as CT scans of her lungs and even echocardiograms of her heart. She also lacks the physical traits of PPH such as blue lips and swollen ankles.”

Matteo’s diagnosis makes the room fall silent. I quietly thank him and turn back to the room, staring at Clara and Adrian’s shocked faces.

“See? Lying,” I don’t look at Adrian but I speak to him directly.

“Adrian…” Clara begins, turning to him in the bed, “please understand why I had to do this. She has left me no choice! She was taking you away from me! I could not let that happen! I love you so much!”

Adrian does not respond. He does not look at Clara and instead looks at me. From my peripheral vision, I can see Adrian’s facial expression so clearly.

It reeks of betrayal and desperation. He is hurt by the revelation, and rightfully so, and even holds an underlying hint of anger.

“Adrian? Can you please talk to me…do not shut me out. You know that I have always been jealous of your relationship with her,” Clara continues to speak but her words fall onto deaf ears.

I suck in a breath and glance at Matteo, who simply rests his hand on the middle of my back and guides me out of the hospital room. I simply cannot listen to any of the sad and lame excuses that she has to give.

If Adrian wants to convince himself that Clara meant well and that her so called ‘jealous’ actions can be forgiven, then so be it. It has absolutely nothing to do with me anymore.

I walk out of the hospital, saying my quick goodbye to Matteo and making dinner plans with him for one of these nights, and suck in a deep breath of fresh air.

Somehow, after doing this, I feel lighter. Better. I feel as if I can take on the world on my own with nobody else’s help.

I am done with Adrian. I am most certainly done with Clara and I do not even have the time or energy to put into them and their exhausting antics anymore.

And you know what? They deserve each other.

If Adrian wants to take care of someone so desperately, he can take care of Clara. She clearly needs the attention more than I do and can use the constant babying that he put me through when I was at a low point.

They can continue the toxicity of their relationship and leave me out of it. I do not wish to be apart of their drama and antics anymore.

After today, I will officially begin to separate myself from them once and for all.