Chapter 3
When I woke up again, I was in a hospital bed, a sharp ache throbbing in my forehead.
Sitting on the bed, I recalled the crash—Ashley’s white car had clearly accelerated on purpose, aiming right for the passenger side.
I was still trapped in that memory when Kane walked in.
He stared at my pale face, stayed silent for a few seconds, then asked, “What did the doctor say?”
The nurse opened her mouth, but I cut her off. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
Before, a single line of concern from him would’ve made me happy all day.
Now I only felt numb, and faintly alert.
“Since you’re fine,” he stepped closer, voice turning urgent, “Ashley’s not doing well. She needs blood right away, but the blood bank doesn’t have any Rh-negative.”
He looked at me. “I remember you’re that type.”
My heart sank, no wonder.
“So?” I asked.
“So, you need to donate.” His tone left no room. “Now.”
I almost laughed. “Kane, I’m the one who got hit. And you’re telling me to donate blood for her?”
“You have minor injuries. A little blood won’t kill you!” His volume spiked. “Ashley can’t wait! Besides, weren’t you the one who crashed into her?”
“I didn’t crash into her!” I pushed myself up, staring at him. “Why won’t you check the truth? Why do you get to decide it’s my fault?”
“The truth is you’ve been targeting her.” Kane’s patience snapped. “Ever since she came back, you’ve been making things hard for her. She’s your sister. Your own sister. And now you won’t even save her life?”
Again. “Your sister.”
Every time I showed the slightest frustration, Kane argued with those two words.
As if refusing meant I was evil.
But this time, I was not going to submit.
“Save her life?” I sneered. “How do you even know she’s really sick?”
Kane’s face darkened instantly. “What did you say?”
The door eased open.
Ashley stood there gripping the door frame, pale and swaying like she could topple any second.
“Kane…” Her voice was weak. “Don’t make it hard for Nicole. It’s my body… I’m the useless one…”
“You got out of bed?” Kane rushed to her, his voice turning soft—so soft it made me sick.
Ashley leaned into his arms, tears sliding down silently.
“I just… don’t want you two fighting because of me… It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come back…”
She looked at me. Behind the tearful eyes, something cunning flickered—quick as a blade.
“Nicole, I’m sorry…” she whispered. “Is it… is it only if I die that you’ll finally be satisfied…”
The next second she wrenched herself free and staggered toward the window.
“Ashley!” Kane lunged and grabbed her arm, yanking her back.
She collapsed into him, gasping. “Kane… leave me alone…”
“Don’t say that.” He held her tight.
Then he turned to me, and his eyes were nothing but cold fury.
“Nicole. Are you happy now? Come here. Apologize to Ashley.”
I didn’t move.
Kane strode over and seized my wrist, yanking me up from the bed.
Pain blurred my vision.
“Apologize,” he hissed, glaring down at me. “Right now.”
My wrist hurt. My belly hurt even more.
But neither compared to the dead, barren cold inside my heart.
I looked at Kane and felt so exhausted I couldn’t even summon hate.
“I’m not apologizing,” I said, quiet but steady.
“You—”
“Live or die, that’s your business.” I met his eyes. “I’m not apologizing for her performance.”
A calm male voice cut in from the door: “Let her go.”
Not loud, but the room fell silent all the same.
Several men in black stood at the door, forming a line.
And in the center, a man in a suit stepped in.
David.
CEO of the Smith Group.
And who once pursued me.
