On the other side of the phone came a contemptuous laugh. Then the staff spoke with disdain.
“Ma’am, Sir Bryson is Miss Debbii’s boyfriend. You call him your husband? If that were true, why didn’t he pay on your behalf yesterday? Please don’t insert yourself where you don’t belong. Just come and settle the bill right away. Otherwise, your mom’s life cannot be guaranteed.”
When I heard that, my hand trembled so violently I nearly dropped the phone.
Just as I was about to rush out the door, Bryson appeared at the entrance, his body covered with red marks.
The breeze that swept in carried with it the sickly sweet scent of Debbii’s perfume clinging to him. My stomach lurched; I nearly retched.
“Where are you going?” he asked, pausing mid-step when he saw my pale face. For a brief moment, something like concern flickered in his eyes.
“Why are you so pale? Are you feeling unwell?” he pressed, reaching out a hand toward me.
With a blank expression, I avoided his touch. My voice rasped, raw from the night, as I asked, “You didn’t pay for my mom’s hospital bills yesterday?”
For a split second, shock crossed his face.
But almost immediately, a soft and delicate voice drifted from behind him.
“Hedy, don’t blame Bryson. Maybe the hospital staff made a mistake.”
Debbii leaned against him sweetly, her tone dripping with false gentleness.
Her eyes, however, sparkled with provocation as they met mine.
And in that instant, everything became clear to me.
Hedy’s POV
“It’s you! You’re the one who tried to kill my mom!”
I couldn’t hold it in any longer. My hand flew toward Debbii’s face in a slap.
A glint of calculation flickered in her eyes. Before my palm could reach her, Bryson’s hand clamped down hard on my wrist and yanked me back.
His gaze was like ice as it bore into me.
“Enough!” he snapped. “I’ve explained this to you already—none of what happened before was Debbii’s fault! This time, it was also the hospital staff who made the mistake. Why are you blaming her for everything? And now, you’re striking her? Have you completely lost your damn mind, Hedy?!”
With that, he shoved me away.
I stumbled and fell hard onto the floor. Pain shot up my body, my face draining of color.
But he didn’t even glance at me.
“Apologize to Debbii!” he demanded.
I gritted my teeth and forced myself up despite the pain, glaring at him stubbornly.