"Meredith, you misunderstood. I'm doing this for you—if he finds out after he's recovered, he might get triggered again. Better he's here in the hospital where they can treat him right away, isn't that safer?" Her coquettish tone was like a knife that pierced through me.
"Shut up!" I snapped.
Doctors and nurses rushed in, checked my brother, and spoke gravely. "The patient is in critical condition. We recommend a heart transplant within three days—otherwise it's very dangerous."
As they hurried him back to the ICU, my heart dropped into an even darker place. Hillary blinked, feigning concern. "Oh dear, did I say the wrong thing? Wouldn't that mean your family... might have to hold two funerals in a row?"
I whirled around and reached to slap her, but before it could land, my hand was yanked and held tight from behind.
"Hillary isn't a doctor—she doesn't know how to talk to patients. All she ever does is act; If you can't help with your hands, then use your head!" Tristan's voice landed like ice.
"Tristan, I should've listened to you and not run around... I made Meredith angry again." Hillary instantly put on a frightened act and hid behind Tristan.
As she glanced at me, I caught a flash of satisfied mockery in her eyes. I wrenched Tristan's hand off and faced him.
"Do you remember the vows at our wedding?" I pressed.
His arm around Hillary stiffened imperceptibly.
"You promised to protect me and my family forever—to keep us safe. But you're the one who hit me, and you let Hillary hurt my family. Tristan—are your promises worth so little?"
Panic flickered in his eyes, but Hillary cut in before he could answer. "Meredith, don't blame Tristan. It's all my fault... If you want someone to vent on, come at me."
On hearing that, Tristan pulled her even closer. When he looked at me, his expression had smoothed back to calm. "Meredith, I know you've been through a lot and you need to vent. I understand—but don't involve Hillary."
His voice was firm, and it was no longer meant for me.
The man who once sheltered me now shielded another woman without hesitation. A sharp, hot pain stabbed my chest. Watching their exchanged looks of concern, I felt disgusted and betrayed.
"Don't think one or two soft words will silence me," I said through clenched teeth. "I'm not a saint—when I was stabbed, I won't say it's okay."