When I finally came to, I found myself staring blankly at the ceiling of a hospital room.
Mom used to warn me, saying Alexis was complicated, and that being with him would only bring pain.
But when he stayed behind to recover, he was gentle and attentive.
When I got bored keeping vigil at the grave, he’d tell me funny stories to make me laugh. That’s when I started falling for him.
Later, he blamed me for keeping him from returning to the capital, making him miss seeing Janice before she got married.
But if he had left back then, his enemies would’ve killed him on the road.
Honestly, Janice didn’t have to marry anyone. She only rushed into another man’s arms because she thought Alexis was dead.
And Alexis knew that. He just didn’t want to believe it.
So instead, he blamed me.
Now that Janice was back, I guess it was time for me to step aside.
The door then creaked open and I thought it was Alexis, so I instinctively looked up, but it was Roy.
“Ma’am,” he said, “the spiritualist said that all those years you spent near the graves… the dark energy clinging to you is making Miss Brewer even sicker.”
“So, Mr. Stanley wants you to go to the church and pray for her recovery. The car’s already waiting out front.”
I still held onto hope that maybe, just maybe, he’d show me some shred of concern. But clearly, I was just fooling myself.
I tried to sit up, but Maggie stepped in front of me.
“Ma’am, please—you can’t just get up like this. The doctor said you need rest. You’re still healing.”
I shook my head.
“I’ll be fine. Let’s go.”
Once Alexis made up his mind, there was no point arguing. Fighting back only left me more bruised.
Outside the hospital, two cars waited. I walked automatically toward Alexis’s.
But as I reached for the door, the window rolled down, and his cold, expressionless face looked back at me.
“Halle, take the other car.”
Then Janice peeked out from his arms, her voice trembling. “Alexis… please, tell Miss Halle to stay away. Just being near her makes my heart hurt. I can barely breathe…”
Quickly, he turned to me sharply. “Didn’t you hear her? Leave! Now!”
I lowered my head and slowly made my way to the second car, careful not to strain the wound on my stomach.
Behind me, I heard him scoff.
“Still playing the pitiful victim? Who are you trying to fool this time?”
My steps faltered. His words cut deeper than the wound ever could.