It wasn't until later, after I'd done some digging, that I learned the truth. Elliot had deliberately gotten intimate with Gladys right outside my mother's hospital room. The shock was too much for her. She spiraled into severe depression.
Already frail and not wanting to be a burden on me, she jumped from the roof of the hospital.
I let out a quiet breath, my jaw clenched so tight my teeth ached.
"Gladys Fox, you'd better pray my phone can be repaired."
"It's just a phone. You think I can't afford to pay you back for it?"
Elliot frowned at my fixation. "Are you looking down on me? If you hadn't leaked those secrets and bankrupted me, I'd probably be the richest man in the city by now!"
I scoffed. Leaked secrets? Back then, what I'd wanted to do was kill him.
"What's that look supposed to mean?"
Gladys sensed the shift in my mood and immediately stepped in front of Elliot, shielding him.
"Elliot, don't be scared. Worst case, I'll take another hit for you. I'm not afraid of anything."
Elliot stroked her hair tenderly and pulled her behind him.
Then he strode forward and wrapped his hand around my throat.
"Imogen, I was careless before, and you got the better of me. Let's make a little bet. Think you'll die by my hand today?"
I reacted fast, pulling a short blade from my sleeve and slashing toward him. He dodged it with surprising agility.
But before I could recover, something slammed into the back of my skull. Gladys. A vase.
Blood seeped down from my forehead, warm and thick. I forced myself upright. I would not bow my head in front of these two.
"I knew you'd try something. Imogen, I'm not letting you off easy today!"
Elliot seized a fistful of my hair and hurled me sideways. My body cracked against the wall.
Just before everything went dark, I heard his voice.
"Imogen! Are you alright?"
Thank God.
I closed my eyes.
You finally came.
