He Betrays Me, So I Take Revenge

Chapter 8

After reading so many such messages, the ache in Samantha's heart had lessened significantly.

Perhaps this was numbness.

Samantha quietly completed her tests and returned to the hospital room.

It wasn't until evening that Archer finally appeared.

He looked apologetic. "Sorry, I didn't expect it to take this long. Are the results back?"

"Mhm."

Only when he drew near did Samantha detect the foreign perfume clinging to him, not her own.

Lifting her gaze, she spotted the suspicious red mark on his neck.

She asked, "What's this?"

Archer stiffened, images of his entanglement with Jessica flashing through his mind.

He hastily yanked up his collar. "Just smudged some inkpad by accident."

The lie was so flimsy that it wasn't even worth calling out.

Samantha's piercing stare pinned him down, making him squirm.

Just as Archer opened his mouth to explain further, she lowered her eyes.

She said, "I can be discharged tomorrow."

Archer asked, "Really? Did the doctor say you're all clear?"

Samantha nodded, then looked at her pallid hand. Her wrist was limp, her fingers trembling uncontrollably.

The nerve damage was permanent.

She'd never lift heavy objects again.

She couldn't even sketch lines as she intended.

Nothing could be more crushing than this.

Trouble never came alone.

After discharge, the temporary aide caring for Willow departed too.

That very night, Samantha noticed something amiss.

Willow's regular medication seemed to be missing.

Samantha asked anxiously, "Mom, have you skipped your medicine these past days?"

Willow hesitated, then produced the bottle from the nightstand. "I've been taking it."

Samantha peered closely. Then all color drained from her face.

The pills had been swapped with vitamins!

It meant Willow hadn't taken her medication at all.

At that moment, Willow began hacking violently.

With a retching sound, Willow vomited.

There in the mess lay a stark, bright red.

Samantha's pupils constricted as she watched Willow collapse. "Mom!"

She screamed and threw herself forward, knees hitting the floor hard. Yet she felt no pain.

Trembling, Samantha checked for Willow's breath.

'Thank Goodness, She's still breathing. Hospital! Yes! She'll be fine at the hospital!'

Samantha's thoughts were in chaos, utterly lost about what to do.

Outside, a fierce wind roared, signaling an approaching storm.

In such terrible weather, even an ambulance would have trouble arriving quickly.

She pinched herself hard; She knew it was not the time to panic.

"Hello? Archer! Help me!"

Archer lived nearby and arrived within two minutes of receiving the call.

Seeing Samantha kneeling on the ground, her face filled with helplessness, even Archer, usually composed, showed signs of panic.

Yet he did his utmost to comfort her. "Babe, don't be afraid. Willow is going to be okay! We're heading to the hospital right away!"

Archer gathered Willow in his arms and rushed out, as Samantha stumbled after him.

The sturdy outline of his back inexplicably gave her a brief sense of security.

Yet this reassurance didn't last long.

When they were halfway to the hospital, Archer's phone rang, and he answered it.

Samantha clearly heard the familiar voice on the other end.

It was Jessica's voice.

Archer braked sharply, pulling over.

In the darkness, his face contorted with conflict, hesitation, and anguish.

He said, "Babe... I can't take you to the hospital..."