I Walked Away, Now He's Begging

Chapter 4 Life on the Line

Nina

I rushed forward as Elena collapsed, forcing concern onto my face as I knelt beside her. "Oh my god! Elena! Someone call a doctor!"

Perfect timing, I thought, stealing a glance at Adrian's shocked face. He's actually worried about her. This could be a problem.

Adrian stepped toward Elena's unconscious body, real panic flashing in his eyes for the first time today. My satisfaction wavered. I couldn't let him follow her now.

Just then, the medics arrived. I needed to find a way to get Adrian away.

"Adrian," I grabbed his arm, letting my voice tremble with fake weakness. "Don't worry, the doctors will take good care of her. I... I still feel so dizzy. Can you take me to see a doctor too?"

Adrian hesitated, looking between Elena's unconscious form and my face. I tightened my grip on his sleeve.

"Please," I whispered, letting my voice break slightly. "I'm so scared... what if I collapse too?"

Elena

Through my fever and pain, I felt strong arms lifting me onto a stretcher. The ceiling lights blurred past as voices shouted medical terms around me.

In my fading consciousness, I saw Adrian looking at me with what seemed like worry. For one brief moment, I thought he might actually follow me to the emergency room.

But then Nina's hand tugged at his sleeve, and I watched him turn away. Even now, when I might be dying, he still chose her.

Of course he did.

The emergency room turned chaotic around me. Nurses cut away my sweat-soaked clothes while doctors shouted orders.

"Patient has a fever of 102.5°F, low blood pressure, and severe stomach pain," the doctor announced. "This isn't just the flu."

Pain shot through my body, but my mind kept replaying Adrian walking away with Nina. Had he wanted to follow me? Was I just seeing things that weren't there?

"Miss Sterling," the doctor's voice cut through my thoughts. "You have appendicitis, not just the flu. We need to operate right now, or you could die."

Great. I thought bitterly. My life is falling apart, and now my body is giving up too.

The anesthesiologist came with his needle. "Count backwards from ten, Elena."

"Ten... nine... eight..."

Maybe when I wake up, this nightmare will be over.

I didn’t know how much time had passed. When I woke up, I felt like I was coming up from deep water. The first thing I saw was Grace Harrison sitting in the chair next to my bed, her usually perfect makeup smudged and her designer blazer wrinkled.

Grace. My only real friend in this whole damn city.

"Thank God, you're awake." She looked relieved but pissed off. "I was scared out of my mind..." Then her face changed. "But seriously, what the hell is wrong with you? You got so upset over some guy that you didn't even notice your appendix was about to explode?"

"Grace..." My voice sounded like sandpaper. "How did you—"

"Your mom called me freaking out." Grace grabbed my hand. "She said she got so upset about your wedding disaster that she's sick in bed too. The hospital called her since she's your emergency contact, so she begged me to come check on you."

Guilt crashed over me like a wave. Mom was sick because of me? Because I'd been so obsessed with Adrian that I couldn't see what was happening to my own life?

I've been such an i***t. My stupid love-sick brain didn't just hurt me—it's hurting the people who actually care about me.

Grace's voice got sharp and angry. "And you know what I found when I got here? Nina Whitmore is in the room right next door, also 'hospitalized' for some bullshit allergy attack. Elena, this b***h is completely insane—she's willing to risk her own life just to screw with you."

"I never gave her any cookies..." I tried to defend myself, my voice barely a whisper.

Grace saw my struggling voice and stood up. "Let me get you some water." But as she walked toward the door, she suddenly stopped. "What are you doing here, Adrian?"

I turned my head toward the doorway. Adrian was standing there, looking concerned but hesitant. He seemed like he wanted to come in but wasn't sure if he should.

"Nina's in the room next door," he said quietly. "I was just passing by and..."

Grace's voice was ice cold. "Oh, how convenient. Dump your fiancée to babysit some manipulative b***h who'll do anything to get attention."

"Don't you dare talk about Nina like that!" Adrian's face went red with anger. "She's been through hell, and she needed someone! She almost died!"

"Oh, Nina's suffering?" Grace's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Is it worse than Elena getting bruises on her arm from the man she loves, then collapsing from fever and appendicitis after being emotionally destroyed by her own fiancé? You're really such a master at playing both sides, Adrian~"

"That was an accident! Elena was being dramatic about the whole thing!"

The words hit me like a slap. Even now, lying here after surgery, he still thought I was being dramatic.

"Dramatic?" Grace's voice rose dangerously. "You're pathetic, Adrian. Absolutely f*****g pathetic."

"Stop it." The words came out of my throat like broken glass. "Both of you. Just... stop."

Adrian looked at me then, really looked. His face was still flushed with anger, but I could see something else underneath—worry, confusion, and maybe even guilt.

He seemed like he wanted to say something, but he didn't. He just stood there for a moment, then turned around and walked away.

Grace sat back down, still shaking with anger. "Elena, listen to me. Even if you forgive him this time, what about next time? Nina's always going to find new ways to get his attention. And you're always going to be the one who gets hurt."

I closed my eyes, feeling tears slip down my cheeks.

She's right. This will never end. There will always be a next time.

For the first time since this whole mess started, I realized I didn't want there to be a next time.

Just then, a nurse knocked on the door. "Miss Sterling? This came for you."

She handed me an elegant cream envelope with my name written in beautiful handwriting. The paper felt expensive, and I recognized the Blake family crest in the corner.

My heart sank. What I'd been most worried about was finally happening. Was Victoria coming to settle accounts with me?