Chapter 3
The icy rain pelted Julieta mercilessly, but her whole body burned with fever, making it impossible for her to even open her eyes.
Just when she thought she was about to die, Emerson's voice suddenly cut through the storm. "Julieta!"
With a fever of 104°F, Julieta was rushed to the hospital.
Groggily waking up in the middle of the night, Julieta saw Emerson sitting by her bedside, gently massaging her legs, his eyes full of guilt and remorse.
By the time she was fully awake, two days had already passed.
When Emerson saw her open her eyes, he rushed to get the doctor. After making sure she was out of danger, he finally let out a long breath. "Your fever's gone. Is there any part that still hurts?
"I know I messed up a couple of days ago. I wanted you to take some time to reflect. I never meant to keep you locked up for so long. Even when Lilian suddenly said she wasn't feeling well—"
"You don't have to explain, it doesn't matter to me," Julieta interrupted him, her voice raspy. "I'm okay now. If you have things to do, you can leave."
Emerson was caught off guard. Julieta used to whine and seek his attention over the tiniest aches and pains, but now, after nearly ending up in the ICU, she stayed silent.
This was what he'd always wanted, but now that she'd really become like this, he felt an unexpected ache in his heart.
He was about to say he wasn't busy when his phone rang again. He glanced at the screen and saw it was Lilian, so he hurriedly answered.
As soon as Emerson left, the nurse came in and, seeing how pale Julieta was, gave her a piece of her mind. "You really don't care about yourself, do you?
"You had a miscarriage less than a month ago, didn't even take any time to rest, and now you've been out in the rain and burning up with a fever. If they hadn't gotten you here fast, you might not have made it!"
The sudden concern stunned Julieta. It was the first time anyone had shown her any real care lately.
"That car accident and miscarriage left some serious damage to your body—" the nurse said, as the door opened again.
"What serious damage?" Emerson walked back in. "Julieta, are you feeling any discomfort? Should I arrange a full examination for you?"
Julieta composed herself, shook her head at the nurse, and said in a calm voice, "No need. Once the drip is finished, I can be discharged."
This time, Emerson didn't leave. He stayed with Julieta through the entire IV drip, only heading back together once it was done.
Once Julieta got home, she headed straight upstairs to rest. She hadn't been asleep for long before the sound of hushed voices and people rummaging through things woke her up.
"Emerson, that ring is really important to me. I have to find it," Lilian said, her voice trembling.
"I'm not saying Julieta took it. It's just that the ring was your proposal gift to me, and she's still hung up on what happened between us..." Lilian continued softly.
Before she even finished speaking, Lilian suddenly burst into tears, each drop rolling down her cheeks, making her look so pitiful and helpless.
Emerson couldn't help but feel moved and kept searching.
Emerson didn't flinch when Julieta woke up. He said, "If you didn't take it, there's nothing to worry about."
Lilian rummaged through the closet, the nightstand, and even looked under the bed, and finally, she was about to search Julieta's bed too.
With a furrowed brow, Julieta swatted Lilian's hand aside. It was barely a touch, but Lilian acted as if she'd been struck, letting out a shriek and toppling backward.
Emerson rushed over as if someone had pressed his buttons, pushing Julieta away. "Julieta, if you didn't steal anything, what are you so afraid of?
"Wasn't poisoning me enough for you? Now you're going to hit her right in front of me?"
Emerson pushed hard, and Julieta had no defense. She was slammed into the cabinet, and the photo she'd treasured for five years by her bedside fell with her, shattered, glass splintering everywhere.
Julieta stared at her hands, blood dripping from her palms, her face frozen in shock.
Emerson's words echoed in her head, each one twisting like a knife in her chest.
He bent down to help her up, but Julieta was faster. Ignoring the shards digging into her skin, she scooped up the broken photo and dropped it straight into the trash.
"Julieta, what the hell are you doing?" Emerson snapped. "You can't throw a fit like this. That photo meant everything to you! Why would you toss it?"
"God, you're so dramatic!" He reached into the trash, brushed off the glass and dust, and set the photo back on the nightstand.
He opened his mouth to say more, but Julieta stared at him with that hollow, indifferent look, not even flinching at the blood seeping through her fingers. For some reason, it made his chest tighten.
A knock at the door broke the silence. The maid said she'd found a few pieces of jewelry scattered in the yard. She wasn't sure if they belonged to Lilian.
Emerson and Lilian exchanged a look, both visibly uncomfortable.
"Is that enough?" Julieta swallowed the bitterness rising in her throat, her voice barely a whisper. "Emerson. Is that enough for you?"