Chapter 6

It was like he was punishing me for the cruel things I said to him that day, for breaking up with him, for being insensible and making a fuss.

Just after midnight, Dennis answered my call at the very last second before it automatically hung up.

For a moment, neither of us said a word.

I hadn't had a sip of water all day, and my throat was so dry and scratchy, it hurt just to talk.

I was so hungry my whole body felt weak, and I nearly passed out.

I managed, "Did you report me?"

Dennis paused for a moment. "Blair, are you sorry now?"

His words made my tears fall all over again.

Choking back my tears, I asked him, "Was it you?"

If anyone else had reported me for this, I might've been able to handle it. But knowing it was him was just unbearable.

Dennis wouldn't let it go. He kept asking, "Are you sorry now?"

After three rounds with both of us questioning each other, I just lost it, crying and yelling, "Was it you? Did you do this?"

Dennis finally admitted it. "It was me."

My body just couldn't take it anymore after a whole day without a single drop of water.

Everything went black. I collapsed to the floor with a thud. My phone went flying across the room.

My mind was fuzzy, and there were stars swirling all over my vision.

I lay on the floor, dazed and barely hanging on to consciousness.

Outside, my parents were banging on the door, their voices anxious as they called my name.

With the last bit of strength I had, I dragged myself over to my phone, my hands trembling as I grabbed it.

I was so weak I could barely stay conscious, almost passing out.

I forced myself to hang on. Tears streamed down my face as I asked him, my voice weak and shaky, "Why did you do this?"

Dennis replied indifferently, "Fiona is my own sister. Of course I'm going to stand by her. Besides, you really did kill someone, even if it was an accident."

He paused, then let out a soft sigh. "Blair, honestly, I didn't want things to end up like this. But you forced my hand."

After a pause, Dennis pressed again, "Blair, are you sorry now?"

I was so mad I almost blacked out again. I couldn't believe what he did.

When he was in love, he practically worshipped me. Now that he'd stopped loving me, he wanted me begging him for mercy.

I didn't even have the strength to keep arguing with him.

Everything went black. I didn't even get the chance to hang up before I blacked out from hunger.

When I came to, I was in the hospital.

My parents were watching me, worry written all over their faces.

"Blair, the doctor said you passed out from hunger," my mom said, her voice full of concern as she squeezed my hand.

"I just heard from one of the young nurses that you were hospitalized with a high fever the day before yesterday, and yesterday you left before your IV was even finished," she said,.

My dad looked over at my mom, then turned to me and asked gently, "Blair, can you tell us what's going on? Please, talk to us."

I broke down, crying so hard I could barely get the words out.

After I finally pulled myself together, I told them everything.

My mom couldn't stop crying, her heart aching for me.

My dad shot up from his seat, rolling up his sleeves as he stormed toward the door.

"I'm going to make things right for you. I'm going to teach that bastard a lesson he won't forget," he shouted.

I stopped him at once. "Dad, don't go! I don't want anything to do with him ever again."

I shot a desperate look at Mom, urging, "Mom, please, stop Dad!"

Mom quickly grabbed Dad and pulled him back.

Dad was so mad his face was bright red, veins popping out on his neck.

Mom just sighed.

I forced a bitter smile. "Let's just treat it as tit for tat, since he helped me at that time."

Mom couldn't hold back her tears anymore.

"Oh, sweetheart, why didn't you tell us? You should've let us know right away that something this serious happened," she said.

I choked out, "I just didn't want you both to get all worried because of me."

Back then, my parents weren't doing so well health-wise.

Dad was diagnosed with high blood pressure and Mom's back pain was flaring up again.

I just couldn't bring myself to tell them. I was afraid they'd get stressed out and it might make their health even worse.

Dad's eyes filled with tears. "We failed you, Blair."

I ended up laughing, even as I was crying.

I decided to forget it.

Thank goodness my parents were still here for me.

As for Dennis, breaking up wasn't the end of the world.

If I really get dropped from the job this time, I'd just go find another job. It was no big deal.

As long as it was not life or death, nothing else was worth stressing over.

I dug out the settlement agreement I'd signed with the victim's family back then, and all the documents and evidence I'd saved from when I reported it to the police and went through the lawsuit.

I submitted all of this as extra proof to the review team.

At the same time, I also handed in a written statement.