Chapter 2
"Then let me reward you with a kiss," Cecelia smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
I opened my mouth, but my throat felt like it was filling with blood.
I couldn't get a single word out.
The world spun around me.
"Grab her!" the intern yelled.
I was slammed to the floor by a sudden force.
The commotion was so loud, everyone whipped around to see what was happening.
Several security guards pinned me down, one of them shoved my tangled hair out of my face, and I locked eyes with Oscar.
He stared at me, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Dr. Barnett, how do you want us to handle her?" one of the guards asked.
Oscar was still in shock, just staring at me.
Cecelia jumped in first. "Just kick her out. Or maybe call psych, see if she escaped from the ward."
The security guards did exactly what she said.
It was like whatever she said went， just like if Oscar had said it himself.
Tears streamed down my face, one after another.
They pooled on the floor, making little puddles that showed just how pathetic I looked.
"Oscar..." I choked out.
Cecelia arched an eyebrow, checking me out like she was entertained, and then turned to Oscar.
"Looks like she knows you," she said. "You two..."
"I don't know her," Oscar said, turning his head away, refusing to meet my eyes.
Did I just hear that right?
Or was I losing it?
This was the man who loved me, who always spoiled me, who never forgot to kiss me every single day. How could he stand there now and pretend he doesn't even know me?
Wasn't he always the one who was terrified of me getting hurt?
He was always so afraid I'd be embarrassed and so afraid I'd cry.
It felt like I had cried myself dry.
Did he even see me right now?
"Security, escort her out," Oscar said. "Take her to the treatment room. Her feet are injured, so go easy on her."
*****
Half an hour later, Oscar walked in, pushing a treatment cart.
"Why did you go out barefoot?" he started to say.
I slapped him right across the face.
He just clenched his jaw, stayed silent, and hoisted me onto the bed.
When he saw the wounds on my feet, his brows furrowed.
"You messed yourself up this bad?" he muttered.
He gently pulled out the tiny bits of gravel from my feet with tweezers.
"Who is she?" I asked.
"Cecelia." Oscar didn't offer any excuses. "She's a junior from college. I was the one in that video you saw this morning. I won't deny it."
I slapped him again.
He picked up the tweezers, swapped them for a new pair, and crouched down in front of me again.
"I didn't mean to act like I didn't know you," Oscar said. "Right now, Cecelia's holding on because of me. Vivienne, I'm sorry, but I can't let her know about us yet."
He paused and continued, "Cecelia saved my life. Now that she's ended up like this, I just can't turn my back on her.
"She got involved with some rich guy, but he never gave her any official status. She has no family, no friends.
"When she finally got pregnant, the guy refused to acknowledge the baby and forced her to get an abortion, so she started hurting herself."
Oscar's voice grew quiet. "She's all alone, and it's really hard for her. She needs me. I know this is unfair to you. But I just... I can't watch her die."
"I would never choose to be the other woman," I snapped, cutting him off. "Is it your fault? Is it mine? She brought this on herself."
My words echoed through the room.
Oscar's expression changed. The man who was always gentle now looked at me with an anger that felt almost like he was a stranger.
"Can't you show a little compassion?" he snapped. "So what, you want to push her until she breaks? Is that it?"
My throat tightened, and I couldn't get the words out.
It took me forever to finally choke out, "Is she really that important to you?
"You'd rather let me think the worst, let six years between us just fall apart? Oscar, does everything I've done for you even matter?
"I left my whole life behind for you, stuck by your side from intern to director, went through all that crap with you. So I deserve this?"
Oscar yanked at his hair, impatience written all over his face, and sped up the bandaging.
My nails dug deep into my palms, leaving crescent-shaped marks.
"Oscar, I want you to cut her off," I demanded.
"No way," he shot back.
"Then let's call off the wedding," I shouted at him.
The silence was suffocating.
Oscar's gaze was colder than ever. He stood up and flung the bandage at me.
He gritted his teeth. "You're ruthless. You really know how to play dirty."
With that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
The intern rushed in to take over. "Dr. Barnett sent me to take care of you."
"That won't be necessary," I said.