Chapter 7

Ronnie thought Mabel appreciated him.

But he had no clue that Mabel treated him like dirt whenever other people were around, because he was just a bodyguard.

She was no different from Isabel—always snatching up everything that was mine.

People, stuff, didn't matter.

When I opened my eyes, Ronnie's gaze met mine for a split second. He instantly clammed up and nervously averted his eyes.

Mabel's eyes were full of smugness as she smiled at me.

That was her victory look. She always wore it when she thought she'd won.

No matter how much I hated it, I knew this was where it all ended for me.

Isabel paid with her life for what happened to my mom, and I managed to take back everything that belonged to my mom and brother.

Mabel's life? With Ronnie protecting her, there was no way I could touch her now.

Guess that was just how it is.

I missed Mom and my brother. At least, soon, I'd be gone too.

For the last three days, I stayed in the hospital.

Oscar was on a last-minute business trip to Havenbrook and texted me.

I didn't want him to worry, so I kept quiet about what happened to me.

I told him maybe we could meet up over there in a few days.

Ronnie stayed up all night looking after me, making sure I was okay every step of the way.

The next morning, Mabel started complaining about a headache and said she missed Isabel, so she moved into the hospital too.

She got herself a room right next to mine—not too close, not too far.

Ronnie barely bothered to find someone to watch over me before hurrying off to Mabel's side.

Every now and then, whenever I walked by the door, I could hear her crying.

She said, "Isabel's grandma left that bracelet to her. She's always treated it like it were more precious than her own life.

"How could this happen, how could it—"

She stopped, her words cut off by a fit of agonized coughing.

On the third day, I packed up my things, getting ready to be discharged from the hospital. I had a flight to Havenbrook that afternoon.

But Ronnie couldn't hold back anymore. He came into my room, got me some water so I could take my meds.

He kept looking like he wanted to say something, but always held back. I pretended not to notice.

Finally, he couldn't help himself anymore. "Mabel cried all night last night."

Outside the hospital window, the snow kept falling, never letting up.

It was rare for Fairview to get snow like this for days on end.

For some reason, my mind drifted back to that night ten years ago, in a foreign country, when he carried me on his back for more than six miles through endless mud.

I watched as he handed me the glass, but he kept his eyes down, avoiding my gaze.

Maybe having a knife stuck in my chest made him feel a twinge of guilt.

But that didn't stop him. Once he saw how upset Mabel was, he couldn't wait to come over and push me to apologize.

I didn't take the glass.

Instead, I kept my voice steady and said, "If you want me to apologize, I will."

Ronnie suddenly looked up, stumbling over his words as he tried to explain himself—but only made it more obvious.

He said, "I... That's not why I'm here."

I kept my voice steady. "Go to my usual spot on the east side and grab me some scones."

Ronnie looked puzzled. "Why the sudden craving?"

With Mabel still laid up in bed, he obviously wasn't keen on running errands for me.

I glanced at him. "It's for Mabel.

"You know Mabel and Isabel are obsessed with scone, right?

"I'll bring it over and apologize properly."

Ronnie finally relaxed a bit, hesitated for a while, then said, "It's a bit far. I'll be back a little later."

Mabel had been feeling down these past few days, and she couldn't eat a thing.

Since I said she loved scone, Ronnie would definitely go get it himself for her.

I nodded. "Alright, go ahead."

Ronnie gave me a suspicious look, lingered for a moment, then finally stood up.

He paused at the door and turned around, for some reason.

He seemed to sense something was off, but just asked, "Want some? I can grab an extra.

"Just wait for me, alright?"

For ten years, I'd gotten used to having him around.

Whenever he had to leave, I'd always say, "I will wait until you return."

But this was the first time he ever asked me to wait for him.

As I looked at his face, the one I used to think was the most handsome in the world, not a single ripple stirred in my heart.

I replied, "Okay."

Ronnie hesitated for a long moment, then finally turned and walked out.

Without a second thought, I got out of bed, packed my things, and checked myself out of the hospital.

Then I went home, grabbed my luggage, and took along the keepsakes of my mom and brother.

Then I headed to the airport, off to Havenbrook, thousands of miles away.