Chapter 3

Jonathan didn't go to Silverlake.

It wasn't until I landed and saw the news that I realized the mass poisoning wasn't an accident at all.

Emily had snuck an unapproved drug from her lab and sold it to a private clinic in town to test it out.

As a result, dozens of patients ended up with serious hemolysis.

Jonathan rushed over that night, but not to save anyone. He went to cook up an antidote before the authorities could step in. He was cleaning up Emily's mess and protecting her career.

Emily testing her poisons on innocent people wasn't anything new.

I'd told Jonathan before that he shouldn't let her do whatever she wanted.

Back then, he just sighed and messed up my hair, looking helpless. "What can I do? My mentor made me promise to take care of her before he died. I can't let her end up in jail. I have to cover for her."

That was the day I finally saw the truth. All that talk about compassion and saving lives meant nothing. Even a miracle doctor like Jonathan would trample over human lives to protect Emily.

I spotted Emily in the hospital hallway in town, sipping her coffee like she didn't have a care in the world.

She shot me a look through the glass door, lifted her chin, and strutted over. "Told you, didn't I? All I have to do is snap my fingers, and Jon would risk his life to come running. So, Anna, believe me now?"

I closed my eyes, forcing down the pain churning in my chest. "There are dozens of dying people in there."

She scoffed, completely unfazed, "So what? Jon said himself that no matter what mess I make, he'll always have my back. Besides, they're a bunch of poor nobodies. Getting treated by a top professor from the best institute in the country? They should be grateful."

I stared at her smug face, saying nothing.

Sooner or later, she'd learn that all those people she treated like nothing would drag her straight to hell.

I'd already gathered all the evidence of her illegal substance trafficking. On the day I left, I'd send it straight to the federal prosecutor's office.

Jonathan pulled three all-nighters, finally managed to whip up the antidote, and saved all those patients.

Then he called in every favor he had and swept the whole thing under the rug as another "medical mishap," making sure Emily walked away with a clean record.

Only after all that did he remember to check on me.

He stood at the hotel room door, smiling at me like the past few days of emergency had been no more serious than a common cold. "Emmy got shaken up. She wants to go to the mall tomorrow. I'm taking her. Do you want to come?"

I shook my head, turning him down.

Disappointment flickered in his eyes, but I could tell he was relieved.

I was going to the mall, but honestly, I didn't want to breathe the same air as them.

My bestie was about to have her baby, so I was heading out to buy some baby stuff.

But there were only a few malls in town. Less than half an hour later, I ran into them in the baby section on the third floor.

I frowned, about to turn and walk away.

Just then, an overly sweet voice floated out from behind the shelves. "Jon, do you prefer a boy or a girl? What if I have a baby you don't like? What should I do then?"

My blood ran cold in an instant. My feet felt nailed to the floor. I turned my head stiffly.

By the glass display case, Emily was showing off two pairs of pink and blue baby shoes, snuggled up in Jonathan's arms.

Jonathan's face turned pale. He quickly clamped a hand over her mouth and whispered urgently, "What nonsense are you talking about? Be careful. Someone might hear you."

Emily pouted, yanking his hand away. "Why are you afraid? She'll find out sooner or later anyway."

My head started pounding, the ringing so loud that I could barely stand.

So back when Emily handed me that kiwi juice in the hospital, they'd already started hooking up.

To force Jonathan to give in, Emily injected herself with an aphrodisiac toxin that could only be metabolized through bodily fluids.

She threw herself at him, and he barely resisted. They ended up in bed together.

Jonathan's brow furrowed, his voice tight with frustration and hesitation. "Wait a minute. Let me figure out how to tell Anna—"

I couldn't take it anymore. My stomach twisted painfully, and I turned and bolted for the restroom.

I leaned against the sink, my eyes burning so red I thought they might start bleeding.

I thought my heart was already hard. I thought I was done caring. But ten years was ten years. That kind of time left marks. I couldn't walk away from it clean.

A metallic taste crept up from the back of my throat. I coughed, and a mouthful of dark, clotted blood splattered across the white ceramic sink.

The Interface, silent in my mind all this time, suddenly spoke up, [Host, good news. One more shot today, and your organs will be completely shot. No one could save you. You'll never have to worry about Jonathan catching on again.]

I grabbed a tissue, wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, and looked at my ghostly pale face in the mirror. I actually laughed, "Oh, really? That's some great news."

*****

When I got back to the hotel that night, Jonathan had just walked in. He saw me sitting on the couch and immediately came over, concern in his eyes. "Why do you look so pale? Anything wrong?"

I turned my head, avoiding his hand. "I'm fine. Probably haven't had my shot yet."

"Why is the nurse taking so long today?" he frowned and went to press the call button. "Can't skip your meds."

I watched his back, saying nothing.

Soon, the nurse came in with the treatment cart.

Jonathan took the syringe, flicked it to remove the bubbles, and found a vein. "This might sting a little. Bear with it. This is what's keeping you alive," he murmured, coaxing me like I was a stubborn child.

This time, I didn't resist. I leaned back on the couch and watched him push that blue liquid into my veins, drop by drop.

Jonathan, the final dose that ended me came from you. You'd better not regret it.

*****

I slept deeply the next day. My dreams were a jumbled mess. One moment, I was back at the orphanage in the real world. The next, I saw Jonathan carrying me up a mountain right after we got married.

When I woke up, he wasn't in the room. I didn't bother looking for him. I washed up and headed downstairs for breakfast.

Just as I rounded the corner, I heard Emily's frantic, tear-filled shouting echoing from the stairwell. "Wait? How much longer do you expect me to wait? Are you really that scared of Anna?

"You promised me you wouldn't go near her until the baby was born. I saw you coming out of her room last night, and you even kissed her forehead."

Jonathan's face went red and pale by turns. He gripped her wrist, his voice low and exhausted. "How many times do I have to tell you? She's been really sick lately. The toxins haven't cleared out yet.

"Can't you wait until she finishes the month of treatment? One month tops, and I'll make things right. I swear."

I stood in the shadows at the corner, listening to his earnest, shameless excuses, and it all felt so absurd. Sooner or later, what difference did it make?

My lungs felt like being torn through. Every breath came like dragging air through a broken bellows.

I wiped the blood that was starting to seep from the corner of my mouth, then stepped out of the shadows.

My heels made no sound on the carpet, but my voice rang out, clear and sharp, in the empty hallway. "No need to wait a month," I said.

Jonathan froze and then spun around. When he saw me standing there, dark blood dripping from my chin, that composed, always-in-control face went ghostly pale.

"Let's end it all now," I said.