Chapter 4
The nurse hesitated. "Mrs. Maynard really looks awful."
Carlos shot me a cold glare. "You already caused Aimee's death. I won't let Gloria end up like her."
"Carlos, I'm sick. There's something wrong with my blood too," I tried to explain.
He cut me off with a mocking laugh. "You'll make up any lie just to avoid saving Gloria, won't you?"
"Draw 2000 cc from her, just in case," Carlos ordered the nurse coldly.
The nurse was stunned. "That's way too much. It could kill her!"
Carlos scowled. "Then make it 1500. That's my bottom line. When it's done, just get someone to look after her."
The bodyguards seized me and marched me after the nurse.
I panicked. "I really can't give blood! I have—"
"Don't you want a divorce, Janice? If you give Gloria your blood, I'll give you what you want," Carlos said.
His eyes were glued to my face, and for a split second, I saw real anxiety there.
Guess he really was worried about Gloria.
Not that I blamed him. Aimee died in a car crash, after all.
I let my hands drop and forced myself to calm down. "Alright, Carlos. You better not go back on your word."
Carlos's face darkened. He ordered, "Get her out of here and start the blood draw. I can't stand looking at her."
By the time they'd taken 500 cc, I was so dizzy my body went limp in the chair.
The nurse looked nervous and rushed off to tell Carlos.
He let out a cold laugh. "She's always been strong as an ox. She's totally pretending. Don't stop."
Once they'd drawn 1000 cc, I could barely breathe.
"She's trembling all over," the nurse cried out.
Carlos took a few steps toward me, but Gloria called out sweetly, "Carlos, I'm scared. Please don't leave me."
The nurse had no choice but to keep going.
My mind started to fade.
I heard someone scream, "She's lost her pulse, Mr. Maynard."
Just as Carlos was about to come over, Gloria grabbed his hand, her eyes red and her face looking utterly wronged.
"Carlos, the baby and I need you," she said, her voice trembling.
He hesitated for a moment, then gently pulled his hand away. "Be good. I'll just go check on her and be right back."
As soon as he stepped out of the exam room, a bodyguard came over and reported, "Mr. Maynard, Ms. Wolfson's fine now. You can relax."
Carlos paused for a second, but still headed toward me.
But just then, Gloria's caregiver came running over. "Mr. Maynard, Gloria just fainted."
Carlos spun around and strode back.
"Get a doctor!" he barked.
The place was swarming with people. Gynecologists and even the hospital director were all rushing to check on Gloria.
Meanwhile, a bodyguard quietly shoved me into a van and drove me away from the hospital.
When he tossed me into the landfill, I was barely conscious.
I tried to push myself up, but with all the blood I'd lost, I crashed back down hard.
I let out a faint cry for help, but it vanished into the endless, reeking landfill.
Lying in the filth, I gave a bitter, mocking grin.
Was this my punishment for loving the wrong person? To die here, tossed out like trash, with not a shred of dignity?
As time went on, I found myself slipping in and out of consciousness, each time staying awake for shorter and shorter moments.
A downpour slammed into my face, jolting me awake.
My phone started ringing again, but I was too weak to even reach for it. I let it ring and ring and ring.
Then came the constant dinging of messages.
Was it Carlos?
Was he calling to bleed me dry again?
Or was it Molly?
I still hadn't gotten that divorce and it bothered me.
Suddenly, a sharp pain ripped through my stomach.
This time, it hit harder than ever. I didn't even have the strength to curl up. All I could do was shake and clench my teeth.
"If you're feeling wronged, don't hold it in. I'll stand up for you!" I could hear Carlos's voice from when we were kids echoing in my mind.
Back at school, I was bullied. People blamed me for my parents' death.
It was just after my parents' funeral. I was angry, but there were too many of them. They shoved me against the sink and made me cry.
When I got home, Carlos was the only one who noticed my uniform was ripped.
The next day, he stormed into the classroom looking furious, grabbed the ringleader by the collar, dragged him into the bathroom, and gave him a serious beating.
Then he came back and announced to the whole class, "If anyone dares to mess with my sister again, you'll get the same treatment."
After that, everyone at school knew Carlos was in junior high here.
No one ever dared to bully me again.
My nose prickled with emotion, and I closed my eyes.
But now, the one bullying me was him.
Edgar always liked me, and he'd tease that I'd end up marrying Carlos one day.
Carlos would simply grin and pinch my cheek, saying, "So, Janice, we'd marry someday, huh?"
We all just laughed it off.
But at some point, my feelings for him started to change.