Chapter 3
"Yeah, go ahead and get the tickets. I'll be there in a bit," Bailey replied.
Before Max could finish his sentence, Bailey hung up on him.
I really wished I'd just lost consciousness when I fainted, so I wouldn't have to listen to whatever Bailey had to say.
In the end, Max was the one who took me to the hospital.
My life was all about Bailey and work. Nothing else mattered.
Since my parents never approved of my relationship with Bailey, I'd already cut them off ages ago.
But when I woke up, I saw my parents waiting by my bedside.
"You're awake?" my mom asked.
As soon as I heard her, my eyes welled up and I just broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Why are you so skinny? Didn't you say Bailey would take care of you?" my mom said.
"Why don't you come abroad with me? He's never been good for you. I told you that ages ago," she continued.
I was so choked up I couldn't even get a word out.
My mom knew exactly what was on my mind. She grabbed her phone and dialed Bailey.
He hung up on her the first time, but she just kept calling.
He hung up again, but she didn't stop.
Bailey and I had gotten couple SIM cards from the phone company that couldn't be blocked, no matter what.
So she could just keep calling him, over and over.
Bailey was afraid he might miss a client call, so he didn't risk turning his phone off.
It wasn't until the thirty-fourth call that he finally picked up.
Before Mom could even get a word out, Bailey answered, his voice already tinged with anger.
"Vivian, how many times are you gonna call? Enough already!" Bailey snapped.
"If you're sick, just stay at the hospital and get treated. Maybe they'll fix your head while they're at it. I'm not your doctor, am I?" Bailey sneered.
"Clarissa grew up in the countryside. It's a big deal for her to come to an amusement park. Can you not kill the mood for her?" Bailey snapped.
Mom's chest was heaving, her anger practically radiating off her.
But since we were in the hospital, she forced herself to hold back her anger and speak as calmly as she could.
"It's me," Mom said.
Bailey was clearly caught off guard, his voice uncertain.
"Mrs. Mercer?" he asked.
"So you still recognize my voice, Bailey?" Mom said.
"Is this what you call giving Vivian a good life, like you promised, even after she left us?" Mom shot back.
Before Bailey could say another word, Mom hung up on him.
"Have you given up yet? How did I end up with such a pathetic daughter?" Mom said.
Every word Bailey threw at me hit right where it hurt. I was so choked up I couldn't say a thing.
I just couldn't figure out how he ended up like this.
Mom took a deep breath and got to her feet.
She said, "Get some rest, sweetheart. I'll see if I can find a kitchen around here and whip up that chicken soup you love.
"I remember, my Vivian, you've always loved this stuff."
As I watched Mom walk away, it finally hit me how foolish I'd been all those years to choose Bailey over my family.
After my mom called, Bailey was totally thrown off. He just couldn't focus on anything.
He lost all interest in spending time with Clarissa at the amusement park.
"Bailey, what's wrong?" Clarissa asked.
Clarissa shot him a worried look.
"Nothing. Vivian landed herself in the hospital, and her mom showed up," Bailey muttered, sounding annoyed.
Everyone at work knew I'd broken off with my folks because of Bailey.
Clarissa was in the loop, too.
"Was that Mrs. Mercer on the phone?" Clarissa asked.
Bailey nodded.
"Maybe your mom got the wrong idea. Bailey, why don't we go to the hospital and see Vivian together?" Clarissa suggested.
"I heard she's not eating well. Maybe I can make her something," Clarissa offered.
Bailey hugged Clarissa tight, feeling bad for her.
"Sorry you have to put up with this. You finally got to come to the amusement park," Bailey said, sounding guilty.
"You're just too nice. You don't have to do anything special for her. Just pick up some plain rice porridge," Bailey added.
Clarissa curled up in Bailey's arms, a smug smile on her face.
"It's okay, Bailey. If I make it myself, it shows I really care," Clarissa replied sweetly.
I was lying in bed, totally zoning out at the ceiling, when the hospital room door swung open.
That was when I finally snapped out of it.
Instead of my mom, it was Bailey and Clarissa at the door.
Both of them were rocking the exact same scarf.
"Vivian, we came to see you! Are you feeling any better?" Clarissa chimed in, acting all chummy like we were super close.
She walked right up to my bed and tried to grab my hand, but I dodged her.
Clarissa's smile froze for a second, and she awkwardly pulled her hand back.
Bailey was distracted, fiddling with something and didn't even notice what was happening between us.
Soon, three food containers were placed in front of me.
Inside were eggplant stir-fry, roast beef, and fried fish.
"These are all Clarissa's signature dishes. They're super tasty. You're not a picky eater, right? She made them especially for you," Bailey said.
How could anyone with an eating disorder stomach food this greasy and salty?
As soon as I tried a bite, my stomach started churning.
I couldn't stop myself. I started gagging, the nausea overwhelming me.
Bailey frowned, looking clearly annoyed.
Seeing me like that, Clarissa turned to Bailey and said, "Can you grab a towel from the bathroom?"
As soon as Bailey stepped into the bathroom, Clarissa shot me a wicked, twisted grin.
She mouthed something at me, her lips moving silently.
'You're dead meat, Vivian,' she mouthed.