Chapter 2
Attending physician Theo Becker burst in with a nurse at his heels.
Emma followed close behind, carrying a bucket of dirty water, her jowls quivering with every step.
When Emma saw me standing by the bed, she paused for a moment, then raised her voice and shouted.
"Oh my goodness, Mrs. Baldwin, what are you up to now?" Emma cried.
She slammed the bucket down on the floor, splashing water everywhere.
"You just walked in and got Mr. Baldwin all riled up. If anything happens to him, we can't afford to take the fall for this!" she huffed.
My eyes instantly welled up with tears.
I shrank back, like a frightened quail.
I stammered, "I... I just wanted to wipe Chandler's hands.
"I didn't expect him to suddenly act like this."
But inside, my mind was firing off snarky comments like crazy.
I found her screaming so annoying.
If Chandler really died just because I touched him, well, that was just his tough luck.
I wanted Theo to move faster. If Chandler actually died, maybe the Baldwin family would have to pay me for the trauma.
While I was busy calculating my potential payout, the wild spikes on the monitor suddenly flattened out.
Chandler's heart rate dropped from 120 all the way back to 70.
Theo took off his stethoscope, staring at Chandler in disbelief.
"This is a miracle," he muttered.
He pushed up his glasses and turned to me, his eyes full of approval.
"Mrs. Baldwin, looks like this is the legendary 'marriage miracle.' Mr. Baldwin's subconscious really responded to your touch. His will to live just got fired up!" Theo said.
I was stunned.
His words echoed in my head.
I glanced down at Chandler's face. He looked weak, but so outrageously handsome.
I realized that was his will to live kicking in.
But it felt more like he was just pissed off at me.
I wondered if he actually heard what I was thinking.
I locked eyes with him, staring him down.
After a few seconds, he didn't move a muscle.
I let out a sigh of relief.
I knew that was it.
If someone in a coma could actually hear what I was thinking, he would not be just a coma patient anymore.
That'd make him an oracle.
"Since Mr. Baldwin is stable now, we'll step out," Theo said.
As Theo walked past Emma, he gave her a frosty glare.
"Next time, keep your voice down in here. If you freak out the patient, that's on you," he warned.
Emma's face went pale, and she nodded meekly.
Before leaving, she glared daggers at me.
I gave her a timid look and edged closer to the bed.
If she kept glaring at me, I would yank her eyeballs out and stomp on them like bubble wrap.
The door clicked shut behind them.
Finally, peace returned.
I slumped into the chair and took Chandler's hand in mine.
His fingers were slender, with distinct knuckles, and cold to the touch.
"Honey," I murmured, my voice as gentle as if I were soothing a child.
I teased, "See? Even the doctor says I'm your lucky charm.
"So you better hang in there and live a few more years. As long as you're breathing, that 15 grand a month from the Baldwin family is all mine.
"And if you ever decide you're done with this world, just drop by in my dreams.
"I'll splurge on a diamond-studded rosewood urn for you, guaranteed you'll be the flashiest ghost in the afterlife."
The numbers on the monitor suddenly spiked.
The heart rate jumped from 70 to 85.
I raised an eyebrow.
I guessed even a coma patient couldn't handle a little teasing from me.
The phone on the nightstand buzzed.
The caller ID read: [Madison Webb.]
She was my sister, the one who got a second shot at life and rushed to snag herself the hottest 'rising star' around.
I picked up the video call.
Madison was lounging in the back of a luxury car, the starlight ceiling twinkling above her.
She was rocking the latest Chanel, swirling a glass of champagne, totally giving off that flashy new-money vibe.
"Moira, still babysitting that dying man?" Madison sneered.
I shifted my expression.
I made myself look pale, haggard, but still somehow tragically beautiful.
"Madison, Chandler needs someone to take care of him," I replied softly.
Madison snickered, her eyes full of disdain.
"Take care of him? Please, you're basically playing the grieving widow," she scoffed.
She tossed her hair, and the diamond ring on her finger sparkled so bright it could blind someone.
She flaunted, "Check this out. Hubert just got it for me. Three carats, D color.
"He said only a ring like this is good enough for me."
She let out a dramatic sigh, her tone dripping with superiority.
"Too bad your husband in a coma can't even get you a soda can pull tab for a ring," Madison mocked.
I couldn't help but stare at that diamond ring.
The cut was sloppy, and the stone had this weird yellowish glow, totally off.
It was a cheap moissanite, probably worth a couple of hundred bucks at best. Hubert was so weak that he could only fool my sister with a knockoff.
My clueless sister was acting like it was the crown jewels.
But I kept up the act, sounding totally jealous on the outside.
"Wow, it's really pretty. Hubert treats you so well," I said.
Madison said, tilting her chin up with a smug little smile, "Obviously.
"I had time-travelled, you know. Of course, I can spot my true soulmate when I see him.
"In my previous life, I was stupid enough to marry Chandler and spent my days as a living widow. But you married Hubert and became the wife of the richest man around."
Her gaze turned downright poisonous.