Chapter 4

Simon finally realized what was happening and looked at Lily on the stretcher with guilt written all over his face.

He thought she was just angry and pretending to sleep, so he tried to explain. "Lily, don't overthink this. Vanessa's scared of blood, that's why I—"

He continued, "And she just got divorced, so she doesn't feel safe right now."

Silence was all he got in return.

*****

Lily regained consciousness the next day, and she only had two days left before her brother came to pick her up.

Before she even opened her eyes, she heard voices at the door.

Simon had his arm around Vanessa and was explaining something. "Vanessa, don't get the wrong idea. Lily donated a kidney and saved my life before, but I only see her as a sister. I love you, and it's always been you from the start."

Lily felt her head buzzing. Sister. What a ridiculous word.

Simon saved her out of obligation, not love.

She heard something shatter during their conversation.

She figured it was probably her heart breaking for good.

She didn't stay awake long before passing out again, and she slept until the middle of the night when rustling sounds woke her up.

In the darkness, Vanessa was messing with her IV drip, and it looked like she was trying to turn off the medication.

Lily sat up fast. "What the hell are you doing?" She flipped on the lights, and Vanessa dropped to her knees immediately, stammering out some bullshit explanation.

Vanessa said, "I just wanted to check if you were awake."

Lily's lips curved into a mocking smile. "And you check if someone's awake by tampering with their IV?"

She snarled, "This is attempted murder."

"No, I didn't—" Vanessa shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face. Then she grabbed the glass from Lily's bedside table, smashed it, and dragged a shard across her own wrist.

The door burst open almost instantly. Simon stood there with bloodshot eyes, like he hadn't slept in days.

"Vanessa, what happened?" He pulled the woman into his arms, his voice tight with concern.

Vanessa sobbed harder. "I know Lily's still upset about this morning. I just wanted her to forgive me."

Simon's expression went dark in an instant.

He stared at Lily sitting there in the hospital bed, at those emotionless eyes, and something violent flared in his chest.

"Lily." His voice came out as a growl. "Have you lost your mind? You're supposed to be taking your medication and resting, so why are you bullying Vanessa?

"Since you clearly don't want to get better, I'm cutting off your medication starting now. When you apologize to Vanessa, that's when I'll let a doctor see you again."

He didn't give her a chance to explain. He just scooped Vanessa up and walked out.

Lily stared at the house key in Vanessa's hand. That was her home. The home she shared with Simon.

He was taking Vanessa there.

A chill crept through her body, and she whispered, "Simon, what if one day you realize you were wrong about me? Would you regret this?"

Simon stopped for just a second, then his voice came out ice-cold. "I don't wrongly accuse people."

So that was what he thought of her. In his mind, she was just that cruel and vicious.

Lily shook her head with a bitter smile, and her phone buzzed on the pillow beside her.

It was Michael. She answered, and his worried voice filled her ear. "I found a hospital for you overseas. I'll come get you in two days and take you home. Until then, take care of yourself."

Her nose stung, and she choked out a response.

The next morning, she could finally move around a bit, so she took a cab home to get her passport.

She unlocked the door with her key and spotted an unfamiliar pair of women's shoes by the entrance.

Through the half-open bedroom door, she saw Vanessa lying on her bed, wearing her pajamas.

The irony hit her hard. Was Simon using their past as some kind of twisted foreplay?

The second Simon heard the door open, he popped his head out from the kitchen, where he was making breakfast.

When he saw her, there wasn't a trace of guilt on his face—no sign of the cheater caught red-handed. Instead, he spoke like he was doing her a favor. "I'll transfer you the money for the treatment later. Keep it down, okay? Don't wake Vanessa."

Lily froze for a second, then nodded obediently.

She was just here to grab her stuff. No point starting another fight with them.

But when she went to look for her things in their usual spots, everything had been moved.

Vanessa was already up, sitting on the couch with Simon and eating breakfast. They were laughing and talking like Lily wasn't even there.

Lily had never allowed eating on the couch before. Simon's excuse had always been the same—it would make a mess.

Now she understood. It wasn't about his principles. Some things he only wanted to do with certain people.

"Let's get a puppy together, okay?" Vanessa grabbed Simon's hand and leaned into him.

Simon smiled and tapped her nose playfully. "Did you forget what you said when Cookie died? You were sobbing and told me you'd never get another dog. I haven't forgotten that promise in all these years."

So his dog allergy was a lie, too. He'd just been keeping a promise to her.

"You have to remember to buy me flowers every day," Vanessa said.

Simon smiled, "It's already a habit."

"And when I'm upset, how are you going to make me feel better?"

"I'll dress up as your favorite teddy bear."

Lily's lips trembled, and tears spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them.

All those years she thought Simon loved her—every little thing she'd clung to—had just been him keeping up old habits, waiting for another woman.

She'd been such a joke this whole time.

She glanced at the pinned message on her phone again.

[I've been waiting for you all these years.]

But it didn't matter anymore. She had someone who loved her, too. Someone was waiting for her.