Chapter 2

The light outside the operating room stayed on, as blood red as the stains on my dress.

I sat frozen on the plastic waiting room bench, still wearing the clothes soaked in Henry's blood.

Hurried footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway, accompanied by Isabella's signature loud voice. "Slow down, Dan! I bet Lydia is totally regretting her little tantrum by now."

I looked up to see Daniel walking toward me with a dark expression, carrying a takeout bag.

Isabella trailed right behind him, clutching a skateboard to her chest like she had just finished a casual skate session.

"Are you done throwing a fit yet, Lydia?" Daniel tossed the takeout bag onto the seat next to me, his tone dripping with condescension. "Eat something, and then you're coming home to apologize to Izzy."

I stared at him, genuinely wondering if I had heard him wrong. "Apologize? To Isabella?"

"Yeah, Lydia," Isabella said, plopping down heavily beside me. A strong stench of stale cigarette smoke clung to her. "The way you glared at us in the alley was super intense. It honestly freaked me out."

She patted her chest, putting on a pitiful, wronged expression. "You know how I am. I'm just blunt.

"I was only looking out for you so you wouldn't get scammed, and you glared at me over some random guy."

Daniel scoffed and crossed his arms. "Isabella spent the entire ride trying to analyze that bodyguard's motives for you, and here you are faking this whole damsel in distress routine.

"Honestly, Lydia, have I spoiled you so much that you forgot who your real man is?"

The nausea roiling in my stomach nearly spilled over.

Henry was fighting for his life in the operating room right now, and they were seriously upset that I had "freaked out" Isabella?

"Daniel," I enunciated every single syllable, my voice entirely stripped of warmth, "Henry took a knife for me. That is why he is in there."

"Took a knife for you? More like he staged the whole thing." Daniel rolled his eyes dismissively. "How else is a broke loser like him supposed to trick a rich girl like you into opening her wallet if he doesn't play the tragic hero?"

"Dan is so right. Back when I was playing college athletics, I saw guys pull this crap all the time," Isabella mumbled around a mouthful of food as she ripped open the takeout containers. "You're just too sheltered, Lydia.

"Unlike me. I hang out with guys all the time, so I can spot a manipulative creep from a mile away."

She picked up a chicken wing and held it out to Daniel. "Here, Dan, eat up. Dealing with her drama must have exhausted you."

Daniel casually leaned in and took a bite right from her hand. They shared a smile, completely in sync, looking exactly like a real couple.

Meanwhile, I was nothing more than an unreasonable, crazy woman in their eyes.

"Isabella, repeat what you just said," I demanded, standing up and looming over her.

She paused for a second before rolling her eyes. "I said Henry is a manipulative creep. What, did I hit a nerve?

"You know I just say it like it is. It's not like you just met me. Why are you making such a big deal out of nothing?"

Daniel scowled, his tone turning harsh. "Sit down, Lydia! Stop acting like a spoiled brat.

"Isabella treats you like a sister, which is why she's giving you the cold, hard truth. Drop the attitude."

I laughed so hard tears pricked my eyes. "A sister? What kind of sister sits here stuffing her face and mocking the man who just saved my life?"

I turned to Daniel. "And you actually think you spoil me?"

I stepped right up to him and swiped my hand hard across the bench, sending the entire bag of greasy takeout flying to the floor.

The sauce splattered all over Daniel's expensive shoes and pants.

He let out a yelp and jumped back, looking completely disheveled. "Lydia! Are you out of your mind?!"

"I must be out of my mind to have ever trusted a piece of trash like you!" I pointed a shaking finger at the operating room doors. "The man who saved my life is bleeding out in there.

"And the two of you are out here putting on some pathetic clown show about your platonic friendship. We are absolutely done, Daniel. It is over."

Daniel froze. A second later, his face contorted with rage. "Over? Say that to my face again, Lydia!

"How long do you really think your family's business is going to survive without me?

"You're breaking off our engagement over some lowlife bodyguard?"

Isabella immediately jumped up. She started dabbing at Daniel's clothes while throwing me a thoroughly nasty look.

"Wow, Lydia, you are crossing a massive line," she said. "Do you have any idea how much Daniel does for your family? It's literally just a bodyguard.

"Just write the guy a check and send him packing. Why are you making such a massive scene?"

She turned to Daniel with an exaggerated look of heartbreak. "Don't get mad, Dan. Lydia is obviously having a total breakdown right now. Just ignore her."

Daniel took a deep breath and pointed a finger right in my face. "I am giving you exactly three days to cool off and reflect on this, Lydia.

"If you don't beg for my forgiveness in three days, don't blame me when I stop playing nice."

He grabbed Isabella's hand and stormed out of the hospital corridor.

Right before they turned the corner, Isabella looked back over her shoulder and stuck her tongue out at me.

The look in her eyes was one of pure, triumphant smugness.

Exhausted, I collapsed back onto the bench, staring at the mess scattered across the floor.

In my previous life, I was suffocated by his so-called "playing nice," letting it drag me step by step into ruin.

This time, I was going to show them exactly what happens when I stop playing nice.

The red light above the operating room finally flicked off.

A doctor stepped out, looking completely drained. "The patient is out of immediate danger, but the wound was deep and he lost a massive amount of blood.

"We need to keep him under strict observation."

I closed my eyes and let out a long, shaky exhale.

As long as he was alive, I was not afraid of anything.