A Heart Gone Cold
At the law firm, Adrian was sorting through his case files when his assistant burst in, breathless.
"Adrian, bad news. Selene's been hurt badly. She's in surgery right now, and the hospital needs your signature for the operation."
Adrian barely looked up. "So, she's backing out now? Unbelievable. Tell her I'm not going."
He went right back to going through his files.
His assistant snatched the files from his hands, panic rising in his voice. "I'm serious, Adrian! The hospital called—"
Adrian's brows tightened. Irritation flashed in his eyes. "What did Selene offer you to take her side? Even you've started speaking up for her now. If she truly wants my forgiveness, she can crawl here herself and beg for it. Maybe then I'll consider it. Now, get out."
After the assistant left, Adrian switched his phone to airplane mode so I couldn't bother him again.
When his workday finally ended, he turned his phone back on, only to see dozens of missed calls and frantic messages from Linda.
He thought something must've happened at home and immediately called back. But instead of concern, he was met with his mother's furious voice.
"You heartless fool! Where the hell have you been? Selene's in critical condition; she's dying! Get to the hospital right now!"
The call ended with a slam. Adrian's chest burned with anger. 'That woman is always stirring up trouble. Pretending to die now? And even dragging my mother into it? She'd better be ready for what's coming.'
He jumped into his car and sped toward the hospital.
…
In the passenger seat, Ella sat pale and silent, her hands clutching her skirt so tightly her knuckles turned white.
When they stepped out of the elevator at the hospital, Adrian barely had time to look around before a sharp slap landed across Ella's face.
"You vile woman!" Linda shouted at Ella, her voice trembling with rage. "How could you be so cruel?"
Adrian instantly stepped in front of Ella, shielding her. "Mom, what's wrong with you? Why would you hit Ella?"
He wrapped an arm protectively around Ella's shoulders, trying to soothe her.
Linda was shaking with rage, her voice breaking as she shouted, "Good Lord! What did I do to deserve this? I swear, I'll beat some sense into you today!"
Before she could, Adrian's father, Alexander Cross, grabbed him by the collar and dragged him toward the ICU doors. His hand came down hard across Adrian's face.
"You ungrateful son! Look for yourself. Selene's fighting for her life, and you didn't even bother to come! She's dying!"
Through the glass, Adrian finally saw me lying on the hospital bed.
Machines surrounded me, tubes running across my body. I was wrapped in layers of white bandages, some already stained dark red where the blood had seeped through.
Adrian's eyes widened. The disgust that had once twisted his face gave way to shock and disbelief. His lips trembled as he whispered, almost to himself, "That's impossible. Ella told me she was faking it…"
