Candice stood by her apartment window, looking out at the dull gray skyline as her phone rang. She didn’t check the caller ID. She knew who it was
She answered with a cold breath. “Yes?
A gruff voice responded on the other end. “It’s done. The girl’s in the hospital. She got lucky this time”
Silence fell for a beat X
Then Candice’s voice sharpened, “Lucky?”
“She’s alive.”
Candice’s eyes narrowed. Her grip on the phone tightened as fury surged through her veins. “No,” she hissed. “That’s not what I said. I said kill her, I don’t want her to live!”
Her words dripped with venom before she slammed the call dead.
She threw the phone across the room, and it cracked against the wall. “If I’m not happy,” she growled, pacing the room like a storm ready to erupt, “then no one gets to be happy. Especially not her. I won’t allow it?
At the hospital, Joseph sat beside Allison’s bed, eyes sunken and tired, his fingers curled tightly around hers
Machines beeped steadily, mocking the chaos inside his chest. He hadn’t left her side since the call. Seeing her bloodied and unconscious on that stretcher nearly stopped his heart!!
“Allison…” he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. “Please wake up.
And then–her fingers twitched.
Her eyes fluttered open, slowly adjusting to the light
“Allison?” he leaned in, hope rushing through his voice. “It’s me–Joseph, You’re safe now. You were in an accident.“%
Her gaze darted around the stenle room, brows furrowing. Then the memory hit her like a wave–the blaring hom, the headlights, the pain. “1” her voice cracked. “I was hit“!
Joseph nodded solemnly. “Yeah, I was on my way y to meet you. There was… an accident. I got delayed, and then I heard you got hurt. I–I
should’ve been there.
But Allison wasn’t listening to his excuses. Not really!
Because her mind was still haunted by those photos.
That kiss.!
That woman.
And even now, even after what she’d gone through–he hadn’t brought it up. Not once.
She said nothing, only turned her head away, and Joseph mistook it for fatigue.
“I’ll give you some rest he said softly, squeezing her hand before standing. “I’ll be back, I promise.”
Moments after he left, another figure entered.
River?
He stepped in quietly, holding a bouquet of wildflowers in one hand and guiltin the other
Allison blinked. “You?
“I heard,” River said, approaching slowly. “I had to see you.
She sat up slightly, wincing at the pain. “Don’t ”
just–please, hear me out.” He placed the flowers on the bedside table. “That man. Joseph. He’s cheating on you. I’ve seen it. I tried to wam you.“!!
“I don’t care,” Allison snapped. Her voice, though hoarse, held fire. “This is my life. My business. Just go away, River.“!
River’s face fall, wounded. “Tm sorry. I know I messed up. I never should’ve hurt you.“!!
“You did,” she replied, voice cracking. “So much. And I can’t forgive that. I don’t love you anymore.”
The silence between them was sharp
“Is that really true?” River asked.
Allison nodded slowly.
He looked down, shattered. “Then leave. But I’ll prove it to you. That he doesn’t deserve you. That she’s real. I swear it.”
He left with quiet steps, and the room once again fell into silence.X
But Allison couldn’t ignore the truth anymore.
No more pretending.
She needed to confront Joseph.
She sat up, waiting for him to return. Her heart beat faster, not from pain, but from resolve. Whatever happened next, she had to know! But before Joseph could return–a nurse stepped in.
At first glance, the woman looked normal. Dressed in scrubs, clipboard in hand, a calm smile on her face!
But something in her eyes made Allison freeze)
11:25 AM
“You did,” she replied, voice cracking. “So much. And I can’t forgive that. I don’t love you anymore.“X
The silence between them was sharp
“Is that.. really true?” River asked.
Allison nodded slowly.l
He looked down, shattered. “Then fil leave. But I’ll prove it to you. That he doesn’t deserve you. That she’s real. I swear it.“%
He left with quiet steps, and the room once again fell into silence.
But Allison couldn’t ignore the truth anymore.
No more pretending.
She needed to confront Joseph.
She sat up, waiting for him to return. Her heart beat faster, not from pain, but from resolve. Whatever happened next, she had to knowl But before Joseph could return–a nurse stepped in.)
At first glance, the woman looked normal. Dressed in scrubs, clipboard in hand, a calm smile on her face.
But something in her eyes made Allison freeze.
“I’m here to check your vitals,” the nurse said sweetly.
Allison nodded cautiously.!!
The nurse approached the bedside–and then, without warning, she pulled out a syringe with a long, glinting needle. Allison’s eyes widened.
“No–NO!” she screamed, scrambling back as far as she could.
The nurse lunged.
Just then, the door burst open.
Joseph and River.
They both charged in, grabbing the woman by the arms and yanking her back. The syringe clattered to the ground. “Who sent you? Joseph shouted.”
The nurse thrashed wildly, snarling, “You’ll never protect her. She was supposed to die!”
“WHO SENT YOU?!” River roared.!!
Candice.
The nurse spat blood at the ground. “Candice. It was Can
Joseph went pale. River’s grip tightened in rage.
But then–the nurse slipped a blade from her waistband, slicing toward Allison
River moved without thinking.
He threw himself in front of her!!
The blade sank into his side.
“RIVER!” Allison screamed as blood gushed from the wound.
Joseph tackled the nurse to the floor, knocking her out cold.
Allison dropped to the ground, cradling River’s head as he winced in pain, blood pooling beneath him.
“Why–why did you do that?” she whispered, trembling.!!
He smiled faintly, eyes glassy, “Because… I still care. I always did… and I don’t care if I get hurt as long as you forgive me.” Then his eyes fluttered shut.
