Chapter 3
While ordering food, he expertly rattled off a list of dishes. “With less oil and salt. She’s expecting…”
Only when the waiter asked. “What would your sister like?” did he pause and glance at Leanna.
“Anything’s fine with me,” she replied, lowering her head to sip her coffee, the steam obscuring her eyes and brows.
As the meal was served, Leanna absentmindedly picked at her salad.
It was only when her throat suddenly constricted that she realized the salad contained peanuts–she was allergic to them!
There had been a time when Brenton remembered all her dietary
restrictions.
But now, he had ordered something with peanuts.
“Leanna?” Crystal noticed something was off with her skin tone. “What’s going on with you?”
Only then did Brenton glance up. Seeing her flushed face, he abruptly stood. “Did you eat peanuts?”
Leanna struggled more and more to breathe, and her vision began to blur.
In a haze, she saw Brenton rushing toward her, but he was halted midway by Crystal’s agonized cry. “Ah… My stomach hurts so much…”
Chapter
Time seemed to stand still at that moment.
She watched Brenton freeze, torn between her and Crystal.
Ultimately, he picked up Crystal and, before leaving, urgently instructed the waiter, “Please take my sister to the hospital.”
“Ma’am? Ma’am!” The waiter’s frantic shouts became increasingly faint. as Leanna’s consciousness slipped away, and she eventually lost. consciousness.
The sharp odor of disinfectant pricked Leanna’s eyes.
Upon opening them, she saw a nurse replacing the IV bottle.
“You’re awake?” the nurse said with a relieved sigh. “Luckily, the waiter from the restaurant got you here quickly. Allergic reactions can be very dangerous.”
Leanna tried to speak but discovered her throat ached immensely.
The image of Brenton leaving without a second thought, carrying Crystal, replayed in her mind.
She shut her eyes, allowing tears to trickle down to her temples.
During the three days Leanna spent in the hospital, she lay alone in her bed. The allergy–induced rashes made her entire body itch, and her throat was so swollen that she couldn’t even swallow water.
At her most uncomfortable moments, she overheard the nurses whispering outside her door.
“The pregnant woman in Room 308 is just experiencing frequent fetal movements, and her husband is incredibly anxious.”
Chapter 3
“It’s not like the patient in Room 302. She’s suffering from a severe.
allergic reaction, yet her husband hasn’t even visited her. It’s as if he’s gone…”
Leanna buried her face in the pillow.
Yes, her husband had been gone for some time.
He died in a car accident three months ago, and at the moment he chose to become someone else’s husband.
When Leanna was discharged from the hospital, the sun was shining brightly.
As she reached the hospital entrance, she suddenly spotted that familiar jeep.
The following moment, Crystal emerged from the hospital’s main
entrance.
The car door swung open with a loud “bang!“, then Brenton hurried over in two quick steps, gently supporting her waist. “Take it easy. The doctor advised you to get more rest…”
His voice was tender, reminiscent of how he used to comfort her in the
past.
Leanna remained standing as the jeep drove off, the exhaust fumes wafting onto her pale face.
He didn’t even glance in her direction.
***
The evening breeze was chilly as Leanna pushed open her house door. From afar, she noticed a tall figure at her doorstep.
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Brenton stood there, clutching multiple bottles of supplements.
“Leanna,” he called out, hurrying toward her. “Is your allergy improving?”
“How ironic,” she thought.
He ignored her all day, but now, with no one else around, he was acting concerned.
“Thank you for your concern. I’m doing much better,” she replied, attempting to sidestep him to unlock the door.
Brenton grabbed her wrist. “Take these…”
“There’s no need…”
Crystal burst into the yard with tears streaming down her face. “Dylan! Something’s wrong! I’ve been reported for smuggling!”
Leanna felt Brenton’s hand tense up suddenly.
“What did you just say?” His voice turned icy.
Crystal was sobbing so intensely that her face was wet with tears. “I only wanted to make more money to buy clothes… Now they’re coming
to arrest me.
Brenton’s forehead veins stood out. “Why would you do something like that?”
“I…” Crystal pulled at his sleeve, stomping her feet. “What are we going to do now? I’m pregnant and can’t go to jail.”
At that moment, the courtyard door was kicked open, and three people rushed in.
Chapter 3
“Crystal Harrell, you’re being reported for smuggling. Please come with
us.”
The atmosphere turned icy in an instant.
Brenton was silent for what felt like ages before he finally spoke up, “It’s not her.”
Everyone’s attention was riveted on him.
The tension lingered for a few moments before he continued, enunciating clearly, “I know about this. Crystal didn’t do it. It was… Leanna.”
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
“What did you say?” Leanna’s voice quivered. “Repeat that. Who was it?”
He avoided her gaze, swallowing hard. “It was Leanna!”
Leanna’s voice wavered as she attempted to speak again, but court officials had already taken hold of her arm. “There are witnesses identifying you. Please cooperate with the investigation!”
As she was ushered into the police car, Leanna locked her gaze on Brenton.
He stood protectively in front of Crystal, yet he no longer resembled the man she once remembered.
