Devouring Love in the Raging Fire

"I … I didn't mean to, Ivana. Don't be mad at Ernest. I bought the flowers. It has nothing to do with him." Sydney sobbed softly, her voice dripping with artificial innocence.

Ivana found it irritating. She turned her back to them, ignoring her entirely.

Ernest said, "Ivana, Sydney already apologized. She meant well. Aren't you going too far?"

"Ernest, stop. It's my fault," Sydney murmured weakly.

"Ivana!" Ernest grabbed Ivana's arm, flipping her over forcefully.

Ivana, who had barely recovered, was still as pale as a sheet. Ernest froze for a second.

Sydney clutched his arm, "Ernest, Ivana just woke up. It's only natural she'd be upset. After all, it's my fault. She lost a toe and now she's … now she's disabled. It's understandable for her to have a bad temper."

Ivana slowly withdrew her arm, which Ernest had gripped so tightly it hurt. She quietly watched Sydney perform her little act.

"Ivana, I know you're unhappy, but you can't treat Sydney this way. She came to see you with good intentions. She even picked the lilies one by one for you. She just apologized, so now it's your turn to apologize to her," he said.

Ivana's chest ached. In a hoarse voice, she repeated, "You … want me … to apologize? Ernest, you want me to apologize to her?" He wanted her to apologize to Sydney!

A stranger might not have known about her pollen allergy, but Ernest definitely knew!

When they first got together, Ernest had once bought her lilies too because he used to buy them every day when he pursued Sydney.

Ivana, trying to hold in her allergic reaction, had accepted them. By dinner time, she was covered in rashes and running a fever. Ernest had rushed her to the hospital and upon finding out the reason, he'd laughed as he held her, calling her silly. After that, he never sent her lilies again.

And yet, the moment Sydney returned, he'd forgotten it all. Of course, if the stand-in differed from the original, it could only be the stand-in's fault.

"I did nothing wrong," Ivana said weakly but firmly.

"Ernest, it's my fault. Blame me, okay? Don't argue with Ivana." Sydney's voice trembled pitifully, her eyes brimming with tears.

One insisted on an apology, the other refused. The standoff persisted.

"Enough noise! This is a hospital ward, it needs to stay quiet! What's wrong with you as a family member? She just got saved and you're here arguing with her?" The nurse, having seen all kinds of situations, sized up the scene immediately.

Disgusted by the spectacle and Ernest's raised voice, she finally stepped in to shoo them off.

Sydney couldn't stand the curious and disapproving glances from several nurses outside. Tugging at Ernest, she whispered, "Ernest, my stomach hurts."

Ernest finally helped Sydney out, the nurses throwing disdainful glances at them as they left. "What kind of people are they?" The nurse rolled her eyes, watching them disappear down the hallway.

Ting! A notification appeared on Ivana's phone.

"Dear passenger Ivana Millian, your flight ticket has been issued. Journey: San Diego to France. Ticket number … Please arrive at the airport 2 hours early with your ID to complete check-in."

The days before her discharge were peaceful. Sydney's provocative messages occasionally popped up, but Ivana treated them as regular spam.

Her flight was scheduled for ten days later. The first thing Ivana did upon being discharged was head home to pack her things.

The moment she opened her apartment door, she realized everything had changed. The small apartment, which could be seen entirely with one glance, felt foreign. The photos of her awards on the wall were gone, replaced by Sydney's graduation photos.

Her pictures with Ernest had disappeared, replaced by photos of Ernest and Sydney. Even the polaroids stuck to the fridge were now shots of Sydney and Ernest.