Love in Shadows

"You were close to going into shock. It's fortunate we got to you in time."

I nodded, my voice barely a whisper when I asked, "Did anyone come by after I passed out?"

The nurse looked surprised. "No, no one."

I could not help but laugh at that. "Can you tell me where Joanna's room is?"

Once the drip was done, I made my way to Joanna's floor. Stepping off the elevator, I bumped into Shane, his arms laden with snacks. He rushed over, guiding me to a seat.

"Lily, you shouldn't be up. How's your stomach?

"When I got back last night, you were asleep. I stayed by your bed all night. I just went to grab you some breakfast. What are you in the mood for?"

I did not call him out on his lie. Instead, I just pointed at the mini pies.

Shane bit his lip and said, "Those are for Joanna. She asked me to pick them up. Maybe pick something else?"

I gestured toward the soy milk.

"Lily, this is also..."

"Got it, I know."

I interrupted him, not in the mood for more talking.

Shane's eyes widened in panic, and he clasped my hand.

"Don't get it wrong. I just want her to recover quickly to look after you."

"I get it." I nodded with a sympathetic smile.

"Go on. Don't keep her waiting."

Shane searched my face, torn with indecision.

Yet, when his phone buzzed again, he headed off toward Joanna's hospital room.

Before he left, he made sure to remind me, saying, "Lily, our engagement party is tomorrow. Please, don't be late."

His hopeful gaze lingered on me.

I grinned and promised I would be there.

The next day, the party was buzzing with guests.

The high society folks there could not stop talking.

"Can you believe Ms. Smith was out for three years, and Mr. Jackson never left her side? That's true love!"

"Seriously, so many told him to move on, but he wouldn't have anyone but Ms. Smith. It's like a love story straight out of a fairy tale."

Meanwhile, Shane was offstage, frantically dialing my number.

I was already 15 minutes late.

Still, I was nowhere to be seen.

That was when the murmurs started.

"What's the holdup? Where's Ms. Smith?"

"Isn't it about time to start the ceremony? What's going on?"

Shane, trying to keep his cool, apologized to the crowd.

"Terribly sorry, folks. Just hang tight. I'll have someone fetch Lily right away."

With that, he signaled his assistant with a wave.

"Why do I get the feeling that Lily's in trouble? We need to get to the hospital and find her now!"

The assistant had barely dashed off when someone in the crowd spoke up, clearly annoyed.

"Ten minutes gone by and still nothing? What's the hold-up? Don't waste my time!"

"Yeah, I've got a contract to sign this afternoon. If things don't get moving, I'm out of here."

With people threatening to leave, Shane had to suck it up and make a call.

"Well, looks like we're not waiting for Lily.

"Let's get this party started."

The moment he said that, the lights in the hall cut out, throwing us all into pitch black.

A second later, the LED screen at the back blazed to life.

As grumbles filled the air, a video flashed onto the screen.

It showed Shane and Joanna, caught in a compromising moment right beside my hospital bed.

The crowd gasped in shock.

Shane's face went ashen, and he shouted at the tech crew, "Who dared to play that video? Take it down now!"

However, he did not wait for an answer.

I calmly stepped out from the shadows of the room and announced, "I did."