Love Wilts Like a Flower

I got a napkin to wrap my thigh with. While bearing the pain, I drove myself to the hospital.

At the hospital, the doctor reminded me not to get my wound wet and avoid any strenuous activity.

My phone buzzed. Hansel had called.

I answered the call and was immediately greeted with anger. He ordered me, "I don't care where you are right now. Head to the therapy room and apologize to Giselle! She's in shock because of you!"

I followed his instructions and walked to the door of the therapy room, but the hospital director stopped me. He sounded concerned.

"Ms. Colby, looking at your current state, I recommend hospitalization. Once the visa is approved, we will fly abroad to get you treated. Your depression has started to manifest with physical symptoms."

I wanted to agree with him, but I somehow could not utter a word. I gaped.

The door to the therapy room was suddenly flung open. Hansel's irritated voice filled the room.

"Who's going to receive treatment abroad? I'm certainly not leaving! Melissa Colby, how dare you make decisions for me? And why are you still here? Come with me to apologize to Giselle!"

With that, he dragged me away violently. I lost my balance and fell to the floor. I landed right next to Giselle's foot.

My wound that had just been bandaged started oozing blood. Compared to the physical wound, my feelings hurt even more.

I couldn't help but recall how Hansel used to defend me against others in the past. He promised me that I'd never have to apologize to anyone with him around.

But now, he was forcing me to apologize to the perpetrator. With my head hung low, I pressed a hand on my chest as I gasped for air.

"What are you doing, Mel! I don't blame you at all. Get up, now."

Giselle pretended to help me up while exposing a huge part of her skin planted with love bites—her way of asserting her dominance.

I immediately backed off when I saw the gleam of a pair of scissors she had been hiding. Pressing myself into the corner, I wrapped my arms around my knees. I was trembling.

The world around me fell silent.

Giselle pouted, looking pitiable, but her words to Hansel were lost to me.

Then a shadow loomed over me. Hansel reached down to pull me up, but I resisted. I pushed hard against the wall.

His face twisted with rage as he shouted something I couldn't make out.

Only when he walked away, hand in hand with Giselle, did his words finally reach me.

"Melissa, I guess you're the one who's sick! You'd better reflect on your actions. Meet me again when you're finally willing to apologize!"

Oh, had he finally realized the truth? I had been the one with depression, not him.

I had been taking care of a patient who was faking his depression, just for him to end up cheating on me with his psychologist.

"Melissa! Melissa!" Colin rushed into the room. His concerned voice jolted me back to reality.

He kindly arranged for me to be hospitalized.

…

A familiar figure came into my view in the hospital corridor. It was the driver who crashed into me five years ago in a drunk-driving incident, causing me to lose my pregnancy that came after eight rounds of IVF.

I could recognize that guy even if he turned into ashes. My messy mind cleared up in an instant. I furtively followed him to the stairs.

A familiar female voice rang out.

"I've paid you five million dollars! Don't be greedy. Aren't you scared I might call the cops on you?"

"Great! Do that! Giselle Pellington, you were the one who paid me to run over that pregnant lady. I still keep the recording as evidence. You'll be implicated too if you call the cops on me!"

Blood rushed through my veins. I lost my balance, and my body rammed against the door. Fearing they might see me, I stumbled my way back to my patient room.

A sharp pain tore through my heart.

I had always thought that my unborn child was simply unlucky to have been caught in the car accident. But I never expected that the accident wasn't just a coincidence. It had been intentional.

My unborn child… was murdered by Giselle Pellington!

I wondered if Hansel knew the truth.

The door to my room flung open. Hansel rushed in and grabbed my hand nervously.

"Mel, why are you being hospitalized all of a sudden?"