Chapter 2

2.

When I woke up, I was already lying in a hospital bed with an IV line taped to the back of my hand.

Hypoglycemia had always been a chronic issue of mine.

Back when Gavin and I first started dating, he used to slip granola bars into my bag or keep candies in his pocket just in case.

Yet today, while I passed out at his proposal, he was busy locking lips with another woman.

Silas walked in carrying a bottle of glucose juice, his eyes narrowing at my pale face.

"What happened to you? Hasn't it been years since your last fainting spell?"

Silas was my college classmate who later worked at the same firm. We had always been close friends.

I stared at the ceiling, my tone devoid of emotion.

"Didn't you say you were looking for a business partner to expand overseas?"

"I want to go with you."

Silas stopped in his tracks, staring at me in complete shock.

"Are you kidding me? Weren't you about to get married?"

"I only got to see you today because of your boyfriend's city. Otherwise, getting a hold of you is harder than winning the lottery."

I clenched my fists under the thin hospital blanket, offering a bitter smile.

I closed my eyes, but all I could see was that handwritten bucket list of 999 things.

Rock climbing, hang gliding, skydiving...

Because Gavin had severe acrophobia, I had never dared to mention extreme sports, even though I loved them.

Yet during all those years we spent apart, he had broken every single one of his boundaries for another woman.

Before I could say another word, Silas let out a deep sigh.

"Look, I won't meddle in your relationship with Gavin."

"But this venture is serious business. If you commit to coming with me, there's no backing out."

I looked straight into his eyes.

"My mind is made up."

My phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was Gavin.

This was our usual nightly FaceTime hour.

I declined the call and sent him a simple text.

"I am at the hospital."

Before Gavin even walked through the door, his frantic voice echoed down the hallway.

"Josie! Josie, where are you?"

Hearing his panicked voice, my mind instantly flashed back to his passionate proposal to Piper.

He tripped over the doorframe in his rush, but scrambled up immediately and rushed to my bedside.

His chest heaved, his face filled with worry.

"Josie, are you okay? Why are you in the hospital? Did your blood sugar crash again?"

I gave a faint, detached nod.

He hurriedly emptied all the candies from his pockets into the palm of my hand.

My hand remained limp, and the colorful wrappers slipped through my fingers, scattering across the floor.

Seeing his frantic concern made it almost impossible to believe he had just proposed to someone else hours ago.

A dull ache tore through my heart.

Suddenly, Piper stepped into the room.

She looked timid and fragile, completely different from the woman who had passionately kissed Gavin on the bridge.

My expression turned ice cold.

"What are you doing here?"

She spoke in a high-pitched, delicate whimper that made my stomach churn.

"Gavin said your sugar dropped, so I rushed over with some sweets I bought by the street..."

As if terrified I wouldn't believe her, Gavin quickly chimed in.

"Yeah, our company had a team-building event nearby today, and I just happened to run into Piper."

Rage ignited inside me like wildfire, and I ripped the IV needle right out of my hand.

Losing my mind, I shoved Piper toward the doorway.

"Get the hell out of here!"

Gavin grabbed my wrist and yanked me back with force.

I lost my balance and crashed hard against the linoleum floor.

Blood began to seep from the back of my hand.

The tenderness on Gavin's face vanished, replaced by sheer fury.

"Josie! It was just a coincidence! Do you really have to act like a jealous psycho over nothing?"

"What if she got hurt when you pushed her like that?"

I was the one bleeding on the floor, yet his eyes were only on Piper.

I lay there, completely drained of strength, unable to push myself up.

I waited until the blood on my hand dried before using the wall to pull myself up.

My voice was hoarse as I looked at them.

"If you two won't leave, then I will."

As I walked out, I could still hear Piper's fake, whimpering voice behind me.

"Gavin, is she going to be okay?"