Chapter 3

3

I yanked the curtain open with a violent snap.

Lexi was holding Shane's hand.

The second Shane saw me, he flinched and shoved her hand away in pure panic. "Paige? What are you doing here?"

I stared at him coldly. "Didn't you say you had an urgent matter at the office?"

Shane glanced nervously at Lexi. "She just got back to the country and doesn't have any friends here. She sprained her ankle tonight and had no choice but to call me. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you overthinking things."

I looked at Lexi; her striking, glamorous features were identical to those in the saved photos.

I held my hand out toward Shane. "Now that the nurse has treated her, let's go home."

Lexi immediately grabbed Shane's sleeve, causing him to hesitate.

I furrowed my brows and softened my tone. "Shane, I don't feel well."

Whenever I showed vulnerability in the past, Shane would always give in.

Sure enough, he walked over, took my hand, and led me toward the ER exit. "Why did you come to the hospital alone without telling me?"

"I called you, but you didn't pick up."

Shane froze, his arm tightening around my shoulder with a hint of guilt. "I'm sorry, Paige. How about I cook you birthday noodles when we get home?"

Lexi chased after us, her voice trembling with tears. "Shane!"

Shane's grip on my hand instantly tightened.

I held his hand firmly. "I want some warm soup with it, too."

He looked at me and forced an affectionate smile. "Sure. Whatever you want."

Suddenly, a loud thud sounded behind us as Lexi collapsed onto the floor.

Shane instinctively tried to turn back, but I held him tight and shook my head.

"Paige, let me call you an Uber. She's terrified of pain and will cry if she doesn't see me. Please go home and wait for me, okay?"

Cold sweat dripped down my forehead from the sharp cramps in my stomach. "Shane, I'm in pain, too."

Shane's face instantly darkened. "Paige, this isn't the time for you to throw a childish tantrum."

He swept Lexi up into his arms, shouting frantically for a doctor.

He didn't notice the triumphant, mocking smirk in the woman's eyes as she rested in his embrace.

Doubled over in pain, I dragged myself out of the hospital and took a cab home alone.

Shane didn't come home for the rest of the night.