Chapter 2

2.

I stormed out of that Beverly Hills mansion without looking back, the sounds of their party fading behind me.

Tyler, this time, I've truly had enough.

I gritted my teeth against the burning pain and called an Uber to the nearest emergency room.

Drops of cold sweat dripped from my forehead onto my phone screen. I tried my best to act normal so the driver wouldn't notice anything was wrong.

But even at a private hospital, the ER was packed tonight.

"Excuse me, how much longer is the wait?" I asked weakly, leaning on the triage desk.

The nurse, chewing her gum loudly, rolled her eyes without looking up from her keyboard.

"Ma'am, this is an emergency room. Unless you're in cardiac arrest, you wait your turn. Guess you weren't thinking about this when you were having your fun, huh? Can't wait now?"

I steadied myself against the cold wall, my reflection in the window showing a face as pale as a ghost.

I wanted to curse her out, but I didn't even have the strength to open my mouth.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from Tyler.

It was the first time he'd messaged me in six months.

My fingers trembled as I unlocked the screen.

He'd sent me a digital business card: Dr. Cole, Gynecology Specialist.

It was his college roommate, one of his friends.

The pain clouded my judgment. I frantically dialed the number.

A few minutes later, I was led into a VIP examination room.

"You must be Chloe," Justin said, his eyes mocking me from above his surgical mask.

He nodded to the nurse. "Get her prepped for the exam."

The nurse was a young girl.

She helped me onto the examination table and then stood to the side.