Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"Listen to me, Zoey. Maddy is weak. Don't you dare try to bully her while she's down, or I swear I'll make you regret it."

Nathaniel looked at me with pure disgust, his body tensing as if he were guarding a treasure.

He was afraid I would storm into the room and hurt his precious Maddy.

And yet, this was the same man who had knelt before me a week ago, swearing he couldn't wait to make me his wife.

Life is really just a series of well-crafted lies.

"Nathaniel."

My voice was calm, but underneath it, I was suppressing a mountain of hurt. I had to stay composed because I was leaving soon.

"You're the one who asked me to take care of her. If you're too scared to let me see her, how am I supposed to help?"

I bit my lip so hard I could taste blood just to keep from saying something I'd regret.

Nathaniel seemed to realize he was being contradictory. He rubbed his neck awkwardly. "Fine. Let's go."

I knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted to be in the room to make sure I didn't 'bully' Maddy in front of witnesses.

He really was a piece of work.

I wondered what kind of monster he thought I was after five years of dating.

"Let's go," I said flatly, walking ahead of him.

Nathaniel glanced at me and then hurried to step in front. "I'll lead. You don't know which room she's in."

If he hadn't just threatened me, I might have believed he was just being helpful.

But since he had, his fake politeness just made me feel sick.

"Maddy, look who's here to see you."

We walked in to find Maddy Cross looking frail against the white pillows. She had lost even more weight. Her hospital gown looked three sizes too big.

With her pale skin and sunken eyes, she looked like a ghost from a horror movie.

"Zoey, I'm so sorry," she whimpered. "It's my fault you and Nate didn't get your license today. Please don't hate me. My broken body is just a burden to everyone."

As she spoke, she started hitting her own chest in a fit of dramatic despair, which triggered a coughing spell.

The other doctors in the room stopped their gossiping and rushed to her side. "Calm down, Miss Cross. Stress will only make it worse."

Round one went to her. Nathaniel immediately pointed a finger at my face.

"I warned you! Maddy is sick. Why do you always have to pick a fight with her? Can't you just be the bigger person?"

"You're a doctor, for God's sake! Harassing a patient? Is this the professional ethics you're so proud of?"

His voice was so loud that a crowd of onlookers gathered in the hallway.

Most of them took Nathaniel's side.

They whispered about how I was a doctor with no morals. They called me heartless and a disgrace to the profession.

"What the hell is wrong with you people?"

Lila couldn't take it anymore. She stepped into the middle of the crowd.

"Doctors are humans too! Zoey and Nathaniel are supposed to be getting married today. Instead, her fiancé brings another woman here and insults her in public. What kind of man does that?"

"Do you ladies want your husbands choosing other women over you on your wedding day?"

Lila didn't mention the marriage license specifically to save me from further embarrassment.

"Well? Why are you all quiet now?"

Once the crowd realized our actual relationship, the insults stopped.

Instead, Nathaniel was the one receiving looks of pure disdain.

"I'm sorry, Zoey. It's all my fault."