Chapter 3

3.

That night, I tossed and turned, unable to find a moment of peace.

My head felt like lead, so I climbed out of bed to find some cold medicine.

As soon as I swallowed the pill, my stomach cramped violently.

I felt a sharp, twisting pain that made it hard to breathe.

Trembling, I dialed Caspian's number. It rang until the very last second before he finally picked up.

"What now, Seraphina? I told you I'd be home late! Stop calling me!"

"Cleo just got her fever shot and finally fell asleep. You're going to wake her up!"

I clutched my stomach, my voice weak and strained.

"Caspian, I don't feel well. Can you please..."

Before I could finish, a soft, feminine voice drifted through the line.

"Caspian? Who's calling this late?"

I heard a loud thud as Caspian tossed the phone onto a nearby surface.

His voice became muffled as he moved away from the device.

But I could still hear him perfectly as he comforted her.

"It's okay, Cleo. You just got your fever down. Don't get up, just go back to sleep."

"You always treat me like such a baby, Caspian," she giggled.

"But really, who is calling you at this hour?"

Caspian's voice was cold and indifferent. "Just a telemarketer. Nobody important. Ignore it."

Three denials in a row. I couldn't take it anymore.

With shaking fingers, I hung up the phone.

The pain in my stomach was getting worse, and I realized I needed to call 911.

But before I could dial, Caspian's name flashed on the screen. He was calling back.

I answered, but before I could utter a word, his shouting filled the room.

"Seraphina, you are being incredibly immature!"

He let out a frustrated huff.

"What is so urgent that you had to call me in the middle of the night? Just say it."

I felt a cold smile spread across my face despite the agony.

"Caspian Reed," I gasped out. "You are a pathetic excuse for a man."

I didn't give him a chance to respond. I cut the call.

He kept calling back immediately, blocking me from being able to reach emergency services.

When I wouldn't pick up, he sent a text:

"Seraphina, I've clearly spoiled you too much. You don't even know how to reflect on your own mistakes!"

In that moment, the very last spark of affection I had for him vanished.

The phone finally went quiet, and the pain reached a point where I felt I might lose consciousness.

Fighting through the black spots in my vision, I finally managed to call for an ambulance.

By the time the paramedics arrived, I had completely blacked out.