Chapter 2

2

It took her thirty minutes to get Cillian settled before she came back with a sour face. "I didn't mean to forget our date, but Cillian was hurt and he needed me."

"Besides, how could you be so stupid? If it's dark and raining, you should know enough to come home."

In the old days, I would have told her I stayed because I was afraid she wouldn't find me if I left. Now, I just let out a dry, raspy breath. "Okay."

I turned my back to her, facing the wall. The blood on my face was sticky, and the gashes from the rocks throbbed with every heartbeat.

The pain was a constant, sharp reminder of my reality. I curled into a ball, trying to find a position that didn't hurt.

After the nurse bandaged me up and started my IV, I finally felt a little bit like a human being again. Sylvie came back in with a basin of warm water to clean my face.

I knew this was her version of an olive branch. She didn't give me a chance to say no, pinning me down on the bed.

"Don't be difficult. Your hands are a mess, so let me do it."

My arms were wrapped in gauze, so I couldn't really fight her off. I just went limp and let her do whatever she wanted.

A minute later, she pressed the cloth hard against a raw wound. I flinched and cried out in pain, trying to pull away from her.

My elbow accidentally clipped her phone, sending it flying into the basin of water. The screen lit up, showing a shirtless selfie Cillian had just sent her.

【Hey big sis, can you check if those marks you left on my back are fading yet?】 The photo showed very clear red nail scratches across his skin.

"Fletcher! You did that on purpose!" Sylvie screamed, fishing her phone out of the water.

She tried to wipe it dry, her face twisted with rage. "Can you stop acting like a spoiled brat for five minutes?"

"I've told you a thousand times, Cillian is just my assistant. He got hurt on the job, so of course I'm going to care about him."

I stared at her, realizing she actually thought I was playing games with her phone. "You really are a dedicated boss," I said, my voice cold.

I grabbed the basin with my one good hand and walked to the bathroom to dump it. Sylvie grabbed my wrist, causing the water to splash all over the floor.

"So I forgot you on the mountain. Big deal! You're clearly fine!"

"You fell because you were clumsy. Don't take your bad mood out on me!" She slammed the door and walked out without looking back.

Yeah, I was fine. I only almost died on a cliffside. Maybe it would have been more convenient for her if I hadn't made it back at all.