Chapter 3

3

Around midnight, a sharp pain flared in my stomach.

I struggled to search through the cabinets, only to remember that Vivienne had stopped buying my stomach medication last month to save money for Sebastian.

She had given strict orders before leaving. I wasn't allowed out, and no one was allowed in.

Even if I called my father for help, no one could get the medicine to me in time.

Gritting my teeth, I called Vivienne.

I figured that after everything we had been through, she wouldn't just leave me to die.

But when the call connected, it was Sebastian's smug voice on the other end.

"Viv is busy with my check-up. Do you need something?"

I froze. Before I could speak, I heard Vivienne's frantic voice in the background. "Sebastian, does it still hurt?"

Sebastian's voice immediately turned weak and frail.

"It hurts… Viv, Sean is on the phone for you…"

"Maybe you should go back. I can handle it myself. I do not want to keep coming between you two…"

Vivienne sounded desperate. "You can barely even stand up from the pain! How can I leave you?"

After some rustling, Vivienne took the phone. "Sean, you were acting so tough earlier today. Now you are calling to beg me after just a few hours?"

"I am warning you, do not disturb me. If anything happens to Sebastian because of you, I will never marry you as long as I live!"

She hung up, and the stomach pain intensified, radiating through my whole body.

I touched my forehead and realized I was burning up with a fever.

In my delirious state, I seemed to hear the oath Vivienne took in the family chapel three years ago.

"I, Vivienne Lane, will marry no one but Sean Sterling. If I break this vow, let lightning strike me down and let my soul never find peace!"

I don't know how much time passed before the butler found me while bringing food and rushed me to the hospital.

On the way, the butler called Vivienne. She sounded annoyed and gave him some half-hearted instructions to "make him drink more hot water" before hanging up.

When I finally opened my eyes, I heard a doctor in the next bay saying it was just a mild flu.

The curtain was pulled back. I saw Vivienne with her back to me, clutching Sebastian's hand tightly.

"How do you feel? Are you thirsty? Hungry?"

Sebastian looked at her with deep affection and shook his head. "I am okay, Viv. Do not worry."

"You have a cold! How can I not worry?"

She got up to pour him water, sliced some fruit, and fed him piece by piece.

It took over an hour before she even noticed me. She frowned immediately.

"I told you that if you apologized, I would forgive you."

"How could you get sick on purpose just to force me to come back?"

It was absurd. My stomach issues came from being a free laborer for the Lane family, working day and night on their projects.

My fever was from chronic exhaustion. And she thought I was faking?

I tried to speak, but my throat was so dry it felt like it was on fire. I struggled to reach for some water.

"Water…"

Before I could grab it, Sebastian suddenly started coughing violently.

Vivienne immediately handed all the water to him. She saw me reaching for the glass and snapped at me.

"Are you really this immature? Sebastian is actually sick. Are you really going to fight a patient for a drink of water?"

My hand froze in the air. I didn't miss the way Sebastian smirked at me.

He had won again.

My throat burned, and my voice came out as a raspy whisper.

"Vivienne, I am a patient too."

She rolled her eyes and signaled for the butler.

"Take him home. Stop wasting money here."

"The tests keep failing, so my parents aren't giving me a dime. I cannot afford his hospital bills!"