Chapter 36

Arthur must have called the hospital we were coming, because my GPs are all here.

If they know what's best for her, they'd better make Spitfire wake up - or...

"Fuck!" I punched the hospital wall in anger.

I don't know how long the doctors have been in the emergency room with Spitfire, but it feels like a decade.

I paced up and down the corridor, my mind, my head, my soul, all confused.

If something bad happens to her...

"Mr Moore,"

I snap out of my thoughts and turn to the doctor. "Doctor Smith, how is she? Can I go in - how is she, say something - please."

I'm not myself at all right now.

Now I know how it feels-to be in a situation like this-waiting for news of your loved ones. The news comes in two categories: good and bad. And you have no idea which one you're going to hear, so all you can do is let the anxiety eat away at you as you wait for the NEWS.

Doctor Smith has been the Moore family doctor since before I started walking. He's the best at his job, so...

He sighs, a frown creasing his forehead.

Oh, this is bad news.

"Mr Moore, that woman..." He drawls...

Is he doing it on purpose? Do doctors always do that on purpose? I mean, he could just say everything he has to say in one breath, why...

"She was poisoned."

Wait, what?!

"What?!" I can't believe my ears.

"An overdose of henbane."

"What?!"

"Fortunately, we were able to flush the poison out of her system and control her seizures. You got to her at the right time. Had you arrived any later... Well, she's stable now. She'll soon be moved into a private ward, so you can go and see her then." Doctor Smith pats my arm and then walks away briskly.

I'm dazed. I don't know what to say. Henbane? How the hell did that happen?

I watch in silence as Spitfire is wheeled out of the emergency room with a ventilator attached to her nostrils.

I follow in silence.

I sit quietly beside her hospital bed, watching her sleep.

Henbane. Did Spitfire really try to kill herself because she's tired of living with me?

What was she thinking?

"Make sure no one knows what happened - she passed out from exhaustion."

"Yes, sir." I hear Arthur reply behind me.

"Go process her discharge."

You hear the door open and close shortly afterwards.

Spitfire, what's going on in that tiny head of yours?

Or did she try to commit suicide because of that rotten idiot she calls a boyfriend?

I wonder what's wrong with some men... How did he come up with the idea of cheating on Spitfire?

Sigh.

That must have been it. He must have been the reason.

A few hours later, I carry Spitfire's frail body to the car. We return home the same way we went to the hospital - in silence - only now I'm less afraid.

***

Elizabeth's POV

Yawning as I stir awake, I grin - damn it! My mouth hurts.

My body hurts too. I'm sore all over... I can barely move.

But I had a really long dream. I dreamt that Ethan brought me flowers... and then we got married.

Ugh.

Groaning, I slowly turn my head to the side.

"Hi." Lying next to me in bed is none other than Ethan Moore, his signature smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

What the fuck?! I almost throw myself off the bed in shock. I was just...

By the way, why is he back from work so early? And what is he doing in my bed?!

"What are you doing here? And why are you back so early? Did you get fired?"

He snickers, "As if. I'm the boss, baby. I do the firing."

I sneer. Pompous man.

"So why are you back early?" Ouch. My throat is hoarse.

Ethan looks at her for a moment before speaking, "Spitfire, do you remember anything at all?"

Huh?

"Anything like..." I blink, confused.

"You really don't remember? You..."

"You started your games again." I roll my eyes in annoyance. "Don't tell me you left work early to play mind games again. Don't you ever get tired?"

But he just keeps staring at me like I'm a two-headed cow.

"Spitfire, it's a new day. It's morning. You really don't remember what happened yesterday?"

I narrow my eyes and shake my head. He'll never change.

Well, I have to admit - I think I like him playing games with me. He keeps me company...

And since the day I pushed him into the pool - I still hate myself for it - we seem to have grown closer.

And then our romance... Damn. Anyway, neither of us has mentioned it since that day. I guess we both decided to put it behind us.

I shouldn't have gone into Ethan's room that day. I knew that, but I went anyway. I still can't wrap my head around what happened between us that day.

When I think about it now, I get a knot in my stomach.

Eish.

"Just cut the crap." I pretend to be annoyed.

"I'm serious, baby. Check the date on your phone." Ethan replies.

I burst out laughing. But I turn and get my phone out of the cupboard, "If the date is the same, I'm going to smack you."

"Oh, I'd like that." He says, and my stomach clenches.

I turn on my phone and...

Wait, what? My eyebrows furrow as my eyes land on the date and time. I blink quickly to make sure I'm not seeing things.

Oh dear! It's actually the next day. It's morning already. Mid-morning to be exact. What the heck?! How did this happen?!

I'd been asleep for over twelve hours?!!!

"Why didn't anyone wake me up? What if there had been an earthquake..."

Chuckling, Ethan reaches out and caresses my face.

His voice is low and soft as he speaks. "You fainted, my love."

What?