“Lauren!”
That was the last thing I heard before everything went black.
When Lopened my eyes again, I saw Dominic’s bloodshot eyes staring down at me.
He looked so worried, so caring. Anyone else would’ve melted seeing that look.
Anyone but me.
Now it just made me sick.
I used to make his medicine by hand, feeding it to him right on schedule. That stuff cost a fortune–I had to work eight different jobs just to pay for it.
The medicine tasted horrible and killed my appetite. But I didn’t want him to suffer through that bitter taste, so I’d always try it first. Then I’d add stuff to make it better for him.
Then Sophia said one thing-“These expensive herbs would be perfect for my flowers“-and he gave her everything. Just like that. Let her use my medicine to make her stupid orchids look pretty…
When he was faking being blind, I walked him around that whole rehab center. I memorized every crack in every tile.
When his wheelchair got stuck, I got on my hands and knees to be his stepping stone. I didn’t want him to panic and fall.
For this, my knees were covered in blood. Doctor said I had fluid buildup, and I almost had to get them cut off.
But while I was out working my ass off, he was running around with Sophia. Laughing and playing in those pretty tree–lined paths…
And last winter.
Sterling Corp hit their first big crisis.
[ secretly used the Montgomery family’s emergency fund.
The only money we had left.
The guy running it was Liam Thornton, an old friend of my dad at that time–even though they’re way apart in age.
He begged me not to do it.
After begging me to change my mind in vain, he finally handed in his resignation and took off for good.
Before he left, he told me:
‘Lauren, if you ever need me, no matter where I am in the world, just call my name. I’ll be there.”
‘Lauren, please look back at me. Just once.”
Too bad I didn’t listen to him back then. I just kept giving Dominic everything like an idiot.
I even got on my knees in front of all those board members for a whole day. Let them spit on me, kick me, take out all their anger on me. Only then did they agree to give Sterling Corp more time…
But all of that?
He pretended he never saw it.
Instead, he took all that money and bought Sophia a huge rose garden. Had every single flower cut and delivered to her window one morning…
“Dominic.”
I was lying in that hospital bed, my voice all scratchy, asking him:
Three
years. Did you ever love me? Even once?”
He totally lost it.
He’d been gripping my hand tight-
Then he yanked it away and shouted:
“Lauren! How many times are you gonna push me! I told you, I’ve got nothing left, I’m worthless, I can’t give you all that love stuff, I can’t even take care of myself! Why do you keep pushing met”
When he pulled away, my IV needle moved. It tore through my skin and blood went everywhere.
The cast they’d put on me broke open too. My bone cut right through the stitches they’d just done. Blood was all over the bed in seconds.
Dominic didn’t think that would happen.
That one little move would mess me up so bad.
He just stood there freaking out, his voice shaking:
“Lauren. I… I didn’t mean to…”
was pale from the pain. Sweating like crazy.
bal staff were totally freaked out.
ashed Dominic out of the way and started trying to save me. My blood pressure and heart rate were crashing.
he patient’s super malnourished–we don’t even know if she’ll pull through this emergency treatment. Why are you doing this to her?!”
Dominic got pushed to the side but he kept staring at me.
All of a sudden.
elt something he’d never felt before. Fear.
ssed his hands against his chest.
ng to push down this weird pain he’d never had…
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.