Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Mia woke up in an empty hospital room.
Her forehead was bandaged where the wound was too deep, blood still seeping through the gauze.
The heart monitor’s steady beeping felt like hammers against her skull, making her head throb.
“You need to lie back down.”
The nurse rushed over to change her bandages.
“Mild concussion. Another few minutes and you could’ve died.”
“Your brother’s next door with Miss Whitmore. Want me to get him?”
Mia froze, her dry lips barely moving. “Brother?”
“That’s what Mr. Pierce said.” The nurse nodded. “He told us to let him know the second you woke up.”
“But he’s feeding Miss Whitmore breakfast right now.”
The nurse grinned. “Probably better not to interrupt the lovebirds.”
Mia forced a weak smile, her fingers unconsciously gripping the bed sheets.
After drifting in and out of sleep, she woke to find Sebastian sitting by her bed, staring at her phone.
“Visa center message.”
He looked at her, his eyes ice-cold.
“Where you planning to go?”
It took her a while to process, then she croaked, “Probably a scam text.”
“I mean, someone like me could never afford to travel abroad.”
The bitter self-mockery seemed to soften his frown.
Mia pressed her lips together, swallowing the pain in her throat.
That’s what he thought too, wasn’t it?
A fish market girl should stay a nobody forever.
So when she left, he probably wouldn’t even care.
Sebastian’s gaze fell on her pale face, and he sighed softly.
“Sorry I couldn’t protect you.”
Her nose tingled as she fought back tears. “It’s fine. Clair
Sebastian looked down for a long moment before speaking.
“Claire’s got her whole career ahead of her. I couldn’t ruin her life.”
Mia slowly looked up at him.
“So I had to make the hard choice with you.” His voice was heavy. “You’re used to tough times, but she’s been sheltered her whole life. I didn’t have a choice.”
Mia wanted to argue, but her throat was choked with tears, her knuckles white from gripping the sheets.
In the end, she just gave the tiniest nod.
All those years they’d struggled together apparently meant nothing to Sebastian.
“Claire has a bleeding disorder. She might need blood transfusions anytime.”
Sebastian hesitated for a long moment before continuing.
“You and she both have RH negative blood…”
The color drained from Mia’s face.
“Mia,” Sebastian took her cold hand, “can you donate some blood for her?”
No.
The word screamed inside Mia’s head as bitter pain ate away at her heart like thousands of ants.
What did he think she was? Claire’s personal blood bank?
The room went dead silent.
“Sure.” Mia suddenly smiled. “Big brother.”
Sebastian froze, shocked that she’d agreed so easily, and even more surprised by what she called him.
He frowned, about to explain.
But the nurse burst through the door. “Mr. Pierce, Miss Whitmore’s down to her last blood bag.”
Sebastian jumped up. “Mia, please.”
He scooped her up and rushed to the blood draw room.
Mia’s veins were too small. The needle kept missing, spinning in her flesh before the nurse finally found the right spot.
The moment her blood started flowing into the tube, tears spilled down her cheeks.
She still remembered how Sebastian used to cover her eyes during blood tests, cheering her on:
“Don’t be scared, Mia. I’m here.”
But now, those same eyes that used to look at her with such worry were filled with desperation and pleading-for another
woman.
After seven vials, Mia’s arm was covered in purple bruises.
As the nurse reached for a cotton swab, Sebastian grabbed it instead, kneeling down to gently press it against her wound.
He suddenly bent his head and blew softly on the puncture site, just like he used to when fish scales cut her fingers, trying to ease her pain with that same tenderness.
Mia’s heart felt like someone was squeezing it-sour and aching.
Tears rolled down her checks and landed on Sebastian’s hand, making him look confused and helpless.
“Does it hurt?” he asked softly. “I’ll be more gentle, okay?”
Mia’s eyes were red and swollen.
She wanted so badly to just throw herself into his arms and sob.
“Mr. Pierce, emergency!”
A doctor came running, out of breath.
“Miss Whitmore was asking for you and fell out of bed!”
“What?!”
Sebastian’s hand instinctively tightened, making Mia gasp in pain.
But he didn’t look at her again, bolting from the room toward Claire’s ward.
The cotton swab fell to the floor, broken in two pieces.
Just like their relationship-beyond repair.
Mia checked herself out of the hospital alone.
Still recovering, she stumbled the whole way home.
When she pushed open the door, she saw Claire leaning against Sebastian’s shoulder while he fed her medicine.
Seeing Mia return, Claire immediately came over, looking apologetic.
“Miss Brooks, you’re back. Uh, this isn’t what you think.”
