Chapter 4

I could no longer hear what he was saying, but suddenly, I was transported back to that night when he and Elaine were wrapped up in each other's arms. Panicking that a swarm of reporters might discover us, I grabbed his hand and pulled it around my waist, leaning against him for support.

He shoved me away forcefully, his disgust palpable. "Veronica, don't forget, we aren't married yet!"

I felt weak all over and collapsed, a wave of metallic sweetness rising in my throat. Just before I lost consciousness, I heard his urgent voice. "Veronica, what's wrong?"

When I awoke in the hospital, the room was empty. I was wondering who had brought me there when Dean walked in, holding a clipboard.

Our eyes met, and he said, "You drank a little and coughed up this much blood? If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were dying and trying to con me."

My heart sank, thinking he had figured it out. He tossed the medical report my way; the diagnosis was stomach bleeding, a result of drinking