Chapter 3

Rose said it matter-of-factly, which left me momentarily stunned, staring at her in shock.

Rose did not care for my response and continued speaking, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I had barely left the country for my studies, and you immediately got into Capital Heights University. Were you that eager to steal someone else's man?"

I tried to protest, to tell him that it was Charles who had talked me into volunteering, but the words just would not come out. They were lodged in my throat, stubborn and unmoving.

"However, no matter how hard you try, you're just a secret mistress, a nobody. What makes you think you can even hold a candle to me?

"The moment I got back, Charles couldn't wait to kick you to the curb and come ask for my hand. Take a hint and beat it. Don't stick around like some annoying cling-on that nobody wants."

Her words stung, leaving me feeling utterly humiliated. I was about to defend myself when Rose dialed a number.

With a taunting smile aimed at me, she cried out in feigned terror. "Charles, you have to come save me! Jennifer's gone crazy—she's threatening to take us both out…"

With that, she cut the call short.

Before I could even process what was happening, the car swerved violently and slammed into a low wall by the roadside.

The impact flung me forward, my forehead slamming into the seat ahead, and blood poured out, darkening my vision.

Rose was a mess too, her hair wild, a streak of blood running down her face.

She was insane!

To set me up, she went to such extremes.

It was not long before Charles showed up with paramedics in tow, rushing to gently pull Rose from the wreckage.

"Rose, are you okay?"

Through her tears, Rose looked as fragile as a flower in the rain, nestled in his arms, choking back sobs.

"Jennifer's mad at me for taking you from her, she tried to grab the wheel, and said I had to pay…"

My head was pounding, but I forced myself to speak up.

"I… I didn't…"

Charles shot me a look of pure loathing, his voice as icy as frost. "You'd stop at nothing to get what you want, aren't you? You had the nerve to hurt Rose today, and I swear you're going to pay for it!"

Before I could get another word out, Charles was already racing towards the ambulance with Rose in his arms, leaving me with nothing but the sight of his determined back.

As the paramedics were about to hoist me into the ambulance, Charles blocked them.

"Perps and victims don't share rides, ever. She needs to head to the station and face the music."

The doctor protested urgently. "We haven't gotten to the bottom of this yet, and she's clearly in worse shape. Without quick treatment, she could be looking at some serious, lasting damage."

Charles looked like he might give in and let me aboard, but then Rose, weakly nestled in his embrace, whispered.

"Charles, please… don't let her near me. I'm scared she'll hurt me again…"

After hearing that, Charles's eyes turned to ice, and he told the paramedics.

"Get Rose to the hospital. Her safety comes first. You're on my dime, so don't waste time on someone who doesn't matter."

With that, the doctor had no choice but to set me back down, and the ambulance took off without me.

I was left alone at the crash site, surrounded by a crowd that did not lift a finger to help. My wound kept bleeding, my mind getting fuzzier by the second.

I whispered over and over. "Home… I just want to go home…"

Time lost all meaning until another ambulance showed up and whisked me away to the hospital.

Hanging on by a thread, I begged the doctor for a phone and dialed my mom with shaking hands.

"Mom, I miss you so much. Can you come get me? I'll go on those blind dates you've been asking me to…"

However, the words barely left my lips before darkness took me.