Love Won't Overstay Its Welcome

In a ward on the third floor of Lancaster Hospital, Anthony wiped the sweat from Winona's brow and tucked her in. "Thank goodness she only had heart palpitations. Nothing major happened."

Simone stood dumbly by the bed, clutching an empty box with both hands. She was like a lifeless puppet.

When Anthony turned and saw her like that, his heart ached, and his throat tightened. He pressed his lips together and pulled her into his arms.

Her usually bright and lively eyes had lost all their color and gone dull. He said, "I'm sorry, Simone. I was wrong to blame you. The cake was fine."

He rested his chin on top of her head, gently stroking her back over and over. That was when he noticed that she was trembling. She was still clutching the box tightly.

"Simone, what's wrong? What was in the box?" Anthony bent down gently to meet her lowered gaze. Then, he flinched at the redness in them.

He finally realized something was wrong, and panic crept in. "Are you feeling sick? I'll go get a stethoscope."

He hurried out, leaving only Simone and Winona in the room.

Winona opened her eyes and sat up in bed. A sharp smile cut across her face. She didn't look sick at all.

She sneered. "Why are you like a piece of gum, Simone? Why is it impossible to shake you off? Haven't you noticed that I just need to put on a simple act each time to make you end up beaten so badly that you can't get up?"

She leaned in and whispered in Simone's ear, "For example, that baseless abduction back then."

Simone saw the smugness in her eyes and asked hoarsely, "Did you stage the abduction?"

"Uh-huh. And that little incident at your wedding? That was me, too." Winona smirked. "Anthony is mine. Since you dared to steal him from me, consider this a lesson for you and your sister. I hope you both enjoyed it."

Shock and rage crashed over Simone. She saw red, and she slapped Winona hard across the face. "Enjoy it? I hope you enjoy this slap, then!"

She'd put all her strength into it, so Winona's cheek turned red and swelled in an instant.

"How dare you hit me, you wretch! Aren't you afraid Anthony will punish you?" Winona screeched.

Simone stiffened for a beat at Anthony's name. Then, she curled her lip. "You're right. He won't help me, which is why I'll settle my own scores!"

She raised both hands and landed two more sharp slaps on Winona's face.

Winona shrieked in pain. She was about to strike back when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Her gaze turned vicious in an instant. "Wanna make a bet, Simone? Anthony will always choose me."

With that, she clamped onto Simone and dragged her along as she hurled herself out the window. Outside, a thicket bristled with sharp, thorny bushes.

Winona sounded like she was about to cry as she screamed, "Anthony, help me! Simone wants to kill me!"

Anthony shot to the window like an arrow. His eyes bulged as he watched the two women fall together.

Calvin rushed up behind him, shouting, "Mr. Lancaster, there's only time to save one person. Choose now!"

Anthony's gaze locked onto Simone. But a second later, he reached out and grabbed Winona's arm, hauling her into the safety of his embrace.

He held her tightly, relieved that she'd escaped harm. "Thank goodness, Winona. Thank goodness you're safe."

She curled up in his arms tearfully, but the smug smile at the corner of her lips pierced Simone's eyes. She mouthed to Simone, "Gum."

In that instant, Simone's blood ran cold, and her limbs went numb. Her heart ached so badly that it went numb.

She shut her eyes in despair, feeling her body fall into the thorny bushes below.

It turned out that Anthony had truly never loved her at all.

She landed with a loud bang.

…

Simone had a long, long dream.

In it, she was brought back to that torrential night four years ago—the night that turned out to be a nightmare.

She stood barefoot in a pool of blood. Her hands were shaking as she called for an ambulance. The call was answered by a man whose voice was deep and steady. "Hello? Please tell me what happened."

Simone fought to keep her voice level. "We crashed on the Seavern Bridge. My mom and dad are both unconscious. Please hurry! Please, I'm begging you!"

The doctor on the other end quickly rattled off a series of first-aid steps for her to follow. "Hang in there, miss! We're on our way!"

The ambulance soon arrived, and that same doctor came with it. He stayed calm, directing the rescue with precise, swift measures.

This time, in the dream, Simone finally saw the doctor's face clearly. It was Anthony.

So, he was the one who'd tried to save her parents back then.

Under the crushing weight of the trauma, Simone's brain had blurred the memory as a defensive measure. It explained why she'd felt an inexplicable peace and reliance on Anthony when meeting him again.

He had been her lifeline in a huge crisis, leading her out of the shadow of her parents' fatal crash. He had painted a vivid streak of color across her gray world.

But in the next breath, she was pinned to a cold operating table.

Anthony donned a mask and raised a scalpel. His eyes gleamed icily behind his glasses. He was ready to cut her open alive.

"No, don't! Anthony, it's me, Simone! Please don't!"

Simone screamed and struggled, calling his name over and over. The only response she got was the sickening scrape as the scalpel sliced into flesh.

"This is the debt you owe, Simone."

With those words, the blade sank into her. Blood splattered onto the hem of Anthony's pristine clothes, but he didn't even flinch. He held up a fresh, warm kidney in his hand.

It was her left kidney.

Simone screamed and jolted awake, staring straight into a pair of familiar eyes.