“You piece of shit! Who told you to hit her with that truck! If something happens to her, I’ll kill you myself!“]


    I woke up to Dominic yelling at someone.]]


    The second he saw I was awake, his whole face lit up.]


    He rushed over and grabbed my hand, his voice shaking:


    “Lauren, you scared the hell out of me. I thought I was gonna lose you…”


    “Why didn’t you move out of the way? Don’t you know how much it would hurt me if something happened to you?“]]


    I couldn’t hide the bitter smile on my face.


    Dominic, why don’t you think about it–how the hell was I supposed to get out of the way?]


    Before I could even cry, he pulled out some chicken soup and brought it to my


    lips:


    “Lauren, you’ve taken care of me for so long. Finally I get to take care of you for once.“]


    He looked so serious.]


    Like he was really crazy about me.]]


    Like he was this grateful, amazing guy.]]


    But…


    The same guy who was screwing Sophia on the bed next to mine while I was half–conscious–that was him too!]


    They were so damn loud.[]


    Like they wanted the whole building to hear them.]]


    If my eyelids weren’t this damn heavy, I swear the second I pried them open, I’d be staring right at that sickeningly filthy mess.[]


    But now…


    The soup touched my lips.[]


    Cold as my tears.


    All of a sudden.]


    My throat started closing up.


    I looked at that bowl, my instincts kicking in:[]


    “Dominic, what the hell did you put in this…“]


    He looked totally lost, staring at me all worried:[]


    “Just chicken soup, with some mushrooms and veggies…“[]


    I stared at him, feeling hopeless.[]


    My face was turning red. I couldn’t breathe at all.


    Dominic.


    After all these years, you don’t even remember I’m deathly allergic to mushrooms.


    While he was freaking out, a nurse came running in:]


    “Mr. Sterling! You need toe quick! Miss Sophia, she… she pricked her finger on the roses you sent.,.“]]


    “What?!“]


    Just like that.


    Dominic forgot I even existed.]


    He was halfway out the door when he finally remembered me lying there, basically choking to death.]


    “Lauren! Just wait a sec, I’ll be right back!“]


    Then he turned to everyone else:]


    “Get all the doctors! Check on Sophia! She cares so much about how she looks don’t let her get any scars!“]


    And there I was, forgotten in that room…]]


    Breathing got harder and harder. Everything was going ck.]


    I curled up on the bed<b>, </b>feeling like someone was cutting my throat with a dull knife.<b>[</b><b>] </b>


    I tried to hit the emergency button, but he’d been in such a rush that he’d ripped the cord out.


    I was like a fish drowning<b>, </b>just watching my world fall apart.]


    Tears wouldn’t stop falling.]


    All these years hurt so damn much…]


    I shut my eyes, hopeless, bracing for death to hit any second.[]


    But some doctor who was pissed at Dominic <b>for </b>making such a big deal walked by my roomte and saw something was wrong.]


    They shouted as they ran–shoving past Dominic even though <b>he </b>tried to <b>stop </b>them, and scrambled over to save me…]