Chapter 3
619words
His parting words:
"Clean everything you've touched before I get back."
"You know I hate machine-washed things."
"If that's too much trouble, fine. My stepbrother needs a wife. He won't mind taking damaged goods."
I collapsed onto the bed, silent tears streaming down my face as I remembered meeting Evan Growth.
I was a sophomore, walking back to my dorm when a drunk man started following me.
The scruffy bastard dragged me into an alley.
His rough hands tore at my clothes.
The stench of booze and middle-aged sweat made me gag.
Just as despair overwhelmed me, Evan Growth appeared and smashed a brick against the man's head.
His eyes—God, I still remember them.
They shone brighter than the stars above that filthy alley.
How did everything go so wrong?
A wave of emotion crashed over me, followed by searing pain shooting through my abdomen.
My lips went white.
With my last shred of consciousness, I called Evan Growth.
It took forever for him to answer.
Same impatient voice.
"What now? Everything better be spotless. If I find a single hair when I get home, don't blame me for what happens next."
I could barely process his words.
"Help me... hospital..."
Evan Growth paused. "What's wrong with you?"
His brief concern vanished. "What are you playing at now? Think this will make me baby you?"
I fought to speak through the pain:
"Evan Growth, my stomach is killing me. Please... take me to the hospital."
Evan Growth scoffed. "If I take you to the hospital, will I have to smell that disgusting bloody stench again?"
I froze in disbelief.
The pain in my abdomen intensified.
Lynn Miller's voice filtered through the phone. "Baby, what's up? Who are you talking to?"
Suddenly, Lynn Miller screamed.
Evan Growth immediately forgot about me. "Lynn Miller!"
"It's nothing—just got scratched by this little devil. Damn, it's bleeding."
"Hey! Why are you putting my hand in your mouth? Isn't that disgusting?"
"You're bleeding! You think I care about germs right now?"
Lynn Miller pouted. "Gross! I meant your mouth is touching my hand—that's what's dirty."
Evan Growth growled. "Damn it, Lynn Miller, you're asking for it!"
His germaphobia miraculously cured again.
As their flirtatious banter continued, another wave of pain tore through me, and everything went black.
When I came to, Evan Growth's stepbrother Leo Growthn and a doctor stood over me.
"You left the hospital against medical advice. If Mr. Growth had brought you in even a minute later, you might not have survived."
The doctor's face was stern with disapproval.
Leo Growthn dismissed the doctor with a wave.
"How did you end up like this?"
I lowered my gaze, saying nothing.
Leo Growthn sighed, adjusting his wheelchair. "Next time anything happens, call me first."
"What if I'm just... unhappy?"
"You can call me when you're unhappy too."
I studied his face—so different from Evan Growth's despite their shared father—and felt tears welling up.
Just then, Evan Growth and Lynn Miller appeared in the doorway.
Lynn Miller smirked. "Well, look who's here! Your wife made it to the hospital just fine, and you were so worried."
Evan Growth scowled. "You lied to me yesterday. When Lynn Miller told me what happened, I couldn't believe it."
I said nothing.
"So what, you magically felt better for the taxi ride? Weren't you 'dying' on the phone? Did you tell the driver about your little emergency?"
His voice dripped with sarcasm.
A cold voice cut him off.
"I brought her here. Got a problem with that?"
The room went dead silent.
Evan Growth spun around, his expression darkening.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
