Chapter 6

When I opened my eyes, the first person I saw was Favio.

He was standing beside my bed with his arms crossed, looking at me like I was the one who'd done something wrong.

The first thing he said was, “How dare you hurt Isabella again, Addy? You assaulted her after she was only trying to treat your gunshot wound. You should be thanking me. I pitied you enough to have my men bring you here instead of leaving you at that clinic.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

He really came here to say that?

Not to ask if I was alive.

Not to ask how badly I was hurt.

Not even to ask what happened.

He came here to defend her.

Favio continued, his voice cold. “Isabella is terrified of you now. You need to go apologize to her. She's already been through enough because of you!”

I let out a bitter laugh, but it quickly turned into a sob.

“Apologize?” I whispered, staring at the man I'd loved for seven years. “You want me to apologize to Isabella?”

“Yes. You hurt her again, Addy. At least have the decency to admit what you did.”

I couldn't stop the tears anymore.

“Favio, I hate you.”

His expression changed slightly.

I laughed again, but there was nothing happy about it. “I really hate you. I don't even know who you are anymore.”

My voice shook as I looked at him.

“You used to be the man who'd panic whenever I had a fever. You used to stay beside Angelica's bed all night when she was sick. You used to tell me that no one in this world would ever hurt me as long as you were alive.”

I wiped my tears, but more kept falling.

“And now you're standing here telling me to apologize to the woman who killed our daughter.”

Favio's jaw tightened. “Don't start this again.”

“Again?” I stared at him. “Our daughter is dead, Favio! Angelica is dead! She was six years old, and Isabella switched the organ that was supposed to save her!”

“You don't know that she intended for Angelica to die.”

“I don't care what you call it anymore!”

My voice cracked.

“She took my kidney and put the wrong organ into our daughter's body. Angelica died because of her, and you still protect her. You still stand beside her. You still believe everything she says. Favio, I hope that if there's a second life, I'll never meet you again. I regret the day I fell in love with you, Favio. I regret trusting you. I regret believing every promise you made to me.”

My voice broke completely.

“I regret giving you seven years of my life.”

"You—!

I couldn't hold it anymore. I slapped him.

Hard.

Then the ward door opened.

Isabella walked in.

She was still wearing her hospital clothes, and her arm was bandaged from the injury she'd inflicted on herself. Unlike the helpless girl she'd pretended to be before Favio arrived, she looked perfectly composed now.

Her eyes moved from Favio to me.

“Favio, what happened?”

Favio immediately turned toward her.

“It's nothing. Adeline's upset because I told her to apologize for hurting you.”

Isabella quickly shook her head. “No, Favio. I already told you that I don't blame her. I was trying to treat her, and things got out of control. She was injured, confused, and probably terrified.”

I almost laughed.

She was unbelievable.

She'd been cutting into my shoulder without anesthesia, and now she was pretending to defend me.

Isabella walked toward my bed while carrying a covered bowl.

“But I brought something that might help her recover faster.”

I frowned.

“What is that?”

“Something natural,” she said casually. “My father used to use it whenever his men were injured, and it's supposed to help wounds heal. Since you're recovering from a gunshot, I thought you might need it.”

She removed the cover.

The smell hit me immediately.

I almost gagged.

“What the hell is that?”

Isabella smiled.

“Organic medicine. It's natural, and it's supposed to be good for injuries. My family has used it for years, especially for wounds caused by bullets. It's not expensive, and you don't need to worry about wasting medicine.”

Isabella brought the bowl closer.

“Come on, Adeline. Drink it. It'll help you recover faster.”

I pushed her hand away.

“Get that away from me.”

She frowned. “Why are you being difficult? I'm trying to help you! After you assaulted me, you should be grateful I'm still this kind.”

She lifted the bowl toward my lips anyway.

I turned my face away, but I was too weak to stop her completely. A few mouthfuls touched my lips before I gagged and shoved her hand away.

“What the hell did you give me?!”

Isabella smiled. “Cow's urine. I already told you. It's natural, and it's good for wounds.”

“Cow’s urine?”

I stared at Isabella in disbelief. My stomach turned immediately. I was already weak and in pain, and now she wanted me to drink that?

“It’s good for bullet wounds,” Isabella said casually. “It’s a traditional remedy, and people have used it for years. Drink it, Adeline. It'll help you recover faster.”

“Addy, Isabella is trying to help. Just drink a little and stop making things harder.”

I laughed bitterly. “You call this helping?”

Isabella sighed. “You're being difficult again. I'm a surgeon, Adeline. I know what I'm doing. If you refuse treatment, don't blame me when your recovery takes longer.”

My hands started shaking. “You're a surgeon in training, Isabella. You know this isn't proper treatment for a gunshot wound.”

She shrugged. “And you're not in any position to lecture me about medicine.”

That was enough.

I grabbed the vase from the bedside table and threw it at the wall. “Get out!”

The vase shattered, and before either of them could react, I grabbed the water glass and threw that too.

“Both of you, get out of my room! I don't want to see either of you!”

Isabella jumped back and stared at the broken pieces. “Adeline, what's wrong with you? That vase was expensive! You can't just destroy everything because you don't like something.”

I stared at her. “You're worried about a vase?”

She folded her arms. “Of course I am. If you're going to stay in this hospital, you need to stop acting like a spoiled child.”

I laughed again, but tears were already running down my face. “Get out.”

Isabella looked at Favio. “See? She's threatening me again.”

Favio sighed. “Addy, calm down. Isabella didn't mean anything by it.”

I stared at him, feeling something inside me crack a little more. “Then take her and leave.”

“Addy.”

“I said leave!”

My voice cracked. I reached into the bedside drawer and grabbed the spare scalpel.

Both of them froze.

I pointed it at them. “Are you leaving or not?”

Favio's face immediately changed. “Addy, put the knife down.”

“No.”

“Listen to me. You're injured, you're exhausted, and you're not thinking clearly.”

I laughed through my tears. “I'm thinking perfectly clearly, Favio. I just don't want either of you near me.”

Isabella stepped closer. “Favio, I'm scared.”

Favio moved in front of her. “Addy, enough. Put it down.”

I looked at him for a long moment before finally lowering my hand. “You know what? Fine.”

The scalpel fell to the floor.

Then my legs gave out.

I slid down beside the bed and covered my face, crying until my chest hurt. Favio used to hate seeing me cry. Even when we were young, he'd panic whenever I got hurt. He'd hold me and tell me that nobody would ever make me cry again.

Now he was the one standing there while I broke down.

The door eventually closed, and they left me alone.