Chapter 3

People change.

Standing outside Callie's hospital room, I found myself pondering this thought.

I cherished the home I had built with Fintan, putting great effort into making our house cozy and inviting.

Fintan was a neat freak who disliked takeout, so I made it a point to cook for him as much as possible.

Whenever we had disagreements, I was always the first to apologize. After all, he was three years younger than me, and I felt I should take care of him more.

Now, the one who was always cared for was carefully tending to the frail girl in the hospital bed, peeling shrimp for her.

Fintan loved shrimp but hated peeling them. Not only was it a hassle, but it left his hands greasy, so he'd rather not eat them at all.

After we got together, I would always peel the shrimp and place them in front of him.

That is, until the time he took the peeled shrimp along with other dishes to Callie. After that, I never cooked for him again.

I had planned to break up with Fintan after that incident, but then I suddenly had to be rushed to the hospital with acute appendicitis.

Although it was a minor surgery, he was terrified.

When I woke up, I found him holding my hand against his face, the dampness on my palm softening my heart.

He repeatedly promised me that he would take good care of me from then on, never letting me get hurt again.

During that time, he stayed by my side day and night, attentive to my every need. It was as if Callie had vanished from our lives.

Until I was discharged from the hospital and started working, Fintan resumed his triangle of hospital, home, and office.

I believed him when he said Callie was getting better, and that he'd stop seeing her once she was discharged.

Then on our anniversary, he texted me, reminding me not to work overtime.

With a heart full of joy, I came home early, only to hear those words.

I sat on the garden bench, eyes closed, feeling the sunshine on my skin.

The sound of a wheelchair approaching made me open my eyes to find Callie in front of me.

We sized each other up; this was our first official meeting.

I had to admit, she was indeed a girl who could evoke sympathy.

"Sister, you should know Fintan loves me."

I raised an eyebrow: "Congratulations."

Perhaps not expecting me to be so calm, she choked for a moment.

I wasn't interested in playing the game of who loves who more, so I stood up to leave. As I brushed past her, she grabbed my wrist.

"Old hag, how dare someone who deals with dead people every day marry him?"

I coldly pulled my hand away, about to say something in retaliation when she suddenly cried out and toppled over in her wheelchair.

Instinctively, I reached out to steady the wheelchair, only to be shoved aside the next second.

My abdomen slammed hard against the corner of the bench, the intense pain making me break out in a cold sweat.

Fintan held Callie protectively in his arms, his face tense as he checked her for injuries.

Callie's eyes welled up with tears, looking utterly pitiful: "Fintan, I'm fine. Don't blame Scarlett, she didn't mean to."

Fintan's face darkened, his eyes brimming with fury:

"Scarlett, you break up with me one minute, and the next you're hurting Callie? Don't you think you're being ridiculous?"

I let out a breath, speaking through the pain:

"I did break up with you, but I didn't push her."

"Are you trying to say Callie risked getting hurt just to frame you?" His mocking gaze fell on my hand clutching my abdomen. "Are you going to claim you're too hurt to stand up now?"

Seeing the cold sweat on my forehead and my pale lips, Fintan hesitated for a moment.

Just as he was about to say something, Callie suddenly started coughing: "It's my fault... I shouldn't have come to the garden. That way I wouldn't have disturbed Scarlett's sunbathing. Fintan, please check if Scarlett's okay."

"If she has time to sunbathe, how bad could it be? I'm taking you to see a doctor."

Fintan scooped Callie up in his arms and strode quickly towards the hospital room. I stood rooted to the spot, watching their silhouettes grow smaller in the distance.

The dazzling sunlight stung my eyes, its harsh glare making the knife wound in my abdomen throb dully. Every breath I took pulled at my muscles, sending waves of excruciating pain through every nerve in my body.

An itch crept up my throat. Under the horrified gaze of bystanders, I coughed up a mouthful of blood.

As I closed my eyes, a figure came running towards me.