VANESSA BELMONT
"Go back and rest," I heard Nate say. "Vanessa doesn't feel well."
"Oh, let me help!" Fiona chirped.
"Kill me," I said, moaning.
***|***|***|***|***
I don't remember passing out, but when I woke up, I was in a hospital room. I had an IV in my arm, and a fiancé asleep in the chair next to the bed. His eyes fluttered open. When he saw me awake, he sat up and grabbed my hand.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I don't know," I said. "Am I?"
"I'll get the doctor." He got to his feet, offered me a tired smile, and then left the room.
A couple minutes later, the door opened and guess who walked in?
If you said fucking Fiona, you win the prize. (Okay, I lied. There is no prize, but at least you have the satisfaction of being correct.)
"Why are you here?" I asked, though I didn't really care.
"To see Nate, of course." She wore a white lace dress and had her hair braided. She'd created this whole I'm-so-innocent style. Diamonds dripped from her ears. She saw me looking at the earrings and she touched one. "Nate bought them for me."
"Yay for you."
Her lips thinned and icy blue eyes narrowed. "Wait until you see the necklace he paid millions of dollars for. Rubies and diamonds."
"Really?" I smirked. "I'd love to see it."
"I'll show you when he gives it to me. Probably tonight when we dine at Georgio's."
Okay, that one hurt. Georgio's was my favorite restaurant, and Nate knew it. So did Fiona. I didn't have the emotional armor to hide my reaction, so Fiona knew she'd scored a direct hit. She stood next to the bed and reached out to pat my leg. "You look so pathetic. Did you really have pretend sick to get his attention?"
I almost choked on my laughter. "Isn't that your schtick?"
"What is the point of you?" asked Fiona. "Some business-arranged marriage? He could have real happiness with me."
"Tell him that."
"I won't let you marry him." She leaned over the bed, and stared at me coldly. Then she lifted her hand and slapped her own face.
The shock of seeing her commit violence against herself was nothing compared to her perfect timing. Nathan walked in, and Fiona dramatically stumbled away from the bed holding her cheek.
Nathan immediately went to her. "What happened?"
Fiona turned her face against his chest and cried. "She hit me. I was trying to help her, and she hit me."
Nate's gaze went to mine, and I refused to look away. For once, I didn't see any condemnation. In fact, I think he had doubts about what Fiona said. "Did you slap her?" he asked.
"No, but if you'll bring her over here, I'll turn her lie into the truth."
Fiona sobbed louder.
He frowned at me as he patted Fiona's back.
"And there it is," I said. Bitterness clung to my throat and filled my mouth. "Could you both leave?"
Nathan took Fiona by the shoulders and set her away from him. "Wait for me outside."
Fiona nodded and then cradled her cheek as she left the room.
"The doctor will be here in a couple of minutes," said Nathan. "I'll check on you later."
"Don't bother."
"I understand why you resent Fiona. Even if you and I are not a love match, marriage shouldn't be treated lightly."
"Why not? Let's treat it lightly. Quit making bold statements to me, okay? Because they sound like promises and my heart believes you. After suffering emotional hell because of Fiona, I still want to love you. I'm the world's biggest moron." I was messing up my second-chance life because apparently I didn't know how to stop crushing on Nathan Jang.
"Vanessa—"
"Shut up. I don't care anymore. I don't want to see you until the wedding. And after the wedding, I don't want to see you for anything other than what our business marriage requires."
His jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he searched my face, his dark eyes scanning mine like he was looking for some sign that I didn't mean what I said.
"What about the children clause? They're a requirement."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Right. I forgot I was also a broodmare. Artificial insemination will work, right? Or we can use a surrogate. We don't have to touch each other to make babies." I waved him away, my fingers trembling. "Go on. I wouldn't want you to miss out on your romantic date at Georgio's."
"Georgio's?" His brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"Fiona told me all about how you bought her diamond earrings and how you're going to take her to my favorite restaurant." The words tasted like acid in my mouth. I closed my eyes and blew out a shaky breath. What was I doing? Hadn't I just told him to leave me alone? "Never mind. None of my business."
The doctor chose that moment to stride into the hospital room, his sharp eyes taking in the charged silence between us. "Everything okay?"
I crossed my arms and muttered, "Hmph!"
"What's wrong with my wife?" asked Nate.
I glared at him. "What wife?"
The doctor's gaze bounced between us before he wisely decided to ignore our drama. He focused on me instead. "Mrs. Jang, you were severely dehydrated. We've gotten some fluids into you and medication for your fever and nausea. I advise you to stay overnight for observation."
"Okay," I said. "Thank you."
With a curt nod, he left.
Nate exhaled, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. "I'll be back soon."
"Would you not, please? Just stay away from me."
His hands clenched before he shoved them into his pockets, his expression hardening. "You really don't want me around?"
"I really, really don't."
For a second, I thought he'd argue. That he'd fight me like he always did. But instead, his shoulders stiffened. "Fine." Without another word, he turned and walked out, the door shutting behind him.
The second he was gone, my breath hitched, and the tears I'd been choking back spilled over. I covered my face with my hands, my body shaking with silent sobs.
Because, as we've firmly established, I'm an I-D-I-O-T.
And the worst part?
I wished he'd come back.