Chapter 5

The hospital smelled strongly of bleach and rubbing alcohol.

My hand trembled as I reached for the handle of the hospital room door, but then I heard whispering from inside.

Chloe's voice sounded completely normal, even playful.

"Ethan, your plan was brilliant."

"Now that I've 'triggered' my illness, Hazel won't care about the wedding dress photoshoot anymore!"

Ethan let out a soft chuckle.

"If she weren't so incredibly petty, I wouldn't have had to come up with this."

"When she gets here, just pretend you're unconscious. Let me handle her."

Chloe giggled happily and snuggled into Ethan's chest.

I stood outside the door, my face completely pale.

I had seen Chloe during a real manic episode before.

The day her toxic ex-boyfriend was banging on her door, she had called me, sobbing in pure terror.

I had practically abandoned a major presentation at work and rushed to her place holding a kitchen knife.

When I held her in my arms, her hair was a mess, and she was shaking like a leaf, gripping my hands.

And now, she was using that traumatic memory to play me.

And my boyfriend was the mastermind behind it.

All the strength drained from my body, and I collapsed onto the bench in the hallway.

My phone screen lit up.

It was a FaceTime call from my grandmother, assisted by her nurse.

"Hazel, look at me! I can see you..."

The sweet old lady smiled, showing her missing teeth.

"Don't worry about my illness. I'm sorry to make you travel all this way to see me."

"Is Ethan coming with you?"

Her eyes sparkled with hope. "Am I going to see my sweet granddaughter get married?"

My throat tight, I couldn't squeeze out a single word.

The door to the hospital room swung open.

Ethan walked out. On the screen, my grandmother recognized him and happily called out his name.

Without even looking, Ethan snatched my phone, swiped to end the call, and grabbed my arm, shaking me.

"How do you even have the nerve to show your face here?"

"If you hadn't pushed her, would Chloe have hurt herself?!"