Chapter 3

When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed.

Ethan had rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news. But of course, he went to Chloe's room first.

When he finally showed up at my door, there was no concern on his face. Only blinding rage and disgust.

Ignoring the nurse's protests, he slammed the door open and slapped me hard across the face.

"You crazy bitch! Are you and your mother insane? Why did you grab the wheel and try to kill Chloe? Now even your own mother is paying for your sins!"

My head snapped to the side, my ears ringing violently. The sharp pain in my ribs made my vision go black. I stared at the man I had once loved with all my heart. His eyes held nothing but pity for Chloe and utter disgust for "my mother" who had been hurt.

Chloe stood right behind him, her arm wrapped in a clean bandage, clutching his jacket like a frightened child.

"Ethan, don't be too hard on Jane. Her mother... she didn't mean to do it. She was just too emotional at the time..." She coughed right on cue, spitting up a tiny speck of blood.

The sight of that blood triggered Ethan. He spun around and kicked my bed rail violently, making a deafening metallic screech.

"You evil monsters! You almost killed Chloe! Your mother got exactly what she deserved! Why didn't you just die under those rocks?"

He loomed over me, his eyes filled with pure hatred, as if my mother and I were the most disgusting creatures on earth.

I didn't even have the energy to argue. I could only manage a raspy whisper: "That's your mother... Helen..."

Ethan let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "Now you're calling her 'mother' to gain sympathy? Why didn't you think about that before you caused the crash? Your mother is rotting in the ICU right now, and it's pure karma!"

Just then, a nurse ran in frantically. "Mr. Collins! The elderly female patient in ICU Bed 3 is crashing. The doctor needs the family to..."

Ethan waved his hand dismissively. "I get it! That's Jane's mother, right? Let Jane handle it! We need to focus on Chloe here!"

The nurse froze. She looked at me, then at Ethan, her mouth opening and closing before she finally sighed and walked out.

Ethan glared at me one last time. "Don't look at her, Chloe. It's bad luck," he whispered gently, wrapping his arm around her as they walked out of my room.