My mouth was forced open, and scalding-hot cheese soup was shoved down my throat before I could even react.
The burning spread instantly, making my whole body tremble.
I didn’t even have time to swallow; its thick, steaming consistency filled my airway in seconds.
A sharp wave of suffocation quickly hit me. I struggled with everything I had, but Leland just shot the bodyguards a cold look, signaling them to pin me down and force the entire bowl into me.
Red blotches broke out across my skin almost immediately. The allergic reaction hit fast and harshly.
But Leland didn’t even spare me a glance.
Instead, he hurried to cover Shanna’s eyes, afraid she’d be frightened by how I looked.
By the time the torment finally ended, I collapsed on the floor—itching, burning, and my mind drifting in and out.
But I still stared at Leland, who was still protectively shielding Shanna in his arms, my hatred boiling up so violently it almost swallowed me whole.
At that moment, I wanted to shout and curse him.
But my throat was so swollen that it felt stuffed with cotton; I couldn’t make a single sound.
My stare made Leland uneasy, but his voice stayed just as cruel as ever.
“Don’t look at me like that. This is what you owe Shanna. Reflect on yourself at home, and maybe I’ll spare you.”
Despair washed over me. I slowly closed my eyes and let myself sink into the darkness.
When I woke up again, the bright hospital ceiling stung my eyes.
A nurse walked over with a tray. When she saw me awake, her voice still carried leftover fear.
“Thank goodness, you’re finally awake! Did you know you were unconscious for three whole days and nights?
“If you know your allergy is this bad, why’d you still eat cheese? Luckily, someone found you collapsed by the roadside and brought you here. One minute later and you might not have made it!”
She turned to leave, but her lowered voice still drifted back to me.
“So strange… She was out cold for three days, and not a single family member came to visit…”
My hands clenched tight. I hadn’t expected that after I passed out, Leland didn’t even bother taking me to the hospital.
But it didn’t matter anymore.
Just two more days.
As long as I survived two more days, I’d finally be free.
I took out my phone and texted Galen, each word sharp with resolve.
[Two days from now, Leland will take me to that party by the cliff. Destroy my identity completely then.]
From then on, Leland and I would have nothing left tying us together.
When I dragged my weak body back home, he was sitting on the couch, tenderly feeding fruit to Shanna.
He didn’t acknowledge me until I walked in. Suddenly remembering my existence, he rushed over, wrapping an arm around my shoulders like he was worried sick.
“Babe! You’re finally back! I’ve been worried to death these past few days!”
I stepped out of his reach, my eyes flicking between him and Shanna. I let out a cold laugh.
“You? Worried about me? I was lying in a hospital bed for three days, you know. Funny, I never saw you once. But you clearly had time to sit here flirting with that woman.”
Shanna rolled her eyes and tugged Leland back to her side.
“Come on, Leland. Look at her—does she look like someone who just got out of the hospital? She’s obviously just trying to make you worry for nothing.”
I raised a brow, not bothering to hide the mockery in my voice.
“Still better than someone who steals someone else’s fiancé and pretends to be innocent.”
The moment I mocked Shanna, Leland’s expression darkened.
“Charmaine! You’re out of line! Shanna’s dog died of poisoning because of you. She only scolded you a little, and you still have the nerve to mock her? Keep this up, and I’ll ground you for a week!”
My fingers twisted into the hem of my top, swallowing down the curse burning at the tip of my tongue.
I knew exactly what kind of person Leland was—if he said he would do something, he’d do it.
And I couldn’t afford to ruin what I planned to do two days from now.
Without looking at either of them again, I turned around and went straight back to my room.
