A bitter ache rose in her chest.
Was she really going to die here today?
She wasn't ready. She had been so close to starting over.
Meanwhile, in the hospital corridor, a doctor stood before Bryce, sweat dripping from his forehead.
"Mr. Delgado, your wife has already had 1500cc drawn. She's at her absolute limit. If we continue, something will go very wrong."
Bryce barely glanced at him.
"How's Olympia?"
The doctor hesitated, stammering.
"Miss Galloway, her wound is quite deep. She's still in emergency treatment."
Under Bryce's withering stare, the doctor wiped his brow and forced the words out, his voice shaking.
"But rest assured, Miss Galloway is no longer in critical danger."
Only then did the edge in Bryce's gaze soften, just barely.
The doctor ventured carefully.
"Then... your wife..."
Bryce considered this for a moment, his tone flat.
"Keep going. Draw the full 2000cc."
"If I don't teach her a lesson this time, there's no telling what she'll do to Olympia next."
The doctor opened his mouth to protest, but under the weight of Bryce's stare, the words died in his throat.
Rosamond woke in a hospital bed.
She was so weak she couldn't sit up.