I was already injured, and now, with anger rushing to my head, everything in front of me went black.
In the meantime, the voice that had been so calm just moments ago turned frantic:
"Lawrence?"
"Lawrence, wake up!"
Someone urgently shook my shoulders.
In my dazed state, I thought I heard Charles’s voice shouting.
"Nicole! Where are you going after leaving me?"
When I regained consciousness, I felt someone gently stroking my cheek. As soon as I moved, the hand quickly pulled back.
"Once you're better, go apologize to him," Nicole said coolly.
I furrowed my brow, still struggling to focus.
“He took a punch from you,” she added. “It still hurts. Just apologize, and then we’ll…”
She hesitated before finishing, "Get married."
Her eyes were red, rimmed from staying up all night by my bedside. She must have been sitting by my bed for a while. But was all of this just an attempt to get me to apologize to her first love?
With that, I said hoarsely, "Nicole, what makes you think I have to be with you?"
She froze.
I let out a bitter laugh. "That punch? I only wish I had hit harder!"
The veins on my hand bulged as I clenched my fist. Even the blood in the IV tube began to backflow.