I took a deep breath and told the caretaker Jason had hired,
“Leave me alone for now. I want some peace and quiet.”
She looked at me worriedly and said cautiously,
“Please don’t do anything reckless. Miss Brooks already promised to find the best plastic surgeon for you. And Mr. Miller said he’ll marry you after you’re discharged…”
I cut her off,
“Don’t worry. I won’t be foolish. I’ve already died once—I know what death feels like. I won’t make that mistake again.”
The caretaker misunderstood me, thinking my “died once” referred to last night’s accident.
After she left, I picked up my phone from the bedside table and dialed a number.
When the call connected, I whispered,
“Jason Miller and Emily Brooks just left the hospital. Follow them.”
“Emily’s twenty-fifth birthday is coming up soon. The surprise I prepared for her and Jason—it’s ready, isn’t it?”
A respectful voice answered from the other end,
“Everything is arranged. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have promised that the two of them will be utterly disgraced that day.”
…
I stayed in the hospital for three days. During those days, Jason and Emily came often, patiently comforting me.
But on Emily’s birthday, neither of them showed up.