The sounds blurred together. Then darkness swallowed me whole.
When consciousness flickered back, chaos surrounded me.
"Internal bleeding—she needs surgery immediately! Get her emergency contact on the line!"
A nurse fished the phone from my pocket, scrolled to my contacts, and dialed the first number.
It rang. And rang. And rang.
Finally, he picked up.
"Hello, this is the hospital emergency room. Are you Ms. Perez's husband?"
"She's been in a serious car accident. Internal bleeding. She needs emergency surgery right now. Please come immediately—"
Ryan cut her off, his voice flat with irritation.
"Is this Noreen's latest stunt? Couldn't think of a better excuse, so she got herself hit by a car?"
"What, the drama this afternoon wasn't enough? Now she's pulling this at night?"
The doctor grabbed the phone. "Sir, this is not a joke! The patient's injuries are critical—life-threatening! We need family consent for surgery!"
Sandra's laughter tinkled in the background. "Ryan, who is it?"
"Noreen. Says she got hit by a car. Dying, apparently."
Sandra giggled. "Then let her die."
The doctor's voice rose. "Sir, please take this seriously! She genuinely needs surgery!"
Ryan scoffed. "Noreen, drop the act."