After leaving there, Bryan found me right away. In the car, he patted my head gently, like he would a puppy.
“Good girl, Livia won. Now you’re entitled to intensive hospital care. This time I won’t bother you as long as you obey.”
I wanted to attack him, but knew it was better to stay quiet this time.
My stomach suddenly started hurting again. When I looked down, I saw blood seeping through my hospital gown.
“Bryan, take me to the hospital right now!”
“What, your stomach’s hurting again?” he said, glancing at me. “Okay, we’ll go to the hospital right away. But I’ll pick up Livia first. She just celebrated her victory with her friends.”
My stomach was twisting even more. “Bryan, please, just this once,” I said, trembling.
But Bryan ignored me. Instead, he answered a call from Livia.
I gave up. No matter how much I begged, it wouldn’t work.
Our car stopped at a mall. Livia emerged from there.
“Get in, Livia. I have to take Elena to the hospital right away.”
Livia’s face turned into a feigned look of panic. “Wait, I think I left my lipstick in my friend’s bag!”
She was doing this on purpose.
My stomach felt like it was on fire. It felt like an infection. Five minutes passed and Livia still hadn’t come out. Cold sweat covered my body. My head was spinning and my vision was blurring.
When I woke up in the hospital, my stomach hurt even more.
I opened my eyes and saw Livia. She looked different, as if she were copying my style of dress and my hair. Even the color of my favorite lipstick.
Her hand pressed against my wounded stomach. “I hope this is an infection, so you won’t end up pregnant with Bryan’s child!”
“Get away from me, you bitch!” I screamed as I sat up.
She looked surprised, then laughed cynically. “Calm down, sis. What’s there to be angry about now? I’ve taken all your dreams. If I were you, I’d just give up.”
My blood boiled. “What are you doing here?”
"To say thank you. For everything. Do you know why Bryan hates you? I’ve been the one doing it all along. Whenever Bryan approached you for a mission, I always tried to make you look bad in his eyes. Of course, so he wouldn’t fall in love with you."
My head was spinning. "Just get out of my room, Livia."
But she kept talking.