Chapter 3
The next evening, I had just returned from my third chemotherapy session at the hospital, feeling so weak I could barely hold myself together.
Madison's unexpected visit last night had caught me completely off guard. Her concern only made my guilt worse. I had stayed in my room, listening to their laughter downstairs, not daring to come down for water until well past midnight.
Now I was curled up on the living room couch, watching Bradley adjust his custom-tailored suit and tie in front of the mirror. His reflection showed a handsome, confident man in excellent spirits.
"You have to attend tonight's dinner." He spoke without even turning around, his tone brooking no argument. "The Johnson project's success is crucial for the company. All our important clients and partners will be there."
I struggled to lift my head. The chemotherapy side effects had drained every ounce of energy from me, leaving my face pale as paper. Spencer had just warned me at the hospital to get more rest, saying the side effects were getting worse. "I haven't been feeling well lately, could I possibly..."
"Here we go again." Bradley spun around sharply, his eyes full of irritation. "Always making excuses when it matters most. I'm warning you – don't embarrass me!"
Looking at his cold stare, a sharp pain twisted through my chest. If only you knew I was undergoing chemotherapy... If only you knew I might only have a few months left...
"I understand." I gritted my teeth and stood up, my legs so weak I nearly collapsed. "I'll go get ready."
Bradley nodded with satisfaction and continued adjusting his cufflinks, as if he had just given orders to an employee.
I slowly made my way upstairs to the bedroom, each step feeling like walking on knife blades. The reflection in the mirror showed a ghost-pale face – no amount of foundation could hide the dark circles under my eyes or the deathly pallor of my lips.
But I had to go. In his eyes, I was already enough of a burden. I couldn't give him more reasons to be annoyed.
Bella Vista, Cleveland's most expensive business dining establishment. Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over the room filled with wine glasses and elite business professionals.
I sat rigidly beside Bradley, forcing myself to maintain a smile in front of his colleagues. The chemotherapy had left my stomach in constant spasms – every bite of food felt like swallowing glass shards.
"Congratulations, Bradley! Vice President – what a bright future ahead!"
"This must be the famous girlfriend! What a perfect couple!"
Every compliment felt like needles piercing my heart. I knew how terrible I looked, knew I didn't deserve these kind words.
Suddenly, a violent cramping pain shot through my stomach, more intense than anything I'd experienced before. It felt like something was tearing and churning inside me. My face turned deathly pale, cold sweat breaking out across my skin.
No, not here...
"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom." I practically fled from the table.
In the restroom, I hunched over the sink as the excruciating stomach pain doubled me over. I desperately tried to control myself, but the next second, blood poured from my mouth, staining the white marble sink crimson.
The metallic smell filled the air, the bright red liquid shocking to see. I had never vomited this much blood before. Terror instantly consumed me.
Was this a side effect of the chemotherapy? Or was my condition deteriorating?
"Oh my God, Paisley!"
Madison's shocked cry echoed through the restroom. She had just pushed open the door and witnessed this horrifying scene.
"What's happening? I'm calling an ambulance!" Madison pulled out her phone, her fingers trembling.
"No!" I frantically grabbed her hand, my voice weak and pleading. "Please don't say anything. It's just a stomach ulcer flare-up."
"This isn't a stomach ulcer!" Madison stared at the shocking blood in the sink. "You need immediate medical attention! This is serious!"
I looked at her shocked expression, my heart filled with despair. The secret I least wanted discovered had just been exposed to Madison.
"Please don't tell anyone." Tears filled my eyes. "I... I don't want to cause trouble for everyone, especially on such an important day..."
Madison looked at me in confusion. "But Paisley, your health..."
"I'll see a doctor, but not now." I struggled to steady my voice. "Please, just pretend nothing happened. I don't want to ruin tonight's celebration."
Madison stared at me in shock. In that moment, I saw pity and confusion in her eyes.
She must think I'm so strange. Vomiting blood but still worried about affecting the celebration, still wanting to pretend nothing happened.
I used paper towels to clean the blood from my mouth and the sink, trying to make myself look normal again.
"Let's go back," I told Madison. "Don't let anyone worry."
When we returned to the table, I tried to control my expression, but Madison's unusual demeanor caught Bradley's attention.
"Madison, why do you look so terrible?" Bradley frowned.
Madison glanced between me and Bradley, hesitating. "Bradley, Paisley really isn't okay. You should..."
"She's always been like this." Bradley waved dismissively without even looking at me. "Drama queen since childhood. I'm used to it."
Used to it.
Those three words again.
Suddenly, a memory from five years ago flashed through my mind – that rainy night that changed all our fates.
I was barely 20 then, at the age when I desperately craved love. Watching Bradley date other girls filled me with jealousy and despair.
"Bradley, I... I think I'm dying," I had cried into the phone. "The doctor says I might have some disease. I'm so scared..."
"What? Where are you?" Bradley's voice immediately turned anxious.
"I'm at the park near school. I'm afraid to go home... Bradley, am I going to die?"
"Don't be scared, I'm coming right now! Wait for me!"
The accident happened so suddenly. Bradley drove too fast in the rain, rushing to see me. The massive impact, the sound of shattering glass. When the ambulance took us to the hospital, I saw Bradley lying in a pool of blood, his right leg pierced by a steel rod.
"Bradley! It's all my fault!" I cried hysterically.
"It's okay... as long as you're fine," he said through the pain, his eyes full of concern. "What did your test results say? What did the doctor tell you?"
I almost told him the truth then, but seeing his agony, the words died in my throat. I told an even bigger lie: "The doctor said... it was just a false alarm."
Bradley's football dreams ended permanently because of that accident. During his recovery, I stayed by his side every day, consumed with guilt.
Until one day, he accidentally overheard my phone conversation with my roommate and learned that I hadn't been sick that night – I had just wanted his attention...
"So you really were just pretending to be sick." The look in his eyes changed from tenderness to disappointment. "My leg, my dreams – all for one of your lies."
Everything changed after that.
"She's always been like this. I'm used to it." Bradley's current voice was bone-chillingly cold.
The stark contrast cut through my heart like a knife. And now, when I was actually dying, I could never tell him the truth.
Because I had already used up all his trust.
Just then, an anxious figure appeared at the restaurant entrance.
"Paisley!" Spencer strode quickly toward our table. "We need to get to the hospital immediately."
My heart stopped. I remembered that in my panic after seeing all that blood in the restroom, I had sent Spencer a text: "Vomiting blood, at Bella Vista restaurant, very scared." Then immediately regretted it and wanted to take it back, but it was too late.
Bradley watched Spencer with cold eyes, suspicion and anger flashing across his face. "You two certainly seem close."
Spencer ignored Bradley's sarcasm, his attention completely focused on me. Seeing my paper-white complexion and the traces of blood still at the corner of my mouth, his expression became extremely grave.
"We're leaving now." Spencer's tone left no room for argument.
"Wait." Bradley stood up, his gaze moving back and forth between Spencer and me. "What exactly is your relationship? Why does he know so much about your condition?"
