Chapter 2
“I… I’m not talking to you! Where’s she? Hannah!” I pushed past the nurse and rushed toward the patient rooms. The nurse glared at me. “Are you out of your mind? Even a farm mule doesn’t get worked this hard.” I ignored her and started searching every room. She wasn’t there. And not there either. Then, from a distance, I heard Hannah’s laughter. I stood in the hallway, dazed, my eyes locking onto the last room at the end. Without hesitation, I kicked the door open. “Hannah!” She was already awake, leaning against the bed, giggling as she watched a drama. “What are you doing? You scared me!” I stormed in and threw all the medical papers onto her bed. “What is this? What’s the meaning of this?” She kept stuffing potato chips into her mouth, looking completely unfazed. “I was just having some fun. Do you really need to make such a big deal out of it?” A wave of heat exploded in my head. “Hannah, do you have no shame at all? Do you even realize we’re just getting married?” Hannah adjusted her posture and sat up straight. “That’s exactly why I went out. We’re just getting married and for the rest of my life, I’ll only be looking at your dead-fish face. What’s wrong with having a little fun before that?” She picked up another chip and casually added, “Besides, Caleb and I were just saying goodbye in our own way. Why are you so worked up? We were together for three years, can’t I go crazy just once before it’s all over?” My head throbbed with anger. “Hannah, I’ve been with you for so long and I haven’t even dared to touch a single strand of your hair. Do you think this is fair to me?” Hannah wasn’t happy either. She threw an entire bag of chips at my head. “What are you yelling for? Useless and angry, that’s all you are! Ethan, why are you so petty?” Then, she grabbed her phone and tablet and hurled them at me. I wasn’t quick enough, but her phone hit me square on the head. “Caleb took care of me for three years. Even after we broke up, he didn’t touch another woman for two whole years. What’s the big deal if I give him this one chance?” My head throbbed painfully as I looked down at the phone in my hand. Messages kept flashing on the screen. Three minutes ago, she had sent him a text. [Even though I’m going to be someone else’s wife tomorrow, I can still wear a wedding dress for you. You can do whatever you want.] Below it was a selfie she had just taken with several buttons of her hospital gown undone. I looked up. Hannah hadn’t even had time to button them back up. So, the photo had just been taken. I glanced down and saw that Caleb had replied. [You look great just like that. Which room are you in?] I looked at Hannah again. She wore a smug expression, completely unashamed. “Do you even realize your mother has raised your dowry price three times already? The ‘carrying-the-bride’ money went from a thousand dollars to four thousand dollars! Your mom cursed at mine for so long and my mother didn’t even dare to say a word!” She waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, stop nagging. Once I completely become your wife, I’ll satisfy you too.” “Hannah, how can you even say that? You’ve completely let me down!” I clenched my teeth, my eyes stinging as tears slipped down my cheeks. At that moment, my mother-in-law and father-in-law walked in. My mother-in-law screamed and rushed at me, hitting my shoulder. “Ethan! What do you mean by this? I heard you yelling from down the hall! Why are you shouting? Can’t you see that my daughter is in the hospital? Ethan, you’re just married her and you’re already showing your true colors, huh?”