Chapter 135

My heart dropped like a stone. I hung up the phone without another word, didn’t even bother changing out of my pajamas—just threw on a coat and bolted to the hospital. In my previous life, I died from stomach cancer. Spent ages in the hospital. I've seen what acute gastric perforation can do—it’s not something people come back from. Ronald’s stomach has never been great. Drinking always leads to pain, but I didn’t think it had gotten this bad. He was totally fine when I left. If he actually dies... am I legally responsible for that? But when I got to the hospital, I headed straight for the gastro ward. And there he was—Nicholas, that grinning idiot. I cracked my knuckles and gave a syrupy sweet smile that dripped with sarcasm. “Didn’t you say he needed emergency surgery or he'd die? So why is he just... chillin’ here?” Nicholas rubbed his hands together and gave me a wink. “Wow, Bella, not even time to change clothes, huh? Guess you still care about Ron—” “Okay, okay, don’t be mad. I d