Chapter 6

When Sienna woke in the hospital again, her whole body felt as if it had been torn apart and put back together. A nurse was speaking to Lance, who stood with his back to her. "She has multiple soft tissue contusions and a mild concussion. Her previous allergy and car accident injuries still haven't fully healed…" Lance's face showed genuine remorse and lingering fear. When he saw Sienna open her eyes, he immediately stepped forward and said, "Enna! You're finally awake! I'm sorry… I didn't know you would run into something like this. Otherwise, I never would have hung up on you! "Don't worry. I've already had those scumbags who attacked you sent away. I guarantee they'll never dare cause trouble again!" Sienna stared blankly at the ceiling. Just as she was about to speak, the door opened. Ashley walked in with reddened eyes. "Lance, the doctor said my dad's test report is out. There are some Eglurnia terms I don't understand. Can you help me with it?" Lance looked conflicted. After a long pause, he said softly, "Get some rest, Enna. I'll be back soon." With that, he left with Ashley. In the days that followed, he never came back. One day, Ashley entered Sienna's hospital room alone. She wore a pretentious expression of feigned apology. "I'm sorry, Sienna. These past few days, my dad needed a foreign specialist for consultations. I couldn't understand much of what they said, so I had to trouble Lance. Since you have no one around for you, let me take care of you." "Don't bother," Sienna said coldly. "Oh, don't refuse. This is what I owe you." Ashley poured hot water for herself. Then, she continued, "If it weren't for your covering my shift, you wouldn't have been hurt." Sienna looked at her and exposed her act with a chilly voice. "It's just the two of us here. Why are you still pretending?" Ashley's smile froze before it slowly faded into a mocking sneer. "So, you did see all those posts? I thought you hadn't and assumed that was why you could stay so gracious. "Since you've seen them, you should know your place. Even if Lance still somewhat loves you for now, with the way things are between him and me, he will be mine sooner or later. If you're smart, you'll step aside on your own and not make it too embarrassing for yourself." Sienna smirked frostily and said, "Are you done? If so, please leave." Seeing that she remained unaffected, Ashley steeled her gaze. "Since you won't take the easy way out, don't blame me for doing this!" With that, she suddenly threw herself backward. Her forehead crashed heavily against the corner of the bed frame with a dull thud. The next second, the door opened, and Lance walked in. He saw Ashley on the floor and Sienna sitting indifferently on the bed. Shock took over his features as he exclaimed, "What happened, Ashley?" Ashley leaned into his arms and cried pitifully. "I came to care for Sienna out of kindness, but she seemed angry that you've been spending these days with me, helping my dad. S-She pushed me…" Lance instantly turned to shoot Sienna a glare. "Didn't I already explain the situation? Ashley's father is seriously ill. This is my family's hospital. It's only natural for me to help! Was it really necessary to lay a hand on her over something this small?" Sienna felt a crushing sense of helplessness. "She's lying. I never touched her. She fell on her own." Lance grew even angrier. "Sienna! When did you become so unreasonable? Why would she hurt herself just to frame you? What would she gain from this? You injured her and still won't apologize. Is that it?" "I didn't do anything wrong. I won't apologize," Sienna shot back firmly. Ashley was quick to play the saint. "Lance, forget it… We're classmates. There's no need for an apology…" Compared to her magnanimous attitude, Lance found Sienna especially hateful at that moment. "Look at Ashley! You should take a leaf out of her book. Why are you so petty? When did you become such a person?" Sienna's heart hurt so much that it had gone numb. Had she changed, or was it he who had changed? "No matter what, I will not apologize," Sienna insisted. A nurse happened to come in to change Sienna's dressing. In his anger, Lance snapped coldly at the nurse, "Stop all medication for this room. Resume only when she agrees to apologize." He then turned to Ashley, his voice softening. "I'll take you to get your wound treated first." With that, he helped Ashley out of the room. In the days that followed, no nurse came to change Sienna's dressing. Her body ached everywhere. She had no strength to transfer to another hospital and didn't want to worry her busy parents. So, she could only grit her teeth and care for herself. As the wounds were not properly cleaned or medicated, they became inflamed and swollen. The agonizing pain often brought her to tears at night. In her dreams, she saw only the Lance of the past. She saw the version of him when he was meticulously attentive and endlessly caring toward her. But when she woke, there was nothing but cold air and relentless pain. Still, she never backed down from her refusal to apologize. On the day of her discharge, she completed all the paperwork alone. As she stepped out of the hospital, she saw Lance arriving to pick up Ashley, who was also being discharged. Ashley clung affectionately to Lance's waist. "Thank you, Lance. Without you, my dad could never have recovered so quickly…" Lance smiled lightly and replied in a casual tone, "We're classmates. Don't stand on ceremony." Sienna lowered her head, and all she wanted to do was to leave quickly. But Lance spotted her at once and strode over to grab her wrist. "Why are you being discharged?" Sienna yanked her hand free. "You dismissed the doctors and nurses. If I didn't get discharged, was I supposed to wait in there and die?" Lance sighed helplessly. "Why are you so stubborn? If you would just apologize, you wouldn't have to suffer like this." "I did nothing wrong. I won't apologize." Lance's expression hardened. "Are you sure you won't?" "Absolutely," Sienna affirmed.