Chapter 6

A week later, Alyssa checked herself out of the hospital alone. Back at the villa, she began packing her things. She took the wedding photo down from the wall. Next, she packed all the jewelry and gifts Hendrix had given her into cardboard boxes and set them ablaze in the backyard. The firelight danced across her pale face, consuming everything she once deemed beautiful. It paralleled her love that had burned down to nothing but ashes. Her phone rang suddenly. It was a call from her father, Paul Sonnet. Paul said, "Alyssa, bring Hendrix home for dinner this weekend, okay? I bought your favorite ribs." Alyssa clenched her phone tightly and replied, "I'll come home by myself, Dad." … During dinner, Paul frowned as he looked at Alyssa, who had come alone as she'd said over the phone. "Where's Hendrix?" he asked. "He's not coming," Alyssa said, gently placing a piece of barbecued rib onto his plate. After a slight pause, she added, "We're getting divorced." "What?" Paul shot to his feet. The chair screeched harshly across the floor. "That bastard did something to you, didn't he?" Paul pressed. Alyssa shook her head, but the slight motion caused her shirt to shift and reveal the gauze that hadn't yet been removed. Paul's expression became somber instantly. "What happened to you?" Alyssa responded, "It's over, Dad. I've already filed for divorce. As soon as I get the certificate, I'll take you abroad with me." While she remained calm and composed, Paul was shaking with rage. "It was Hendrix, wasn't it? What did he do to you to drive you this far? He got on his knees in front of me and begged me to let you marry him back then. He swore he'd love you forever! What has he done now? Wait here, Alyssa. I'll teach him a lesson right now!" Alyssa quickly stopped him. "Dad, no! Please, I'm begging you. This will all be over soon. Don't make it worse." Paul shook with fury but finally calmed down after her plea. Still, he didn't take a single bite that entire meal. After dinner, Alyssa returned home. Late that night, the sharp ring of her phone jolted her awake. "Ms. Sonnet, your father's been in a car accident. He's in critical condition. Please come to the hospital immediately!" Her mind went blank, and a loud buzzing noise filled her ears. How could this be? Paul was fine just hours ago. He had smiled as he saw her off at the door, reminding her to be careful on the road. How could everything change so suddenly? Alyssa stumbled out of the villa in a panic. She didn't even bother to change out of her indoor slippers. The harsh white lights in the hospital hallway were especially glaring. "Doctor! How's my father?" Alyssa asked anxiously. The lead surgeon pulled down his mask. With a grim expression, he informed, "Ms. Sonnet, your father has lost too much blood. He needs a massive transfusion, but…" "But what?" "Ms. Hale, Mr. Ferguson's childhood sweetheart, just slit her wrists. Mr. Ferguson has redirected all available matching blood to save her. If you can contact Mr. Ferguson and ask him to spare some for your father, we might still be able to save him." Alyssa's fingers trembled so badly that she could hardly hold the phone. She called the first time… no answer. She tried a second time… still no answer. The third… fourth… "Pick up… Please pick up…" Alyssa prayed helplessly as tears streamed down her face, blurring Hendrix's name on the screen. On the 27th attempt, Alyssa finally got a reply. The mechanical voice said, "The number you have dialed is currently not available." Her phone hit the floor with a heavy thud, and spiderweb splinters formed across the screen. A memory resurfaced at that moment. In the first year of their marriage, Hendrix had handed her a new phone and said, "Alyssa, my phone's turned on 24/7 for you. No matter when, you can always reach me." Suddenly, the heart monitor in the ICU blared. "Ms. Sonnet! Hurry! Your father's crashing!" the lead surgeon called out. Alyssa stumbled into the room. Paul lay on the hospital bed, covered in blood. His pale lips were twitching beneath the oxygen mask. "Dad!" Alyssa cried, dropping to her knees beside the bed. She grabbed his cold hand and urged desperately, "Hold on! Please…" Paul lifted his hand weakly to stroke her face. "I wanted to confront Hendrix… Stand up for you… But I guess… I'm useless. I didn't even make it there… Got into a crash instead…" "Dad, don't talk. Please, just wait! I'll find blood for you. I will!" Alyssa sobbed even harder now. Paul shook his head. "It's too late… I won't be around anymore… my precious girl… From now on… you must… live well… on your own…" And with that, a long, uninterrupted beep sounded in the room. Alyssa stared as the light faded from Paul's eyes until there was nothing but a lifeless shade of dark gray. His body was still warm. But all his blood… was gone. "Dad… Dad!" Alyssa collapsed onto his body, and her agonized sobs echoed through the ICU.