Chapter 2 That night , I went to dinner with my roommates . They asked what I wanted to eat . I had no appetite . " No peanuts . Everything else is fine . " Right after we ordered , I heard a guy's voice from the private room next door : " Marcus , getting so close to that freshman - won't your childhood sweetheart get jealous again ? " I paused mid - sip , thinking maybe it was someone else with the same name . Then I heard Marcus's casual laugh . " She's already jealous . Threatened to break up with me again . " " Dude , how many times is that now ? " Someone laughed mockingly . " What's it matter ? His little childhood sweetheart's just a drama queen and a simp . She's always the one threatening to break up , and she's always the one begging to get back together . Only Marcus has the patience for that level of crazy . " " Then why not just dump her for real ? I think Chelsea's sweet . Like a little bunny . " Marcus sounded resigned . " I'd love to , but it's a family arrangement . Gotta deal with it . " Those words hit me like a sledgehammer , waves of pain crashing over me . He was lying . Marcus's parents were busy doctors who'd asked my parents to look after him since elementary school . We grew up together and were close , but my parents never wanted us to be together . They thought Marcus would be too busy as a doctor to take care of me or our future family . The idea of their precious daughter handling everything alone made them furious . Coming back to reality amid my roommates ' chatter , I caught them mouthing " scumbag . " They were quietly mocking how pathetic and stupid the " childhood sweetheart " was . I lowered my eyes to hide the confusion and tears . " Excuse me , here's your food . " Chelsea appeared in a server's uniform , freezing when she saw me . I pretended not to notice , forcing a smile . " Food's here ! Let's eat . " When I didn't acknowledge her , she bit her lip and left . The dishes kept coming . Lost in thought , I mindlessly ate what was in front of me . Until a roommate shouted , " Wait , something's wrong ! This dish has peanuts in it - who ordered this ? " My throat muscles suddenly contracted and swelled . The suffocating sensation hit me as I gasped for air . My roommates noticed my symptoms and panicked . " What's wrong ?! " I managed to rasp out , " Aller … gic … pea … nuts … hos … pital … " They frantically tried to help me to the hospital . 0.9 % Chelsea suddenly burst in , blocking our way . " I'm sorry , I'm sorry ! I brought the wrong dish ! " " GET OUT OF THE WAY ! We need to get to the hospital ! " Chelsea bit her lip , looking conflicted . " You can't leave - you ate that dish and haven't paid yet . " My roommate snapped back , " YOU brought the wrong dish and made our friend sick , and you want US to pay ? Dream on ! " Chelsea's eyes immediately filled with tears . " I'm just a broke scholarship student working part - time . You guys obviously have money to eat out- can afford this bill . Please don't make this hard for me . " " If you skip out , they'll dock my pay . " Hearing this made me even more breathless with rage . I tugged my roommate's sleeve , trying to get her to take me away , but couldn't speak . Chelsea kept blocking us for money , but the second Marcus appeared from next door , her tears started flowing . " Marcus … " Marcus pulled her behind him protectively . " It's okay , I've got this . " I looked up at him , my swollen throat only managing a whisper : " Mar … " Marcus immediately noticed something was wrong and moved toward me , but Chelsea grabbed his arm . " Marcus , Joy's still mad at me . I mixed up the order and now she's faking an allergic reaction to make me pay . " She sobbed quietly . " I know I messed up , but I'm already out of money for this month . " Marcus glanced at the dishes in our room - no peanuts visible - and immediately believed Chelsea . He sighed in frustration . " Joy , you're the one who wanted to break up . Why are you taking it out on Chelsea now ? Just pay the bill . " My roommates suddenly realized I was the " pathetic scumbag's childhood sweetheart " they'd been mocking . Embarrassed , they let go of me . They started doubting whether I was faking the allergy for attention . Everyone turned against me . I tried to explain but only made choking sounds . Trembling , I pulled cash from my pocket , threw it on the floor , and stumbled toward the exit . Someone behind me asked , " She actually looks really sick … " " Just embarrassed about getting caught lying , " Marcus said angrily . " Time she learned a lesson . " My heart filled with sharp , stabbing pain . I bit my lip hard to keep from crying . With my oxygen - deprived brain , I remembered my first allergic reaction- None of the adults were home that day . Marcus was over playing and gave me a peanut candy . I had an instant reaction . He cried while carrying me to the hospital on his back - I still remember how warm and safe that felt . After that , he was always so careful . He'd ask about peanuts in everything I ate . He even followed his parents ' wishes and went pre - med , hoping to protect me better . But everything changed after he started sponsoring Chelsea . abale On Him 1 Bagged A Tycoon ! 1.2 % Chapter 2 Darkness swept over me , taking away the chest pain . The last thing I remembered was falling into arms that smelled like winter pine .