Chapter 2 I forced the lawyer to gather evidence within a month while racing between court and hospital. My brother's surgery had gone smoothly, but the ambulance accident left him in the ICU for days. I stayed until they moved him to a regular ward, but he still didn't wake up. At his bedside, I gripped his hand with both of mine as if holding on to some small comfort. Everything that had happened made me realize how tightly my mother and brother had sheltered me.. Now that Mom was gone. I had to be his pillar-I could not afford to break. "Meredith..." My brother's voice, thin and hoarse, snapped me out of my thoughts. I swallowed the sting in my nose and asked quietly, "How do you feel? Any pain anywhere?" He squeezed his eyes shut and forced a smile. "I'm fine. You're the one who's gotten so thin-i you don't eat properly someone's going to mistake you as my little sister when you go out.". I knew he was trying to distract me, so I pretended to be annoyed and made a soft huff. I went out to heat some water. When I came back, the electrocardiogram monitor was frantically beeping. I sprinted into the room and found Hillary standing there. My brother clutched his chest nis face ashen, his trembling finger pointing at her as he gasped for air. 'Hillary! What did you do to my brother?!" I ran to his side, pushed the call button with shaking ingers. She shrugged, feigning innocence. "Sorry-I thought you'd already told him that your mothe died. I just came to comfort him and didn't expect such a reaction..." What does our family ever have against you? Why do you keep doing this to us?" I glared at her urious and on the verge of striking her, but I couldn't bring myself to leave my brother's side. Meredith, you misunderstood. I'm doing this for you-if he finds out after he's recovered, he night get triggered again. Better he's here in the hospital where they can treat him right away sn't that safer?" Her coquettish tone was like a knife that pierced through me. Shut up!" I snapped. Doctors and nurses rushed in, checked my brother, and spoke gravely. "The patient is in critica condition. We recommend a heart transplant within three days-otherwise it's very dangerous." As they hurried him back to the ICU, my heart dropped into an even darker place. Hillary blinked feigning concern. "Oh dear, did I say the wrong thing? Wouldn't that mean your family... migh have to hold two funerals in a row?" I whirled around and reached to slap her, but before it could land, my hand was yanked and held tight from behind. "Hillary isn't a doctor-she doesn't know how to talk to patients. All she ever does is act; If you can't help with your hands, then use your head!" Tristan's voice landed like ice. "Tristan, I should've listened to you and not run around... I made Meredith angry again." Hillary instantly put on a frightened act and hid behind Tristan. As she glanced at me, I caught a flash of satisfied mockery in her eyes. I wrenched Tristan's hand off and faced him. "Do you remember the vows at our wedding?" I pressed. His arm around Hillary stiffened imperceptibly. "You promised to protect me and my family forever-to keep us safe. But you're the one who hit me, and you let Hillary hurt my family. Tristan-are your promises worth so little?" Panic flickered in his eyes, but Hillary cut in before he could answer. "Meredith, don't blame Tristan. It's all my fault... If you want someone to vent on, come at me." On hearing that, Tristan pulled her even closer. When he looked at me, his expression had smoothed back to calm. "Meredith, I know you've been through a lot and you need to vent. I understand-but don't involve Hillary." His voice was firm, and it was no longer meant for me. The man who once sheltered me now shielded another woman without hesitation. A sharp, hot pain stabbed my chest. Watching their exchanged looks of concern, I felt disgusted and betrayed. 'Don't think one or two soft words will silence me," I said through clenched teeth. "I'm not a sain -when I was stabbed, I won't say it's okay." If either of you shows up in front of my brother again, I will fight her to death!" Ah... Tristan, my belly hurts so much... I'm so scared..." Hillary immediately curled into his arms and moaned. Tristan's face went tense; he scooped her up and hurried away. From the moment hey left, he never once looked back at me. Chapter