He Proposed to Her on a Mountain, I Got a Cancer Diagnosis in a Hospital Chapter 03

He Proposed to Her on a Mountain, I Got a Cancer Diagnosis in a Hospital Chapter 03

When I came back to myself, the clock was creeping toward midnight. At last, I heard familiar footsteps at the door.

Nathan took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.

Then he brushed his chin lightly against my forehead. “Not feeling well?”

“I brought your favorite Cajun peel-and-eat shrimp. Get up and have some?”

My gaze dropped to the takeout bag in his hand.

Steam was still faintly rising from it.

The place was a two-and-a-half-hour drive away.

I said nothing.

He ignored me and peeled them anyway, feeding them to me one by one.

For a split second, something unfamiliar stirred inside my chest before I could stop it.

A little later, he pulled out a ticket.

“Grace, I have a performance tomorrow. I saved this one just for you.”

…

The next afternoon, after hesitating for a while, I went anyway.

My seat was fairly far back.

I had barely sat down when Lila walked in on high heels.

A whole group trailed after her, teasing and laughing.

“Lila, that outfit is gorgeous. It couldn’t have been cheap, right?”

“Seriously. Tickets to Mr. Sterling’s performances are impossible to get. A seat that close must’ve cost a fortune.”

Lila bit her lip shyly. “It’s nothing. Nathan just wanted to help me out. We’re only coworkers.”

The people around her kept teasing.

“Coworkers? Please. Anyone could tell ages ago that Mr. Sterling’s into you.”

“Exactly. Even his own wife is seated behind you. Don’t be so modest.”

I tugged at the corner of my mouth, thinking for a moment that Nathan had really changed.

Turns out, it was just a cheap peace offering after the slap.

This time, though, I did not even want to argue.

I had just stood up when Lila stepped in front of me.

“Grace, so you’re here.”

“Can’t see very well from back here? Want to switch with me?”

“Move.”

I tightened my grip on my bag and tried to walk around her.

“It’s okay, Grace. I get chances like this all the time. I can sit anywhere.”

She reached out, grabbed my wrist, and shoved me hard.

In the middle of the struggle, she deliberately knocked over the vase beside us.

Then she dropped to her knees in front of me, crying.

“Mrs. Sterling, I was only trying to be nice and switch seats with you. Even if you’re upset, you didn’t have to take it out on the vase.”

“Every display piece here was borrowed for a fortune.”

“I know I don’t deserve anything. If you say the word, I’ll never get in the way of you and Nathan again.”

Before she had even finished speaking, Nathan strode over.

His eyes landed on me, his voice icy. “Grace, you’re bullying Lila even here?”

“Can’t you be a little more mature?”

Huddled behind him, Lila tugged at his sleeve. “Mrs. Sterling didn’t mean it, Nathan. Don’t be mad at her.”

I frowned slightly and stepped back. “She framed me.”

“What are you even talking about?” Nathan shot back with a cold laugh, shielding Lila behind him. “She can barely raise her voice. You think she’d set you up in a place like this?”

The event organizers looked uncomfortable.

In the end, they turned to Nathan. “That vase was purchased by Mr. Warren, so if you…”

A wave of dizziness hit me. I drew in a deep breath, looked up, and met Nathan’s eyes.

“Nathan, there are security cameras everywhere.”

He cut me off without hesitation.

“Lila is my partner. I know she would never do something like that.”

“As for Grace, handle her however you want.”

For the hundred-and-first time, he abandoned me again.

He let the police slap handcuffs on me, and he did not even look back.

Three full days passed before someone finally bailed me out.

Mr. Collins looked like he wanted to say something but could not quite bring himself to.

“Mrs. Sterling, please stop causing trouble.”

“Mr. Sterling had to pay a lot of money.”

Something stabbed straight through my chest.

Mr. Collins had watched me grow up.

I looked at him, my lips pale. “You don’t believe me either?”

He only sighed and said nothing.

When I got home, Nathan was sitting on the couch.

In his hands was a purse I had mentioned wanting a long time ago.

“Take a look. Do you like it?”

“No.”

I walked right past him and headed upstairs.

He followed me up and brushed a thumb across the corner of my mouth. “Are you upset because I didn’t protect you?”

I shoved him away, fury surging through me. “This is how you treat me, Nathan?”

“I know you were wronged, but she’s young. If this had really been investigated, it would’ve ruined her.”

“Besides, her career is finally taking off.”

“She embarrasses easily, and she still has performances coming up. Even if it wasn’t you, taking the blame wouldn’t have been such a big deal.”

“Not such a big deal?”

“Nathan, I had a job too. I quit and stayed home because of you.”

He let go of me, suddenly even more irritated.

“Here we go again, dragging up the same old stuff from the past.”

“Did I ever ask you to quit your job? Did I ever beg you to take care of me?”

“Everything you eat and everything you wear comes from me. Even if I did owe you once, I’ve paid it back by now.”

“If you’re a lazy freeloader, don’t pin it on someone else.”

I bit down so hard I nearly tore through my tongue. The taste of blood filled my mouth.

So after giving him everything, all I got in return was being called a lazy freeloader.

My eyes stung with tears.

“Nathan, I’m not letting her get away with this.”

He stepped closer, his face cold.

“Grace, your whole family depends on me now.”

“If you dare touch her, think about your mother lying in that hospital bed first.”

Then he turned and went into his study.

I pushed myself shakily to my feet. Even my bones seemed to ache.

I kept stuffing candy into my mouth.

But nothing could drown out the bitterness in my heart.