Chapter 4

The wedding was called off, and my mom was rushed to the hospital after collapsing.

I sat outside the operating room, staring at the red light that never seemed to turn off, my heart pounding as I kept praying she would make it.

Leon showed up with Allison, her eyes red. The moment he saw me, his expression hardened.

"Allison's getting dragged online because of you."

Someone had taken photos from the wedding, the moment Allison started taking off her clothes, edited them, and posted them online. The comments were filthy, calling her a mistress, a tramp, tearing her apart.

Before I could even process it, Leon grabbed my arm and yanked me up from the chair.

I was already weak from early pregnancy, and my legs gave out. I hit the cold floor hard, pain shooting through me, but he didn't even glance down.

"Apologize to Allison," he said. "If you hadn't made a scene at the wedding, none of this would've happened."

Tears burned in my eyes as I pointed toward the operating room. "She ruined my wedding and put my mom in there, and you want me to apologize to her? Do you even know I'm carrying your…"

A sharp cramp twisted through my abdomen, and I instinctively clutched my stomach.

Leon took a step toward me, something like suspicion flickering in his eyes.

"What did you say?"

I opened my mouth, about to tell him I was pregnant, but before I could get the words out, Allison suddenly rushed toward the hospital window, her voice breaking.

"Leon, she turned me into a joke! I don't want to live like this!"

Whatever concern had crossed his face vanished. He shoved me aside and ran to her.

"Allison, don't do anything stupid. Get down!"

Then he turned back to me, his voice sharp.

"Gemma, you've been through this. You know what a woman's reputation means. Can't you see you're pushing her too far? Apologize. Now!"

All he cared about was Allison, about her reputation, her pain. He didn't care that my wounds had just been torn open again.

Something inside me went quiet.

"I won't."

He shot me a hard look, pulled Allison back from the window, and said, "You'll regret this."

-

It took a full day and night for my mom to be stabilized.

For a moment, I thought we were going to be okay. I sat by her bed, telling myself that even if I never got married, it didn't matter. I could just stay with my mom and take care of her for the rest of my life.

Then, a nurse hurried in.

"Ms. Booth, your mother collapsed again. She needs surgery immediately. The surgery and treatment have to be paid in full upfront, or we can't continue."

The hope I had just started to feel disappeared.

I didn't think, just ran, trying to find a way to gather the money. When I finally got to the payment desk, I was told my card had been frozen.

Leon's words flashed through my mind.

I ran out of the hospital, flagged down a cab, and went straight to our apartment.

The moment I pushed the door open, I saw clothes scattered everywhere. Leon had Allison pressed against the couch, kissing her as if nothing else mattered.

The sight made my eyes sting.

"Leon, I've loved you for years," Allison said between breaths. "I gave you up once out of spite. I'm not letting go this time."

He kissed her harder, eyes red.

I stepped inside anyway, numb, my mind still on my mom lying in the hospital.

They finally noticed me. Leon immediately shifted, pulling Allison behind him.

"My mom needs surgery," I said to Leon. "Please help her."

He frowned, almost impatient. "You should've thought about the consequences when you went after Allison."

I stared at him, tears spilling over. He looked away.

"Apologize to Allison, and I'll transfer the money…"

Before he finished, I slapped myself in the face.

"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I was wrong. Please."

Leon watched as my face began to swell, his eyes reddening. When he glanced at Allison, he didn't move.

"Keep going."

Something inside me broke.

I bowed my head, crying. "Leon, my mom is waiting for surgery. Please, just save her first. After that, you can do whatever you want to me."

He didn't answer. He turned to Allison instead.

"Feeling better now?"

She leaned into him, satisfaction in her expression.

I kept hitting myself.

Then, my phone rang.

"Ms. Booth, your mother developed complications. We couldn't save her."

Everything went silent. My legs gave out, and I dropped to the floor.

Warmth spread beneath me.

Leon's expression shifted, something flickering there at last. "Alright, get up. I've sent the money."

I looked up at him, my eyes hollow.

"My mom's dead, and there's no point in keeping your baby."

Before he could react, I turned and ran for the balcony, then jumped.

As I fell, he rushed forward, but his hands closed on nothing.

All that was left was his voice, breaking.

"Gemma…!"