LIVELY POV

The IUC door conveniently slid open as I approached, and I paused with one foot inside, and one outside, at the sight of Mom sitting by the bed, cheerfully chatting away. Whatever she was telling the small child lying in front of her elicited peals of laughter. The urge to embrace him conflicted with a twinge of guilt for potentially interrupting their moment.

For nearly half a minute, I was captivated by them having fun, until Bubble, through his laughter finally noticed me. His eyes grew wide with excitement as he exclaimed, "Livy!"

He was fine, perhaps not in the ideal condition a mother would hope for, but better than the harrowing thought of finding him cold and still. That alone was everything. A wave of gratitude surged through me, and a smile I couldn't suppress spread across my face as my legs, suddenly full of energy, hurried me toward him.

Mom smiled encouragingly when our eyes met, and I nodded, realizing how much I needed it at that moment. Doubts about crowding Bubble's space to breathe stressed me, so I squatted beside the electronic bed, burying the lower half of my face against the back of my hands as they grasped the rails and I peered through the gap. "Hey," I whispered.

"Livy, you... ahh air." He shifted onto his left side for a better view of me, dressed in a cute blue hospital gown, with IVs and devices connected to his frail body.

"Of course I am," I whispered, my voice strained with distraught emotions.

"Don kai."

God, I tried to smile, but only tears fell.

"I'm not crying. They're happy tears." I reach out, cupping his soft cheek, finally able to breathe despite the tightness in my chest. He returns my smile. "There's nowhere I'd rather be than here." And nothing I want more than for him to heal.

"Mom tay you'll say wit mini—goes"

"I couldn't leave you. Never." I shake my head, and his naive smile widens.

Mom was the first to see Bubble, granted entry by the nurses who recognized her as his mother, while Dad was finally getting his wounds treated.

"Livy, I did—n't kai when it h–urt ate," he said proudly, leaving me momentarily at a loss for words.

Swallowing with my head bowed, I recollect myself.

"You did well, love," Hopefully my smile wasn't forced when I locked eyes with him. "But remember, when it hurts, you don't have to hide your feelings, okay? The doctors need to know how you feel."

His lips pressed into a thin, cute line, his gaze downcast with his lashes brushing against his cheeks.

"Onest?" he asked, and I nodded reassuringly, my thumbs stroking his face.

"I cood—n't," he sadly admitted.

Okay, so it was more than eight.

Swallowing hard, I struggled to suppress the enormous lump of despondency in my throat.

"You will be fine, I promise. One day, there will be no more pain, no more timers for drugs, and no more cords following you around. You will be cured, and we can go anywhere you want. Always keep that in mind."

"Bitch?" He grinned innocently, making me genuinely chuckle.

"To the beach, yes," I said, taking his small hand and kissing the palm, watching him smile at me excitedly.

The door swung open, and the nurses entered, requesting that Bubble be alone for treatment. They informed us about the designated family area, which offered a view through a glass panel.

After lavishing Bubble with countless kisses on his cheeks and forehead, which still didn't feel insufficient, and reluctantly parting with a hug, I wearily followed Mom outside to the designated area where Sadie had been watching us earlier, now with the blinds drawn. She offered me a consoling arm rub when we arrived. Besides grappling with the real issues at hand, the ill-fitting dress was adding to my distress. My attempt at an appreciative smile faltered as my grief intensified when I saw Dad approaching, his bruises now covered with bandages.

I winced from the ache that stemmed from memories barraging back to my mind.

"You lied to me," I whispered, my voice a drained murmur as I called after Mom.

Now that Bubble is okay, let's talk.

Despite being hoarse and strained from exhaustion, my voice was audible in the empty hall. Mom paused and looked at me.

"Why did you lie?" I repeated, watching confusion cloud her face.

"What?" she mumbled, as Dad joined her, standing by her side, both of them looking at me like I was speaking a foreign language.

I was too angry to be fooled by their pretense. 
"Stop it, Mom. I know Dad was taken to jail, and you kept it from me. Stop playing dumb."

Her complexion paled, and Dad, overwhelmed, turned his back to me, rubbing his face, leaving Mom to explain. "Livy, we were going to tell you tomorrow after the events, so you wouldn't worry too much."

Oh please, that's bullshit.

"Dad?" I called out desperately. He should at least be able to look me in the eye. When he didn't, I managed to step around him, shrugging off Sadie's pleading attempt to hold me back.

"I kept asking Mom about you. I called you several times. This morning, you lied to my face as if everything was okay. Dad, these are things you shouldn't hide. We've been through this together; why would you let me go on living a lie while you're being assailed?" A regretful sob escaped my throat.

Pain overshadowed his countenance as he looked at me. "Bug, it was nothing. It was about the ice, and the case has been resolved. And about the money, I promise we will refund it."

Pausing, I stared at him, dumbfounded by what he was talking about. 
 
"What money?" 

"I took from your savings to bail your father out," Mom admitted, her voice tinged with embarrassment, pulling my attention toward her.

Okay.

Anger was the only word to describe the tempest building in my chest. "You're so fixated on my integration into the Wallaces that when something crucial arises, you conceal it from me—all because I'm supposed to marry Aaron." It was a struggle to restrain the intensity of my voice, which felt on the verge of a roar.

I had been reveling in the time of my life with the very family that was undermining mine, their smiles deceiving me while I remained oblivious to their betrayal. What does that make me in relation to my past? Ungrateful? Disloyal? Because it feels as though, for the past few weeks, I have been detached from my roots. Now, I can't rid myself of the guilt of my seemingly treacherous behavior.

"Certainly, Livy. Just consider our predicament. That fourteen thousand won't resolve Bubble's condition. God knows your father and I can't devise a better solution either," she persisted in her defense. I felt like I was losing my mind. Feeling utterly distraught and engulfed by anxiety,  I retreated to the other side of the wall and hunched over, tugging at my hair, struggling to think through the fog of my thoughts.
Mom's voice continued from above, "You need a support system, Livy. Your only opportunity is Aaron, and he's willing to assist. When chances like this arise, you can't simply dismiss them. Sacrifices must be made for meaningful outcomes."

My family will not suffer from Cynthia and Kathleen's vindictive schemes aimed at exacting punishment on me.

I lifted my face from my arms, leaving traces of makeup and tears on my skin, and gazed up at Mom from the floor.

"I've made up my mind. I'm ending things with him," I declared resolutely.

"You will not do any such thing," she retorted, while Dad exhaled in resignation and began pacing back and forth.

My face twisted with indignation as I looked at the two clueless people I was supposed to protect, who felt entitled to guide me. "Even after what happened? Just look at Dad's face, Mom," I said sharply, pointing over. He gazed at me with sorrow. "Isn't this enough to remind you of our status in their society?"

"Bug, it's alright. The Wallaces have nothing to do with the Beaumonts' hostility. Aaron adores you, and it's clear to everyone here that you feel the same about him," Dad reassured softly, stepping away from where Sadie was standing with her head bowed.

"Do you know who reported you to the police? Who bribed Beaumont to come and demean us? Or do you think it's merely a coincidence that our problems are escalating?" I nearly shouted, rising to my feet.

"Livy," Mom reprimanded softly from the vicinity of the patient rooms.

"Aaron's family disapproves of me being with their son," I confessed shakily.

"What?" they both exclaimed in unison, with Sadie's gaze lifting to reveal eyes filled with disbelief.

I never intended for them to find out, much worse this way. I was ready to sacrifice everything for Aaron, but I could not bear to see my parents suffering in ignorance, especially when I could prevent it. They've already given up so much for me; I can no longer afford to be selfish.

"Mom, I am not like them. Look at me," I said, my voice trembling as I wiped away tears that seemed relentless. Mom and Dad looked at me with a mix of fear and anguish. But the truth must be uncovered. "They despise me. They desire a girl of his rank—someone who doesn't require guidance, who has been poised from birth. To them, I'm merely a blemish on their reputation, a mere servant in their social circle, expected to serve rather than stand with them. They believe I've broken Aaron, that he must be disoriented to want someone like me."

"But how?—Aaron said he loves you—" Dad's voice trembled as he grappled with the incomprehensible situation, given their limited understanding.

"Aaron is selfish," I murmured weakly, wiping away tears. I don't doubt his feelings for me in the slightest, but he knew I was subjected to hatred from his family. He promised to have people protect my parents from his own. How could this happen, and how am I supposed to believe he didn't know?

Dad and Mom stood immobilized, stunned by the revelation. I dabbed at my eyes with shaking hands and turned away, leaving them to process the shocking information. "I'm going to see the doctor."

Footsteps hurried after me. Recognizing Sadie, I didn't bother to look back. "Hey, are you okay?"

I nodded.

"No, genuinely," she insisted with concern, halting us as she tightened her grip on my hand.

"But what can I do, Sadie?" My chest was gripped with intense pain, and tears began to well up again. She released my hand and enveloped me in her embrace, and I sobbed quietly. Her soothing strokes on my back and whispered words of comfort continued for several minutes.

When we pulled away, I really needed to consult the doctor about managing the surgery. We won't be able to raise the necessary funds, so I need to explore any viable alternatives for Bubble.

"You are stronger than you realize," Sadie remarked. I nodded, hooking back locks of hair behind my ear and about to turn away when her phone buzzed. She retrieved it from her purse, and my thoughts were interrupted. It was my phone.

She handed it to me, and the screen displayed the last person I was prepared to confront.

"I brought the phone with me," she said with a subtle tilt of her head. "He won't stop calling."

At that moment, I felt utterly stumped. I'm uncertain of how to feel about him. I swear, loving him was way over the top of everything I felt, but I am living in a clear reality where keeping hold of him was only going to consume not only me but everything around me.

"Just speak to him; he must be anxious," Sadie suggested as I examined the device with unfamiliarity.

"His mother brought Beamout," I responded with disappointment.

"Are you sure?"

I noticed the worried expression on the girl's face. "I heard her."

"That's purely malicious and nasty, Liv. But Aaron had nothing to do with it."

Struggling with the lump in my throat, I watched until the call ended and a text pinged, which I chose to ignore. "I really need to see the doctor," I said, concluding the conversation and leaving quickly.

***

I waited in the office while the doctor attended to Bubble. During this period, I composed myself in the quiet and reviewed Aaron's urgent messages, which repeatedly implored me to answer or return his calls.

"How is he?" I inquired when the doctor finally came behind the desk.

"We conducted new tests today. I was just examining the results," he explained.

"Have there been any improvements?"

He leaned forward, unfolding a document in front of him. "We have moved beyond the realm of hoping for a miracle. Immediate action is required."

Understood. So I don't have the luxury of refusing the Wallaces' support, even though I so badly wanted to preserve my family's dignity.

A sudden ripple of dizziness overcame me, but I managed to ask, "How severe is it?"

"I will be candid. This will also be discussed with Mr. Kelby. Typically, I would offer some solace with the waitlist, but Bubble doesn't have that duration to wait. Whatever we can provide won't suffice until his turn comes up on the list. If this were an external organ, amputation might be an option, but this is internal. He requires lungs immediately. I couldn't tell his mother so she doesn't panic, but here."

He handed a chest radiograph to my paralyzed form while I was seated, bracing myself to hear distressing terminology concerning my child. Although he was unaware I was the mother he intended to protect from the harsh reality, I was right there in front of him, with my heart bleeding inside.

"The affected area is substantial; it has compromised his trachea and bronchi, clearly visible where the windpipe bifurcates into the lungs," he explains, while I heartbreakingly study the image in my hand. "Given that the right lung is damaged, if it doesn't directly endanger him, it could impact his heart and diaphragm. Containing the spread is beyond our capability."

I leave the office, my chest heavy with dread, the doctor's words replaying in my mind as I navigate the corridors. Trembling, I manage to reach the restroom. It is silent and deserted.
I locate the last cubicle, bracing myself against the sides for support until I sit on the closed toilet, resisting to avoid collapsing.

Five seconds slowly progressed while I was disconnected and unresponsive, like a zombie staring at the white surface in front of me, then ten seconds passed, and twenty. I couldn't hold on any longer; my knees were drawn up to my chest—the chest that was weighed down by an unbearable heaviness.

An agonizing sob erupted from me, wrenching and intense, as though my veins were being torn from within and I was being shattered into pieces.

God knows it hurts in every fiber of my being. I don't know how much more I can take.

An hour went by with my tears shedding even when I willed them to stop. I held my breath whenever someone entered the restroom and only exhaled when the door closed behind them.

In the silence where my thoughts were everywhere, I resolved to prioritize my parents and Bubble above all else. I owe it to them.

As I scrolled through my contacts, grateful that Aaron had saved the Wallace family's numbers in the phone he had given me, which proved convenient now. My fingers lingered on Cynthia Wallace's contact.

'I will accept the deal, and you won't see me again.'

My eyes clenched shut regretfully with a severe ache cornering my soul. My breath grew rapid as new anguish dismantled the fragile defenses of my heart.

No.

I pressed and held the delete indicator, erasing the entire entry.

Damn it.