That Killed Us 6

Chapter 

When Lydia Rivers wole again, It felt as if her body had been taken apart and put back together wrong 

A nurse stood by the bed at Hylan Medical Center, speaking to Chase Bylan with her back to Lydia. 

“Multiple soft–issue contusions, mild concussion. She’s also still dealing with the aftereffects of the nut allergy and the previous car 

accident…” 

Chase’s face held raw remorse and lear. The second he saw Lydia’s eyes open, he stepped forward. 

“Lydia! You’re awake. I’m sorry I had no idea something like that would happen. If I’d known, I never would’ve hung up. Don’t worry, 

I already had the guys who touched you hauled in. They won’t dare try anything again.” 

Lydia stared at the ceiling, numb. She parted her lips to speak when the door swung open. 

Sienna Quinn slipped in, eyes red. 

“Chase, my dad’s test results just came back There are terms 1 don’t understand. Can you help me read them?” 

Chase faltered, clearly torn. After a long beat, he said quietly, 

“Lydia, get some rest. I’ll be right back. 

He left with Sienna. 

He didn’t come back for days. 

When Sienna finally showed up alone, she 

“Lydia, P’m sorry. We brought in an outlist for my dad, a 

Chase to help. Since no one’s with you, let me take care of you, 

“Don’t bother,” Lydia said, voice cool. 

a lot of the medical vocabulary is in English. I could only ask 

“Don’t refuse,” Sienna went on, pouring water for herself as if she owned the room. “I owe you. If you hadn’t covered my shift, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.” 

Lydia looked at her, then sliced straight through these 

“It’s just the two of us. Why are you still acting?” 

Sienna’s smile stalled. Slowly, it faded into something faintly mocking 

“So you did see my Close Friends posts. I thought you hadn’t–that’s the only 

She tipped her head, lashes fluttering. 

you could’ve stayed so gracious.” 

“Since you saw them, you should know your place. Even if Chase still likes you for now, with the way he and I are, he’ll be mine sooner or later. Be sinart Bow out on your own and save a little face.” 

Lydia’s mouth twitched into the ghost of a smile. 

“Are you finished? Then you can leave.” 

Sienna’s eyes hardened. 

“So you’d rather take the hard way.” Her voice turned cold. “Don’t blame me for what happens next.” 

She abruptly reeled backward and cracked her forehead on the corner of the spare bed with a dull thud. 

The door opened at once Chase stopped in. 

His gaze landed on Sienna crumpled on the floor and on Lydia sitting upright, expressionless. His face changed. 

“Sienna! What happened?” 

Sienna collapsed into his arms, crying like a rainstorm. 

“I came to check on Lydia, but I think she’s upset you’ve been helping me… with my dad… She pushed me.” 

Chase’s anger flared as he rounded on Lydia. 

“I explained, didn’t I? Her father’s condition is serious. This is my family’s hospital–of course I’m going to help. Over something this small, you had to lay hands on her?” 

Lydia felt a wave of exhaustion so deep it hollowed her out. 

“She’s lying. I didn’t touch her. She fell on purpose.” 

Chase’s voice sharpened. 

“Lydia! Since when did you become so unreasonable? Why would she frame you by hurting herself? For what? You hurt her–apologize Now.” 

“I didn’t do anything. I won’t apologize.” 

“Chase, let it go,” Sienna said quickly, saintly through her tears. “We’re classmates. No apology needed.” 

Chase looked at Sienna, then back at Lydia with growing disgust. 

“See how gracious Sienna is? And look 

at you. Lydia, where’s your perspective? How did you turn into this?” 

it him who 

changed–or her? 

Numbness crawled through Lydia’s chest. Was 

“Either way, I’m not apologizing.” 

A nurse entered–Amy Walsh, with fresh dressings in a tray. Chase, still seething, snapped at her. 

“Stop her meds for this room. She can start again when she’s ready to apologize.” 

Then, in a gentler voice to Sienna. 

“Let’s get you patched up. 

He led Sienna out. 

” 

No one came back to change Lydia’s bandages for days fle” 

She had no strength to transfer hospitals, and she refused to alarm her already overworked parents. She did what she could alone. 

Without proper care, her wounds grew red and swollen, burning until tears slipped down her cheeks at night. 

In her dreams, Chase was the boy who remembered every allergy, every soft spot, every need. 

When she woke, only the cold air and unending pain kept her 

And still, she refused to bend. 

company 

On discharge day, she checked herself out alone. As she stepped through the hospital doors, she saw Chase–there to pick up Sienna. 

Sienna clung to his waist, voice sweet with gratitude. 

“Chase, thank you. If it weren’t for you, my dad wouldn’t have recovered this fast.” 

Chase smiled, easy as breathing. 

“We’re classmates. Don’t mention it.” 

Lydia looked away and headed for the curb. 

Chapter6 

27.27% 

Chase spotted her instantly and caught her by the wrist. 

“Why are you being discharged?“” 

She shook him off. 

“You told the staff to stop my treatment. It I didn’t leave, was I supposed to wait here and die?” 

He sighed, exasperated. 

“Why are you so stubborn? All you had to do was apologize, and none of this would’ve happened.‘ 

“I didn’t do it. I won’t apologize.” 

His expression went cold. 

“You’re sure?” 

“Absolutely.” 

Chapter