As if only Carmilla had been injured, and I hadn’t been hurt at all.
I stood there, expressionless.
But inside, it felt like thousands of ants were gnawing at my heart. The pain spread and spread until I could barely stand. Until I nearly broke.
The in-laws I’d bent over backward to please adore Carmilla.
The husband and daughter I gave everything to didn’t recognize me. Didn’t love me. Didn’t even ask about my injuries.
I was a complete joke.
I turned and walked away without another word.
I asked the nurse to start my discharge paperwork.
It wasn’t even finished when someone blocked my path at the corner of the hallway.
“Mariah.”
I looked up.
Carmilla stood a short distance away.
Her makeup was gone. A strip of gauze was taped to her forehead. She looked pale, fragile. In her hand, she held a cup of warm water, like she’d been waiting for me.
“I wanted to apologize,” she said softly. “Back at the company… I didn’t expect Viggo to act so impulsively.”
Mariah’s POV
I didn’t respond. I turned and started to walk away.
“Honestly, the way he rushed over like that scared me, too.”
She continued behind me, her voice calm, not loud, but every word landed clearly.