Chapter 217
The tears finally begin to stream down my face as I stare at the closed door. The beeping of the heart monitor accelerates, matching my rising panic. I’ve ruined everything. He’ll never forgive me. He’ll take Miles and —
“Iris, breathe,” Caleb says gently, moving to my bedside. He places his hand on my arm, his palm surprisingly
cool and smooth. “You need to calm down. You’re still recovering.”
“I’ve lost him,” I sob, ignoring his warning. “He hates me now, and it’s all my fault.”
“He doesn’t hate you. He’s hurt and confused, but he doesn’t hate you.” Caleb pulls up a chair and sits beside my bed. “Just give him time to process. I’ll talk to him. It’s not your fault, and he’ll see that. He has to.”
I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand, careful not to disturb the IV. “I’m so sorry, Caleb. I didn’t mean to spring it on you like this. I was going to tell Arthur privately first, but then everything just… spiraled.”
“Don’t apologize, Iris,” he says firmly, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “This is my fault, really. I shouldn’t have asked you to keep it secret in the first place. I was just being selfish. Worrying more about the potential fallout of our relationship going public than the effects this could have on your relationship with Arthur.”
Caleb’s words soothe me ever so slightly, but at the same time, they make another jolt of pain lance through my chest that has nothing to do with the lingering effects of my allergic reaction. Caleb really is a good person–I wish Arthur would see it. See that he’s not like Selina. Not completely. See that none of us meant for things to go this badly.
But right now, I know Arthur won’t listen to anyone. If there’s one thing I know about Arthur, it’s that he always needs time to think on his own before he’s ready to talk.
We sit in silence for a moment, the only sound in the room the beeping of the medical monitors. Then, something
occurs to me.
“Can I ask you something?” I say, frowning. “Do you really have a kiwi allergy?”
Caleb’s eyebrows shoot up. “Yes, of course. I’ve known since childhood. I had a bad reaction when I was five and our parents had me tested.” When I blink at him in a somewhat dazed fashion, he says, “Wait, did you not know that you had it?”
“No, I…” I shake my head. “I just assumed you recognized the same symptoms you have and acted quickly. I’ve never had kiwi before tonight.” I hesitate, then add, “Leonard suggested that I make that drink. He gave me the recipe himself. Said it was his favorite.”
Suddenly, the realization hits me like a ton of bricks.
Leonard.
“Wait, where are Arthur’s parents?” I blurt out. “Are they at the hospital?”
Caleb looks confused. “They left when the ambulance came.” He furrows his brow as if wracking his brain, and then his eyes slowly widen. “They seemed to be in a hurry to leave, actually.”
about
“They knew,” I breathe, sitting bolt upright despite the pain. “Leonard and Wendy—they must have kr the allergy. That’s why Leonard suggested it. He kept urging me to drink it all night, too… And then they left so quickly….”
My stomach churns at the thought. Arthur’s parents tried to… what? Kill me? Scare me away? It feels impossible, but somehow not that impossible at the same time. Selina has already tried to kill me once; who’s to say that I wouldn’t be on someone else’s hit list?
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Chapter 217
“Get Arthur,” I say urgently, gripping Caleb’s arm. “Now.
