Chapter 109: Stupid to get involved
Vanessa
It was hard to look at her and not blame myself. She had clearly been medicated, and I had heard the surgery had been much worse than what anyone initially said.
The machines around her told the story even when no one spoke it aloud. The steady beeping, the tubes, the quiet hum of equipment—enough to make it obvious that, even if she looked stable, she was still in pain. Not the kind that shows easily, but the kind that lingers underneath everything.
And I was annoyed at myself. For shouting earlier. For raging when all I should have done was sit here and keep her company.
But could anyone really blame me for trying to stop her from getting herself killed?
She had gotten away this time. That much was clear. But what about the next time?
What if she wasn’t so lucky again?
What if something happened to her here, in a place that was supposed to be safe?
The thought made my chest tighten in a way I didn’t like.
And then, worse than that realization, came another one I didn’t want to admit.
I didn’t care about Nico. Not even a little. He could rot in hell for all I cared. But Carmen... Carmen was different. She was the only person I could actually see myself getting closer to.
Apart from my mother, she was the only family I had left. And still, against every logical thought, she kept walking straight into danger like she had nothing to lose.
I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to move before my thoughts spiraled further. I walked over to the table where I had left the basket of flowers and fruit, picked up a few apples, and returned to her bedside.
A small plate was already in my hands as I began to peel one.
"You don’t have to sit with me," she said with a tired sigh. "I’m sure there are better things you’d rather do."
My eyes stayed on the apple instead of her.
"Like what? Sleeping and watching a movie back at the mansion?" I replied flatly.
"You could go shopping. Nico gave you a card. I’m surprised you haven’t maxed it out in revenge," she said, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
I held back a sigh.
Using his money only meant getting deeper into his control.
"It’s fine," I said instead. "I’m used to hospitals. Sitting in them, waiting... it’s not so bad. It’s almost peaceful."
And it was true in a strange way.
Hospitals had a way of stripping everything down. No noise except machines. No distractions. Just the reminder that life wasn’t as long or as stable as people liked to believe.
I finished peeling the first apple and moved on to the next one from the three I had brought.
Carmen turned her head toward me then. Really looking at me this time, not just glancing. I let her. I didn’t stop her from staring as I continued slicing the apple into even pieces.
"You really do look like me," she said suddenly.
That made me pause for a fraction of a second, then I continued cutting as a small smile formed on my lips.
"It’s been a week," I said. "I didn’t think you were going to make it at first."
I scooted a little closer and handed her a small piece. She took it and swallowed it carefully, murmuring thanks.
"You should have seen Nico," I continued reluctantly. "He was manic. I didn’t expect him to visit the hospital as much as he did."
The truth was simple, even if it felt strange to say out loud.
Nico didn’t want her to die.
And somehow, that realization felt more obvious to everyone else than to him.
"I find that hard to believe," Carmen replied with a small shake of her head.
"...he likes to confirm things himself though," she added after a pause, and I didn’t argue.
It was clear she didn’t believe Nico cared about her at all. In her mind, whatever they had was nothing more than an arrangement.
"Still," I said, passing her another piece, "he looks out for you. That’s something."
Her eyes lingered on me for a moment.
"I’ll look out for you too, Vanessa," she said quietly. "I can promise I’ll do everything I can to make sure you don’t get hurt."
I looked at her then. Really looked.
And I believed her.
She meant it completely.
But at the same time, looking at her condition made it difficult to believe she could even protect herself properly, let alone someone else.
"Can you at least ask Nico if I can visit my mother more often?" I asked after a short silence.
Carmen paused.
Her gaze shifted slightly, becoming more focused, more intense, like she was considering something carefully before speaking.
"...Do you know what mivite is?" she asked.
I frowned immediately but nodded anyway.
"It’s been all over TV," I said. "New energy source. Oil is becoming scarce, and then suddenly this mineral shows up that can replace everything."
"It is," Carmen confirmed. "But some researchers found a deposit in Marcelle city."
My eyes widened instantly.
"You’re kidding."
"I’m not," she said simply.
I believed her.
My lashes fluttered slightly as the shock settled in.
"...all the more reason you should run," I said quickly. "This is exactly the kind of thing that gets people killed."
"All the more reason I refuse to," she replied.
And I saw it then.
Clear as anything.
Carmen didn’t like running.
She genuinely believed the only way to survive was to stand her ground. To face everything head-on. To be stronger than whatever came for her.
It was written all over her face as she looked at me—steady, unshaken, completely certain.
She was willing to die trying.
And that thought hit me harder than I expected.
"In a few weeks, Nico can announce that you’ve broken up and you can leave," Carmen said softly, her voice already fading as exhaustion pulled her under.
I stood up slowly, watching her settle back.
I left the room not long after, ignoring the guards at the door and the one who began following me down the hall.
My phone rang.
I glanced at the screen.
Adam.
I stared at it for a second longer than necessary, then turned the phone off completely.
’I was stupid to ever get involved. Stupid.’
