Chapter 4

Tia Brown hung up the phone, staring blankly ahead. The doctor and nurses nearby had also overheard the conversation, their faces frozen in shock. But Tia couldn’t spare a moment to care about their reactions. All she could feel now was cold. A chill that seeped into her bones, like a parasite burrowing deep, or a slimy serpent slithering up her spine, coiling tighter and tighter around her heart until it constricted, leaving her struggling for breath. Hargrove Myers arrived quickly. He was panting heavily, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, holding tightly onto a phone—Tia Brown’s phone. “Tia, we accidentally switched phones,” he said, his voice still catching his breath. Tia Brown gave a muted nod. “Let’s switch them back, then.” Hargrove Myers handed her phone back and glanced at the call log. His face shifted to slight panic. “Norwell called me just now? Did he say anything?” Tia Brown raised her head, meeting his eyes. Her lips curved faintly, though it wasn’t a smile. That ambiguous expression made Hargrove Myers even more uneasy. “Norwell’s always full of nonsense. Whatever he said, don’t believe it—it’s all lies…” “The signal in this room isn’t great,” Tia replied calmly. “I didn’t hear what he said.” Hargrove Myers exhaled deeply, as if a weight had been lifted from his chest. “That’s fine. It’s probably nothing important—just small talk. Doesn’t matter if you didn’t hear it.” “…Mm.” Hargrove Myers stepped closer and gently wrapped her in his arms. “Are you feeling any better? Why are you still so cold?” Tia let him hold her, but her body remained unmoved, unyieldingly cold. “When the heart is cold, the body follows.” “I’ll warm you up.” “No need. A cold heart can’t be warmed.” Hargrove Myers tightened his embrace, his voice soft. “How can it not? With me here, I’ll warm both your heart and your body.” Tia Brown laughed. Warm her? Keep her alive, only to torment her further? What would May Cross send him next in reply? A kiss emoji? A hug? Or would she finally return and reward him with a passionate French kiss? Tia closed her eyes. The phone rang again. Hargrove Myers released her, glanced at the screen, and said, “It’s Norwell again. He must really have something to say.” Tia nodded. “Answer it.” Hargrove Myers grabbed his phone, stood up, and said, “I’ll take this outside. You rest.” He stepped out of the hospital room and answered the call. “Hello? Norwell?” Tia Brown got out of bed and pressed her ear to the door. The hospital was silent at this midnight hour, the halls empty and still. Even so, Norwell Martinez’s voice on the other end of the call was clear. “Hargrove, I called earlier—why didn’t you say anything?” “Bad signal earlier. I didn’t hear you. What’s up?” “Oh, just good news! I posted the video of Tia Brown drinking that soup laced with laxatives in the group chat. May replied! She said she’s coming back tomorrow night! Hargrove, your little plan worked brilliantly!” Strangely, though he had longed for May Cross’s return for so long, Hargrove Myers found himself feeling… not excited. “Got it,” he replied flatly. “Hargrove, why don’t you sound happy? May’s finally coming back to you! Aren’t you thrilled?” “I am,” Hargrove said, though his tone lacked enthusiasm. “I’m just tired, I guess. No energy.” “Well, you’d better get some rest tonight. Big day tomorrow—go pick May up at the airport. Don’t get so emotional that you cry when you see her, haha!” Hargrove responded with a noncommittal “Mm.” Norwell chuckled. “Hey, Hargrove, why don’t we think of another plan to mess with Tia Brown? If May gets even happier, you might win her over completely!” “No!” Hargrove’s sudden outburst caught Norwell off guard. “What’s wrong with you? I was just trying to help. Why are you so worked up?” “I said, no more messing with Tia Brown. Did you hear me?” “Why not? Isn’t being with May Cross your dream? She’s finally softened her stance and agreed to come back. Isn’t this the perfect time to push things further? Why stop now?” “Because…” Hargrove Myers’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. He didn’t know why. Since yesterday, Tia Brown’s attitude toward him had cooled. And for some reason, it left him unsettled. When he’d rushed to the hospital earlier and saw her pale face, too weak to even speak, that unease had grown. It felt like she had changed. But at the same time, she hadn’t. She simply seemed… distant. Like her soul had been drained, leaving her eyes empty, lifeless, devoid of the spark and warmth they once held. She still spoke to him, but it wasn’t the same. And when his gaze met her cold, resolute eyes earlier, a wave of panic had washed over him. It felt as though something important had slipped away forever. His voice was hoarse. “Because her body’s already so weak. If we keep going, she might actually die.” “So what if she dies? She’s just an obstacle. If she’s gone, you and May will have nothing standing in your way.” “No. She can’t die.” “Why not?” “She just can’t!” Norwell was silent for a moment before speaking cautiously. “Hargrove, why are you so concerned about Tia Brown? Don’t tell me… you’ve grown soft after all these years with her?”